lifesitenews--2020-07-10--Peruvian bishop: Pope sees Amazon region, new ‘Amazon Ecclesial Conference’ as ‘testing ground’

July 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – While people have been distracted by the current coronacrisis or other , election-related or Black Lives Matter-related topics , Pope Francis has quietly continued to work with the Amazon bishops to implement the ideas as set forth during the October 2019 Amazon Synod .
As the Peruvian Bishop David Martinez de Aguirre Guinea of Puerto Maldonado – Vice-President of the newly established Amazon Ecclesial Conference – reveals , it was Pope Francis who in 2013 said that the Amazon region is the “ testing ground ” for the universal Church .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming to us that are very important and revealing of important new facts .
First , on July 6 , The Tablet reported the above-mentioned words by Pope Francis as revealed by Bishop Martinez de Aguirre Guinea .
He , together with Cardinal Claudio Hummes – one of the architects of the Pan-Amazon Synod of last October – related that this new Amazon Ecclesial Conference as established this June will be different from other entities , inasmuch as “ women and indigenous people ” will have their own influence in it , thus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Church .
And Pope Francis himself suggested this new structure , which upon his explicit request is not called an Episcopal Conference .
Stated Cardinal Hummes : “ Following a suggestion from the Pope himself , this is not going to be an episcopal conference , like so many others , but what he has called the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon Region .
The reason for this is that it is meant to be an expression of the synodal nature of the Church in the region…Like the Amazon Synod , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , but many others , lay people , indigenous , with the right to speak , it is a Church that listens to the communities and with them looks for ways of evangelising that are incarnate and inculturated.
” Bishop Martinez de Aguirre added that this new ecclesial body is meant to be “ a sort of experiment – I ’ m not sure if that ’ s the most appropriate word – for a new form of Church life , based on synodality , in which the bishop is no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own , but someone who is part of the whole Church journey.
” And it is this same bishop who then revealed the words of Pope Francis in 2013 when meeting some Brazilian bishops , namely that the Amazon region is a “ testing ground.
” The Peruvian bishop then added : “ He [ Francis ] thinks that the Amazon region , this Amazon Ecclesial Conference , is a testing ground ... a practical application of the Second Vatican Council in this form of Church life.
” Concerning the role of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prelate added that they will play a leading role , just as they do in the local parishes of the region : “ This Amazon Ecclesial Conference , ” he explained , “ wants to be incarnate in these faces , and the face of women as protagonists in the Church is a very clearly defined face .
An Amazon Ecclesial Conference in which women did not have an important part , would not be Amazonian , it would not represent that Amazonian Church.
” This new ecclesial body wishes to break “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a certain point , but then at some decision-making levels are not involved.
” In a second report on July 10 , The Tablet doubles down , insisting that this new ecclesial body “ consists of a broader canvas and is the first time a local church leadership body includes women and indigenous representatives.
” Mauricio Lopez – the executive secretary of the Pan-Amazon network REPAM and one of the architects of the conference – says that this new organization is a “ tiny thing ” but says “ it points to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a synodal , discerning Church , ” in the words of The Tablet .
Significantly , “ it has also been given the level of authority possible for a local ecclesial structure.
” In other words , there is being erected an ecclesial body , where not clerics – that is to say , ordained men of the Church – rule , but a collection of churchmen together with female and male laypeople , to include indigenous people .
This is perfectly in accord with what Pope Francis proposed in his post-synodal exhortation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priesthood from the governance in the Church , as papal ghostwriter Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez pointed out .
This ecclesial body , as Lopez points out , is completely new and is meant to implement the ideas of the Second Vatican Council and of Early Christianity .
This new conference is “ charged with implementing the proposals of last October ’ s Amazon synod , which includes recommendations to ordain married men and re-institute women deacons [ sic ] , ” he added .
That is to say : the two proposals that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still on the table .
Lopez explicitly pointed out to The Tablet that Pope Francis endorsed the Amazon Synod 's final document , which both encouraged a further discussion of married priests and a female “ diaconate.
” During the synod , he admitted , the topic was not yet ready : “ On some topics , things became so polarised that we couldn ’ t deliver what the Pope needed : he needed to feel consensus and there was no consensus.
” But this new body is also “ preparing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a university , an Amazonian liturgical rite and definitions of what is an ‘ ecological sin , ’ ” according to The Tablet .
Three women will sit in this new organization , with one of them being indigenous .
For Lopez , it is about a new , diverse Church : “ A different way of being the Church is starting to emerge , ” The Tablet states .
It then quotes Lopez with the words : “ It was immediately clear that we [ at the Amazon Synod ] could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desborde , in terms [ of ] opening a new space , in which a true , diverse Church , a more synodal vision , ” would develop .
This new ecclesial body does not yet have an office and is small .
But as The Tablet informs us , things are moving forward : “ While the Pope and senior Vatican cardinals were involved in its establishment , the Amazon ecclesial conference is now looking for ‘ canonical confirmation .
’ ”

Upon the explicit request of Pope Francis, this new structure is not called an Episcopal Conference.
July 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – While people have been distracted by the current coronacrisis or other, election-related or Black Lives Matter-related topics, Pope Francis has quietly continued to work with the Amazon bishops to implement the ideas as set forth during the October 2019 Amazon Synod. As the Peruvian Bishop David Martinez de Aguirre Guinea of Puerto Maldonado – Vice-President of the newly established Amazon Ecclesial Conference – reveals, it was Pope Francis who in 2013 said that the Amazon region is the “testing ground” for the universal Church.
There are two new reports from The Tablet coming to us that are very important and revealing of important new facts.
First, on July 6, The Tablet reported the above-mentioned words by Pope Francis as revealed by Bishop Martinez de Aguirre Guinea. He, together with Cardinal Claudio Hummes – one of the architects of the Pan-Amazon Synod of last October – related that this new Amazon Ecclesial Conference as established this June will be different from other entities, inasmuch as “women and indigenous people” will have their own influence in it, thus reflecting the new “synodal” spirit of the Church.
And Pope Francis himself suggested this new structure, which upon his explicit request is not called an Episcopal Conference.
Stated Cardinal Hummes: “Following a suggestion from the Pope himself, this is not going to be an episcopal conference, like so many others, but what he has called the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon Region. The reason for this is that it is meant to be an expression of the synodal nature of the Church in the region…Like the Amazon Synod, where there were bishops who had a vote, but many others, lay people, indigenous, with the right to speak, it is a Church that listens to the communities and with them looks for ways of evangelising that are incarnate and inculturated.”
Bishop Martinez de Aguirre added that this new ecclesial body is meant to be “a sort of experiment – I’m not sure if that’s the most appropriate word – for a new form of Church life, based on synodality, in which the bishop is no longer someone that leads the Church on his own, but someone who is part of the whole Church journey.”
And it is this same bishop who then revealed the words of Pope Francis in 2013 when meeting some Brazilian bishops, namely that the Amazon region is a “testing ground.” The Peruvian bishop then added: “He [Francis] thinks that the Amazon region, this Amazon Ecclesial Conference, is a testing ground …a practical application of the Second Vatican Council in this form of Church life.”
Concerning the role of women in this new ecclesial body, the prelate added that they will play a leading role, just as they do in the local parishes of the region: “This Amazon Ecclesial Conference,” he explained, “wants to be incarnate in these faces, and the face of women as protagonists in the Church is a very clearly defined face. An Amazon Ecclesial Conference in which women did not have an important part, would not be Amazonian, it would not represent that Amazonian Church.”
This new ecclesial body wishes to break “the dichotomy on which women participate up to a certain point, but then at some decision-making levels are not involved.”
In a second report on July 10, The Tablet doubles down, insisting that this new ecclesial body “consists of a broader canvas and is the first time a local church leadership body includes women and indigenous representatives.”
Mauricio Lopez – the executive secretary of the Pan-Amazon network REPAM and one of the architects of the conference – says that this new organization is a “tiny thing” but says “it points to the heart of Francis’ vision for a synodal, discerning Church,” in the words of The Tablet. Significantly, “it has also been given the level of authority possible for a local ecclesial structure.”
In other words, there is being erected an ecclesial body, where not clerics – that is to say, ordained men of the Church – rule, but a collection of churchmen together with female and male laypeople, to include indigenous people. The new body will be headed by Cardinal Claudio Hummes, assisted by Bishop David Martínez de Aguirre.
This is perfectly in accord with what Pope Francis proposed in his post-synodal exhortation Querida Amazonia. He proposed separating the priesthood from the governance in the Church, as papal ghostwriter Archbishop Victor Manuel Fernandez pointed out.
This ecclesial body, as Lopez points out, is completely new and is meant to implement the ideas of the Second Vatican Council and of Early Christianity.
This new conference is “charged with implementing the proposals of last October’s Amazon synod, which includes recommendations to ordain married men and re-institute women deacons [sic],” he added.
That is to say: the two proposals that were most contested during the Amazon Synod are still on the table.
Lopez explicitly pointed out to The Tablet that Pope Francis endorsed the Amazon Synod's final document, which both encouraged a further discussion of married priests and a female “diaconate.” During the synod, he admitted, the topic was not yet ready: “On some topics, things became so polarised that we couldn’t deliver what the Pope needed: he needed to feel consensus and there was no consensus.”
But this new body is also “preparing to examine a range of synod proposals including a university, an Amazonian liturgical rite and definitions of what is an ‘ecological sin,’” according to The Tablet. Three women will sit in this new organization, with one of them being indigenous.
For Lopez, it is about a new, diverse Church: “A different way of being the Church is starting to emerge,” The Tablet states.
It then quotes Lopez with the words: “It was immediately clear that we [at the Amazon Synod] could not abandon what was this overflowing process of desborde, in terms [of] opening a new space, in which a true, diverse Church, a more synodal vision,” would develop.
This new ecclesial body does not yet have an office and is small. But as The Tablet informs us, things are moving forward: “While the Pope and senior Vatican cardinals were involved in its establishment, the Amazon ecclesial conference is now looking for ‘canonical confirmation.’”
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-10--Judge strikes down Indiana law requiring reporting of medical complications associated with abortion

INDIANA , July 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — An Indiana federal judge has ruled that a state law mandating the reporting of medical complications associated with abortions is unconstitutional .
Senate Enrolled Act 340 , which was passed in March 2018 , had required that all doctors in the state annually report any treatment of 26 different conditions known to be potential abortion complications .
These conditions included perforation of the uterus or cervix , infections , hemorrhaging , blood clots , cardiac or respiratory arrest , and emotional or psychological conditions .
But Indiana Southern District Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday that the law is “ unconstitutionally vague , ” after Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky challenged the law .
“ The statute simply lacks any standard to guide physicians in determining whether a condition qualifies as an abortion complication for purposes of reporting , ” the Indiana Southern District Court judge wrote .
“ The language of the statute does not make clear whether the duty to report covers conditions exclusively caused by the abortion procedure , conditions that are only slightly caused or exacerbated by the abortion procedure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued .
However , Young did uphold a section of the same act that mandates annual inspections of abortion facilities , saying that the State had offered “ at least a plausible explanation for the decision to subject abortion clinics to stricter inspection requirements.
” “ According to the State , the annual inspection requirement furthers the State 's compelling interest in protecting women 's health and fetal life by ensuring abortion clinics follow applicable health and safety regulations and informed consent requirements , ” he wrote .
Abortion facilities exist for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his ruling Young acknowledged the State ’ s argument that the violations of the notorious South Bend Indiana abortionist Dr. Ulirch Klopfer “ might have been discovered earlier if the clinic had been subject to annual inspections.
” The remains of more than 2,000 aborted babies were discovered in Klopfer ’ s home and in his car following his death last year .
A press statement from Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said that he would continue to fight for women ’ s health and the life of the unborn .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passing legislation that safeguards women ’ s health and protects the lives of unborn children , ” Curtis said .
“ I will always consider it an honor to vigorously defend state laws aimed at such essential objectives.
” Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ordered that Indiana laws which would require that women be offered ultrasounds before going through with abortion and another that would require parental notification before minors ’ abortions , be vacated and returned to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals , which has already blocked the laws once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rulings should return to the Seventh Circuit Court “ for further consideration in light of June Medical Services L.L.C .
v. Russo , ” the recent 5-4 Supreme Court decision which judged that it is unconstitutional to require abortion facilities to establish admitting privileges with nearby hospitals in the event of life-threatening complications .
The Supreme Court orders technically invalidate the rulings blocking the laws , but the fact that the Seventh Circuit is being ordered to apply a pro-abortion ruling when they start over indicates that the outcome is likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court orders Indiana abortion laws be reconsidered in light of its new pro-abort ruling

The law is 'unconstitutionally vague,' Indiana Southern District Court Judge Richard Young ruled in a victory for Planned Parenthood and the abortion lobby.
INDIANA, July 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — An Indiana federal judge has ruled that a state law mandating the reporting of medical complications associated with abortions is unconstitutional.
Senate Enrolled Act 340, which was passed in March 2018, had required that all doctors in the state annually report any treatment of 26 different conditions known to be potential abortion complications. These conditions included perforation of the uterus or cervix, infections, hemorrhaging, blood clots, cardiac or respiratory arrest, and emotional or psychological conditions.
But Indiana Southern District Court Judge Richard Young said in his ruling on Wednesday that the law is “unconstitutionally vague,” after Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky challenged the law.
“The statute simply lacks any standard to guide physicians in determining whether a condition qualifies as an abortion complication for purposes of reporting,” the Indiana Southern District Court judge wrote.
“The language of the statute does not make clear whether the duty to report covers conditions exclusively caused by the abortion procedure, conditions that are only slightly caused or exacerbated by the abortion procedure, or something in between,” Young continued.
However, Young did uphold a section of the same act that mandates annual inspections of abortion facilities, saying that the State had offered “at least a plausible explanation for the decision to subject abortion clinics to stricter inspection requirements.”
“According to the State, the annual inspection requirement furthers the State's compelling interest in protecting women's health and fetal life by ensuring abortion clinics follow applicable health and safety regulations and informed consent requirements,” he wrote. Abortion facilities exist for the purpose of ending fetal life.
In his ruling Young acknowledged the State’s argument that the violations of the notorious South Bend Indiana abortionist Dr. Ulirch Klopfer “might have been discovered earlier if the clinic had been subject to annual inspections.”
The remains of more than 2,000 aborted babies were discovered in Klopfer’s home and in his car following his death last year.
A press statement from Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said that he would continue to fight for women’s health and the life of the unborn.
“The Indiana General Assembly has a record of passing legislation that safeguards women’s health and protects the lives of unborn children,” Curtis said.
“I will always consider it an honor to vigorously defend state laws aimed at such essential objectives.”
Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ordered that Indiana laws which would require that women be offered ultrasounds before going through with abortion and another that would require parental notification before minors’ abortions, be vacated and returned to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which has already blocked the laws once.
The Supreme Court judges said that the rulings should return to the Seventh Circuit Court “for further consideration in light of June Medical Services L.L.C. v. Russo,” the recent 5-4 Supreme Court decision which judged that it is unconstitutional to require abortion facilities to establish admitting privileges with nearby hospitals in the event of life-threatening complications.
The Supreme Court orders technically invalidate the rulings blocking the laws, but the fact that the Seventh Circuit is being ordered to apply a pro-abortion ruling when they start over indicates that the outcome is likely to be the same at best.
RELATED
Supreme Court orders Indiana abortion laws be reconsidered in light of its new pro-abort ruling
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lifesitenews--2020-07-10--Catholic Press Association awards pro-LGBT publication at odds with Church teaching on contraception

Catholic Press Association awards pro-LGBT publication at odds with Church teaching on contraception, abortion

CHICAGO , Illinois , July 9 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Catholic Press Association has again awarded the dissident National Catholic Reporter with the first prize in the best newspaper category .
This is the 18th time in 20 years .
The National Catholic Reporter has repeatedly defended positions that are at odds with Catholic teaching , including on topics such as homosexuality , contraception , abortion , and female ordination to name a few .
According to the Catholic Press Association ( CPA ) , “ The purpose of the Catholic Press Awards is to acknowledge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members as they strive to further the mission of the Church.
” It remains unclear how a publication like the National Catholic Reporter , which regularly undermines the Church ’ s teaching , furthers that mission .
The judges of the CPA , nonetheless , said the National Catholic Reporter was “ a top tier publication , ” adding it was “ written and edited with clarity and authority.
” In addition to winning first prize as best newspaper , the National Catholic Reporter was also awarded the first price as best website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reporter received prizes in several other categories .
Observers might question the value of awards given by the CPA .
In 2020 alone , the list of winners in dozens of categories consists of more than 100 pages .
Categories include obscure headlines like “ Best Annual Report - ( Arch ) Diocesan Finances ” and “ Best Editorial on a Local Issue - Weekly Diocesan Newspaper , Circulation 25,000 or Less.
” With that many categories , almost every publication that is part of the CPA is sure to receive some award @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characterized as meaningless for another reason .
Each submission , which individuals or organizations send in to be considered for an award , costs $ 36 , making the annual awards an enormous fundraising event for the CPA .
Submissions filed late cost $ 45 .
According to the CPA ’ s most recent annual report , the awards accounted for an income of $ 144,500 in 2018 , as opposed to expenses of under $ 33,000 .
Thus , the organization made more than $ 112,000 off its awards program , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work of its Publisher and Communication members as they strive to further the mission of the Church.
” Payroll and office overhead accounted for over $ 440,000 .
These appear to be needed by the CPA to provide a variety of programs “ to support members.
” The list is limited to the following items : • Networking opportunities both in-person and through social channels • Consultation services to analyze and improve procedures of member organizations • Award programs to acknowledge excellence in the field • Member newspaper to inform on best practices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming events LifeSiteNews reached out to the CPA , asking how an organization claiming to “ strive to further the mission of the Church ” could recognize a dissident publication with awards .
The CPA had not responded at the time of this writing .
The CPA is led by J.D .
Long-García , senior editor for America , another dissident publication run by the Jesuits .
The magazine is well known for the involvement of pro-homosexual Jesuit priest Fr .
James Martin as editor-at-large .
LifeSiteNews also asked CPA Honorary President , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia , for his thoughts on the CPA honoring the National Catholic Reporter .
A diocesan spokeswoman replied that “ Bishop Burbidge was not involved in the selection process for the Catholic Press Association awards.
” The National Catholic Reporter , which according to the CPA is the best Catholic newspaper in the country , was recently criticized by popular blogger Fr .
John Zuhlsdorf for its position on women deacons .
Calling it the “ Fishwrap , ” he commented , “ Fishwrap and Fishwrap ’ s promotrix of deaconettes , Phyllis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointment of an American woman who is a professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv , Catherine Brown Tkacz ( ‘ tuh-kotch ’ ) .
Tkacz , a serious scholar , wrote an unfavorable review of one of Zagano ’ s books , calling it ‘ flawed ’ , which in academic parlance is … one way to say it.
” “ Fishwrap doesn ’ t like Fr .
Manfred Hauke , who has written against the ordination of women , ” Zuhlsdorf added .
“ Fishwrap doesn ’ t like Caroline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the topic , ” he continued , only to conclude , “ Apparently they don ’ t like women without a preconceived bias towards ordination.
” Female deacons are not possible , given perennial Church teaching .
Cardinal Gerhard Müller , former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , explained in 2019 , “ It stems from the ‘ divine constitution of the Church , ’ as Pope John Paul II has reliably decided , that the Church has no authority to administer to women priestly ordination .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but , rather , stems from the divine constitution of the Church .
This of course applies to all three sacramental degrees , ” namely bishops , priests , and deacons .
Additionally , Müller rejected the idea of speaking “ of female non-sacramental deacons , thereby establishing the illusion that this is about reviving a past – but only temporarily and regionally limited – institution of the deaconesses of the Early Church.
” Apart from questioning Church teaching , the National Catholic Reporter has also criticized that wealthy businessmen in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic organizations like EWTN .
This behavior , the newspaper argued , led to “ the very idea of Catholic culture … being squeezed into a narrow frame where God conforms to American norms and ambitions.
” That particular article won first place in the category of “ Best Editorial on a National or International Issue - National Newspaper ” this year .
A similar set of four articles , looking specifically into “ the connections between Catholic media conglomerate EWTN , conservative donors and the Republican Party , ” was awarded first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In a 2013 interview , Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs told LifeSiteNews that the National Catholic Reporter is “ an embarrassment to the Catholic Church.
” Earlier that same year , Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph , where the newspaper ’ s offices are located , published a column reminding the paper and the faithful that it had been forbidden from using the name “ Catholic ” since 1968 .

PETITION: Support priest who was suspended for calling out the Black Lives Matter organization! Sign the petition here.
CHICAGO, Illinois, July 9, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Catholic Press Association has again awarded the dissident National Catholic Reporter with the first prize in the best newspaper category. This is the 18th time in 20 years. The National Catholic Reporter has repeatedly defended positions that are at odds with Catholic teaching, including on topics such as homosexuality, contraception, abortion, and female ordination to name a few.
According to the Catholic Press Association (CPA), “The purpose of the Catholic Press Awards is to acknowledge the outstanding work of its Publisher and Communication members as they strive to further the mission of the Church.” It remains unclear how a publication like the National Catholic Reporter, which regularly undermines the Church’s teaching, furthers that mission.
The judges of the CPA, nonetheless, said the National Catholic Reporter was “a top tier publication,” adding it was “written and edited with clarity and authority.”
In addition to winning first prize as best newspaper, the National Catholic Reporter was also awarded the first price as best website of a newspaper.
The National Catholic Reporter received prizes in several other categories.
Observers might question the value of awards given by the CPA. In 2020 alone, the list of winners in dozens of categories consists of more than 100 pages. Categories include obscure headlines like “Best Annual Report – (Arch) Diocesan Finances” and “Best Editorial on a Local Issue – Weekly Diocesan Newspaper, Circulation 25,000 or Less.”
With that many categories, almost every publication that is part of the CPA is sure to receive some award in the end.
Prizes could be characterized as meaningless for another reason. Each submission, which individuals or organizations send in to be considered for an award, costs $36, making the annual awards an enormous fundraising event for the CPA. Submissions filed late cost $45.
According to the CPA’s most recent annual report, the awards accounted for an income of $144,500 in 2018, as opposed to expenses of under $33,000. Thus, the organization made more than $112,000 off its awards program, which is supposed to “acknowledge the outstanding work of its Publisher and Communication members as they strive to further the mission of the Church.”
Payroll and office overhead accounted for over $440,000. These appear to be needed by the CPA to provide a variety of programs “to support members.” The list is limited to the following items:
Professional development: the Catholic Media Conference and webinars
Networking opportunities both in-person and through social channels
Consultation services to analyze and improve procedures of member organizations
Award programs to acknowledge excellence in the field
Member newspaper to inform on best practices, first amendment rights issues, and upcoming events
LifeSiteNews reached out to the CPA, asking how an organization claiming to “strive to further the mission of the Church” could recognize a dissident publication with awards. The CPA had not responded at the time of this writing.
The CPA is led by J.D. Long-García, senior editor for America, another dissident publication run by the Jesuits. The magazine is well known for the involvement of pro-homosexual Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin as editor-at-large.
LifeSiteNews also asked CPA Honorary President, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, for his thoughts on the CPA honoring the National Catholic Reporter. A diocesan spokeswoman replied that “Bishop Burbidge was not involved in the selection process for the Catholic Press Association awards.”
The National Catholic Reporter, which according to the CPA is the best Catholic newspaper in the country, was recently criticized by popular blogger Fr. John Zuhlsdorf for its position on women deacons.
Calling it the “Fishwrap,” he commented, “Fishwrap and Fishwrap’s promotrix of deaconettes, Phyllis Zagano, are not happy at the appointment of an American woman who is a professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Catherine Brown Tkacz (‘tuh-kotch’). Tkacz, a serious scholar, wrote an unfavorable review of one of Zagano’s books, calling it ‘flawed’, which in academic parlance is … one way to say it.”
“Fishwrap doesn’t like Fr. Manfred Hauke, who has written against the ordination of women,” Zuhlsdorf added.
“Fishwrap doesn’t like Caroline Farey, who hasn’t written on the topic,” he continued, only to conclude, “Apparently they don’t like women without a preconceived bias towards ordination.”
Female deacons are not possible, given perennial Church teaching. Cardinal Gerhard Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, explained in 2019, “It stems from the ‘divine constitution of the Church,’ as Pope John Paul II has reliably decided, that the Church has no authority to administer to women priestly ordination. This is not the conclusion from history, but, rather, stems from the divine constitution of the Church. This of course applies to all three sacramental degrees,” namely bishops, priests, and deacons.
Additionally, Müller rejected the idea of speaking “of female non-sacramental deacons, thereby establishing the illusion that this is about reviving a past – but only temporarily and regionally limited – institution of the deaconesses of the Early Church.”
Apart from questioning Church teaching, the National Catholic Reporter has also criticized that wealthy businessmen in the United States are giving money to faithfully Catholic organizations like EWTN. This behavior, the newspaper argued, led to “the very idea of Catholic culture … being squeezed into a narrow frame where God conforms to American norms and ambitions.”
That particular article won first place in the category of “Best Editorial on a National or International Issue – National Newspaper” this year.
A similar set of four articles, looking specifically into “the connections between Catholic media conglomerate EWTN, conservative donors and the Republican Party,” was awarded first place in “Best Analysis/Background/Round-Up News Writing.”
In a 2013 interview, Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs told LifeSiteNews that the National Catholic Reporter is “an embarrassment to the Catholic Church.”
Earlier that same year, Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, where the newspaper’s offices are located, published a column reminding the paper and the faithful that it had been forbidden from using the name “Catholic” since 1968.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-10--Pro-abortion Guttmacher accidentally proves Trump was right to pull US out of WHO

July 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Trump administration ’ s decision to withdraw the United States from the corrupt , ineffective , pro-China World Health Organization ( WHO ) has angered a lot of people at home and abroad … not because it will negatively impact global health but because it ’ ll negatively impact the agendas and bottom lines of various groups that have been exploiting the guise of “ health services.
” And nobody has worn that disguise more effectively than the abortion industry , whose allies go all the way to the top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s website declares as “ essential ” the “ right ” to “ access to legal and safe abortion.
” Over the past few months , it has pushed self-induced chemical abortions via webcam as a substitute for tthe various abortion facilities temporarily shut down due to COVID-19 .
So it ’ s only natural that Planned Parenthood ’ s former research arm , the Guttmacher Institute , would come out against withdrawal .
Ironically , however , their report – which frames it as a “ tantrum ” to stop subsidizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murderous Communist dictatorship – inadvertently makes the pro-life case for withdrawal perfectly : WHO is the leading source for technical and policy guidance on a wide range of topics related to sexual and reproductive health and rights .
When countries , partners and even U.S. government agencies want to improve their policies and clinical guidelines , they first look to WHO for sound , scientific and robust information in multiple languages [ ... ] The Trump administration ’ s choice to withdraw the United States from the WHO is shortsighted and ill-informed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. responses to the COVID-19 pandemic , it will undermine the progress made on sexual and reproductive health over the past several decades .
The loss of funding and technical partnership with the United States will mean that fewer people around the world will receive the care that they want and need .
That may sound like a bad thing , but only if one doesn ’ t know that “ sexual and reproductive health ” is code for legal , widespread , and cheap/free abortions .
For Guttmacher to openly acknowledge that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy fight for abortion only reinforces the conclusion that the U.S. should not be forcing taxpayers to fund something that champions policies opposed by more than half of those taxpayers .
In between these two paragraphs , Guttmacher lists various examples of innocuous-sounding healthcare work ( mixed in with more “ reproductive health ” references , plus LGBT “ needs ” to boot ) .
But the idea that the WHO has to be the middleman for American support of global health is preposterous .
Even a brief search yields scores of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which could be supported ( pending review of their values and effectiveness , of course ) .
And , obviously , the government can ( and already does ) send foreign aid directly to countries to assist with their health needs .
What sets organizations like the WHO apart is smuggling in left-wing ideology and objectives alongside these services .
Thankfully , that scam won ’ t fly anymore with the current administration .

Openly acknowledging that WHO is an active player in the policy fight for abortion reinforces the conclusion that the U.S. should not force taxpayers to fund something that champions policies opposed by more than half of those taxpayers.
July 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the United States from the corrupt, ineffective, pro-China World Health Organization (WHO) has angered a lot of people at home and abroad … not because it will negatively impact global health but because it’ll negatively impact the agendas and bottom lines of various groups that have been exploiting the guise of “health services.”
And nobody has worn that disguise more effectively than the abortion industry, whose allies go all the way to the top of the global health establishment. The WHO’s website declares as “essential” the “right” to “access to legal and safe abortion.” Over the past few months, it has pushed self-induced chemical abortions via webcam as a substitute for tthe various abortion facilities temporarily shut down due to COVID-19.
So it’s only natural that Planned Parenthood’s former research arm, the Guttmacher Institute, would come out against withdrawal. Ironically, however, their report – which frames it as a “tantrum” to stop subsidizing an organization co-opted by a corrupt, murderous Communist dictatorship – inadvertently makes the pro-life case for withdrawal perfectly:
WHO is the leading source for technical and policy guidance on a wide range of topics related to sexual and reproductive health and rights. When countries, partners and even U.S. government agencies want to improve their policies and clinical guidelines, they first look to WHO for sound, scientific and robust information in multiple languages […] The Trump administration’s choice to withdraw the United States from the WHO is shortsighted and ill-informed. Not only will it hamper global and U.S. responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will undermine the progress made on sexual and reproductive health over the past several decades. The loss of funding and technical partnership with the United States will mean that fewer people around the world will receive the care that they want and need.
That may sound like a bad thing, but only if one doesn’t know that “sexual and reproductive health” is code for legal, widespread, and cheap/free abortions. For Guttmacher to openly acknowledge that WHO is an active player in the policy fight for abortion only reinforces the conclusion that the U.S. should not be forcing taxpayers to fund something that champions policies opposed by more than half of those taxpayers.
In between these two paragraphs, Guttmacher lists various examples of innocuous-sounding healthcare work (mixed in with more “reproductive health” references, plus LGBT “needs” to boot). But the idea that the WHO has to be the middleman for American support of global health is preposterous.
Even a brief search yields scores of other non-government organizations working in global health, which could be supported (pending review of their values and effectiveness, of course). And, obviously, the government can (and already does) send foreign aid directly to countries to assist with their health needs.
What sets organizations like the WHO apart is smuggling in left-wing ideology and objectives alongside these services. Thankfully, that scam won’t fly anymore with the current administration.
Follow Calvin Calvin Freiburger is a Wisconsin-based conservative writer and 2011 graduate of Hillsdale College. His commentary and analysis have been featured on NewsReal Blog, Live Action, and various other conservative websites. Before joining LifeSiteNews, he spent two years in Washington, DC, working to build support for the Life at Conception Act with the National Pro-Life Alliance, then worked a year and a half as assistant editor of TheFederalistPapers.org. You can follow him on Twitter @CalFreiburger, and check out his personal website, ConservativeStandards.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-07-10--Notre Dame ‘thrilled’ to hire pro-abortion homosexual Pete Buttigieg. Faithful Catholics dismayed

SOUTH BEND , Indiana , July 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – The Catholic University of Notre Dame has announced the hiring of Pete Buttigieg , a pro-abortion homosexual who is ‘ married ’ to another man , as a 2020-2021 faculty fellow at the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study ( NDIAS ) .
Buttigieg is the former South Bend mayor who ran as a Democratic presidential candidate .
Buttigieg ’ s new position at the Catholic University comes as a surprise in view of his high profile political campaign which revealed to the American public a personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition to moral teachings of the Catholic Church .
Although baptized a Catholic and having attended a Catholic high school , Buttigieg is a self-identified gay who ‘ married ’ a man in an Episcopal Church ceremony .
Buttigieg “ has become a national advertisement for the normalization of same-sex marriage , ” noted a statement by the Sycamore Trust ––a Notre Dame alumni group which seeks to protect the school ’ s Catholic identity–– after the candidate was honored by the Gay and Lesbian Alumni Association of Notre Dame ( GALA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic party ’ s presidential nomination , Buttigieg inferred that God made him gay , supported gay rights over religious liberty , and very publicly encouraged a 9-year-old boy to ‘ come out ’ as gay .
He even went so far as to say that homosexual ‘ marriage ’ had brought him “ closer to God.
” In April 2019 , liberal pundits and social media swooned over his announcement that he and his ‘ husband , ’ Chasten , planned to “ have a child.
” Moreover , Buttigieg supports abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infanticide .
Writing in USA Today , Kristen Day , Executive Director of Democrats For Life of America , called Buttigieg ’ s stance on abortion , “ Extreme.
” While mayor of South Bend ––home to the University of Notre Dame–– Buttigieg vetoed a city council rezoning plan permitting the pro-life Women ’ s Care Center to locate next to a newly opened abortion facility .
But Buttigieg ’ s antipathy toward bedrock Catholic teachings did not prevent him from being hired by the Catholic University .
Notre Dame said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m thrilled to welcome Pete to the institute and Notre Dame in the coming year .
More than ever , we need scholars and public leaders working together , generating the insights that will make democratic institutions stronger and advance the common good in creative and evidence-based ways , ” said Meghan Sullivan , director of the NDIAS .
A Facebook posting by NDIAS declared the same sentiment : “ NDIAS is thrilled ” to have Buttigieg .
Some respected Catholics , however , are pointing out the discrepancy of having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a life contrary to basic Catholic teaching .
“ The fact that the goals of Notre Dame are not the same as those of the Gospel becomes clear , again , with the naming of Pete Buttigieg as a faculty fellow at the NDIAS , ” said Janet Smith , a former philosophy professor at Notre Dame .
“ He holds many positions completely at odds with the Gospel , among them , he is in a homosexual ‘ marriage ’ , and he supports abortion and holds views on religious freedom that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith told LifeSiteNews .
“ He even opposed the Women ’ s Care Center ( a pregnancy help center originated out of Notre Dame that has been supported and honored by the University ) when it attempted to establish a center next door to an abortion mill , ” said Smith , who founded the Women ’ s Care Center .
“ It is inconceivable that Buttigieg will be advancing Gospel values in the work he is to do in exploring how trust is to be restored to political institutions and in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to undergraduates , ” continued Smith .
“ He has abundantly indicated that he is not to be trusted as one who lives by or advocates Gospel values .
William Dempsey , a 1952 Notre Dame graduate and chairman of the Sycamore Trust , told Church Militant ( CM ) that the appointment of Buttigieg is “ worse than the university 's recognition of former president Barack Obama and vice president Biden.
” Dempsey said that Buttigieg 's signature identity ––the anchor of his public image–– is same-sex ‘ marriage ’ .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same-sex marriage 's compatibility with Christianity.
” “ Buttigieg 's ‘ partner ’ will be given spousal benefits as a part of the Notre Dame community , teaching undergraduates , ” explained Dempsey .
“ His presence will radically still the voices who would teach Catholic doctrine and will radically undermine anyone who dares teach authentic Catholicism.
” “ Though he possesses an impressive background and experience , I do believe Buttigieg ’ s hiring continues a pattern I have seen at Notre Dame over the last decade or so and that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic identity and supporting Catholic values , ” observed Mark Nishan , class of 1976 .
“ I understand the desire of the University to welcome diversity and different thinkers to challenge thought and creativity , ” said Nishan , “ but it is disappointing that they embrace allowing those who openly oppose catholic teachings and values to teach within it.
” “ I can only say this incident continues a troubling trend I am observing , ” he added .
Lecturing about ‘ trust ’ while undermining it A statement issued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains Buttigieg ’ s role : While chosen to lecture on “ trust , ” the choice of Buttigieg to join NDIAS may serve to further undermine trust in the school 's Catholic identity .
“ Five decades of involvement in life issues and politics have taught me that trust is built on authenticity and , for a Catholic , informed familiarity with one ’ s faith tradition and duties in the public square , ” said Notre Dame graduate Chuck Donovan ( 1974 ) , president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of human life and the family .
“ So much that parades in political life today is threadbare theater , Notre Dame is at its best when it reaches back to ancient precepts and applies them with clarity to new situations , ” Donovan told LifeSiteNews .
“ Students should expect the university to dig a little deeper when it is building a faculty or curriculum .
”

‘The fact that the goals of Notre Dame are not the same as those of the Gospel becomes clear, again, with the naming of Pete Buttigieg as a faculty fellow’
PETITION: Ask bishop to remove 'Catholic' from the University of Notre Dame if they refuse to rescind Pete Buttigieg's fellowship! Sign the petition here.
SOUTH BEND, Indiana, July 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – The Catholic University of Notre Dame has announced the hiring of Pete Buttigieg, a pro-abortion homosexual who is ‘married’ to another man, as a 2020-2021 faculty fellow at the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study (NDIAS). Buttigieg is the former South Bend mayor who ran as a Democratic presidential candidate.
Buttigieg’s new position at the Catholic University comes as a surprise in view of his high profile political campaign which revealed to the American public a personal life and beliefs which stand in direct opposition to moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
Although baptized a Catholic and having attended a Catholic high school, Buttigieg is a self-identified gay who ‘married’ a man in an Episcopal Church ceremony.
Buttigieg “has become a national advertisement for the normalization of same-sex marriage,” noted a statement by the Sycamore Trust ––a Notre Dame alumni group which seeks to protect the school’s Catholic identity–– after the candidate was honored by the Gay and Lesbian Alumni Association of Notre Dame (GALA) last year.
While vying for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination, Buttigieg inferred that God made him gay, supported gay rights over religious liberty, and very publicly encouraged a 9-year-old boy to ‘come out’ as gay.
He even went so far as to say that homosexual ‘marriage’ had brought him “closer to God.”
In April 2019, liberal pundits and social media swooned over his announcement that he and his ‘husband,’ Chasten, planned to “have a child.”
Moreover, Buttigieg supports abortion on demand and has refused to condemn infanticide.
Writing in USA Today, Kristen Day, Executive Director of Democrats For Life of America, called Buttigieg’s stance on abortion, “Extreme.”
While mayor of South Bend ––home to the University of Notre Dame–– Buttigieg vetoed a city council rezoning plan permitting the pro-life Women’s Care Center to locate next to a newly opened abortion facility.
But Buttigieg’s antipathy toward bedrock Catholic teachings did not prevent him from being hired by the Catholic University. Notre Dame said it was “thrilled” to have Buttigieg
“I’m thrilled to welcome Pete to the institute and Notre Dame in the coming year. More than ever, we need scholars and public leaders working together, generating the insights that will make democratic institutions stronger and advance the common good in creative and evidence-based ways,” said Meghan Sullivan, director of the NDIAS.
A Facebook posting by NDIAS declared the same sentiment: “NDIAS is thrilled” to have Buttigieg.
Notre Dame ‘cannot be trusted’
Some respected Catholics, however, are pointing out the discrepancy of having a Catholic university hire someone who lives a life contrary to basic Catholic teaching.
“The fact that the goals of Notre Dame are not the same as those of the Gospel becomes clear, again, with the naming of Pete Buttigieg as a faculty fellow at the NDIAS,” said Janet Smith, a former philosophy professor at Notre Dame.
“He holds many positions completely at odds with the Gospel, among them, he is in a homosexual ‘marriage’, and he supports abortion and holds views on religious freedom that would greatly restrict that freedom,” Smith told LifeSiteNews.
“He even opposed the Women’s Care Center (a pregnancy help center originated out of Notre Dame that has been supported and honored by the University) when it attempted to establish a center next door to an abortion mill,” said Smith, who founded the Women’s Care Center.
“It is inconceivable that Buttigieg will be advancing Gospel values in the work he is to do in exploring how trust is to be restored to political institutions and in the course on trust he will be teaching to undergraduates,” continued Smith. “He has abundantly indicated that he is not to be trusted as one who lives by or advocates Gospel values.
Smith added:
But clearly, he is not the only problem – the bigger problem is the NDIAS itself. They cannot be trusted – their announcement of Buttigieg’s appointment makes no mention of his support of the LGBTQ agenda, of his support for abortion, or his desire to limit religious freedom. Parents and students who trust Notre Dame to foster the Catholic faith are being deceived, again.
William Dempsey, a 1952 Notre Dame graduate and chairman of the Sycamore Trust, told Church Militant (CM) that the appointment of Buttigieg is “worse than the university's recognition of former president Barack Obama and vice president Biden.”
Dempsey said that Buttigieg's signature identity ––the anchor of his public image–– is same-sex ‘marriage’. “And not just same-sex marriage, but same-sex marriage's compatibility with Christianity.”
“Buttigieg's ‘partner’ will be given spousal benefits as a part of the Notre Dame community, teaching undergraduates,” explained Dempsey. “His presence will radically still the voices who would teach Catholic doctrine and will radically undermine anyone who dares teach authentic Catholicism.”
“Though he possesses an impressive background and experience, I do believe Buttigieg’s hiring continues a pattern I have seen at Notre Dame over the last decade or so and that is the slow erosion of maintaining a strong Catholic identity and supporting Catholic values,” observed Mark Nishan, class of 1976.
“I understand the desire of the University to welcome diversity and different thinkers to challenge thought and creativity,” said Nishan, “but it is disappointing that they embrace allowing those who openly oppose catholic teachings and values to teach within it.”
“I can only say this incident continues a troubling trend I am observing,” he added.
Lecturing about ‘trust’ while undermining it
A statement issued by the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study explains Buttigieg’s role:
Buttigieg will work on two research projects at the NDIAS: one that explores how to restore trust in political institutions and another that considers the forces distinctively shaping the 2020s. He joins a group of more than 30 faculty and student fellows who will be conducting research on the nature of trust, the institute’s 2020-2021 research theme. As an NDIAS faculty fellow, Buttigieg will join the NDIAS fellows and students in weekly work-in-progress seminars and other academic programming. He will also engage the broader campus community by teaching an interdisciplinary undergraduate course on the importance of trust as understood through different fields. The seminar draws on literature, politics, economics and philosophy and students will have the opportunity to engage with other guest experts.
While chosen to lecture on “trust,” the choice of Buttigieg to join NDIAS may serve to further undermine trust in the school's Catholic identity.
“Five decades of involvement in life issues and politics have taught me that trust is built on authenticity and, for a Catholic, informed familiarity with one’s faith tradition and duties in the public square,” said Notre Dame graduate Chuck Donovan (1974), president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an organization devoted to promoting the value of human life and the family.
“So much that parades in political life today is threadbare theater, Notre Dame is at its best when it reaches back to ancient precepts and applies them with clarity to new situations,” Donovan told LifeSiteNews. “Students should expect the university to dig a little deeper when it is building a faculty or curriculum.”
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lifesitenews--2020-07-10--Archbishop Viganò responds to Dominican sister who accused Trump of ‘discriminatory and violent’ pol

Archbishop Viganò responds to Dominican sister who accused Trump of ‘discriminatory and violent’ policies

July 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – On June 17 , Sister Antonietta Potente , a Dominican sister and theologian , had published on the website Terra e Missione an open letter ( read full letter below ) to Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò , telling him that she is “ deeply indignant ” about a letter that “ that you , a christian and a bishop , have written in support of President Trump , the proponent of a policy that , in recent months , has shown itself to be increasingly discriminatory and violent , both with regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events of racism.
” Sister Potente , speaking on behalf of other sisters as well , also rebuked Viganò for employing a “ dualistic and discriminatory language ” and using “ Scriptures to support a policy that goes against every evangelical principle.
” Potente claims that Trump had supported “ actions ” by the police that were “ racist ” and thus against the Gospels .
“ It seems like a true and proper blasphemy to use the biblical term 'children of light ' to declare that Trump and also you and your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and socio-political conspiracies , ” Potente wrote .
She also accused “ President Trump , whom you support ” of a “ homophobic and thus discriminatory mentality.
” Finally , the Dominican sister wrote that she and her fellow religious sisters will always be on the side of the “ weakest and oppressed.
” Potente ’ s letter is responding to a now-famous open letter published by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò on June 6 , in which he supported President Donald Trump and warned him that the current crises over the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a part of the eternal spiritual struggle between the forces of good and evil .
Viganò then also encouraged the President to continue the fight on behalf of the “ children of light.
” In responding to this sister , Archbishop Viganò ( see full text below ) denies that President Trump is responsible for the recent events in the U.S. , saying that “ in truth I do not see how one can make him [ President Trump ] responsible for the events of racism , which have arisen in a context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments are in the hands of the Democratic Party , and which have been proven by evidence that little by little is emerging to have been orchestrated by the false flag financed by the globalist elites precisely in order to oppose the Republican party and the President currently in office.
” Viganò adds that internationally , “ Trump ’ s term of office is the only one for a long time in which the United States has not started any military conflicts , and in many cases peace treaties have been established and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also points to the high employment rates for workers under the Trump Presidency .
Most importantly , the Italian prelate compares Trump 's policy with those working for the killing of the unborn : “ I do not believe ” Viganò states , “ that the President is 'violent in words and also in actions , ' certainly no more than those who in their own political program favor and support the killing of millions of children right up until the moment before birth and even after birth : this violence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most against those who are the most defenseless , does not appear to me to quite be in accord with your commitment as a religious sister.
” The archbishop also says that one needs to be discriminatory in life , just as God Himself is discriminatory with those who finally reject Him and His Commandments .
“ Saint Paul discriminated , just as Christ discriminated , and so too in Eden the Eternal Father discriminated , driving out our first parents who had disobeyed Him , ” he writes .
Finally , Archbishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order when he says , “ if then you maintain that establishing public order and demanding respect for the law is a discriminatory action , I fear that I have to remind you that civil authority has a moral duty to impose respect for the laws , and in order to do this it is permitted to use proportionate force.
” Please see here the full exchange of letters between the sister and the archbishop : We are deeply indignant at the words that you , a christian and a bishop , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proponent of a policy that , in recent months , has shown itself to be increasingly discriminatory and violent , both with regard to the health emergency and these latest events of racism .
It seems to us that using Scripture to justify the political violence of president Trump is like giving “ pearls to swine ” according to the evangelical words : “ Do not give what is holy to dogs , or throw your pearls before swine , lest they trample them underfoot ( cf .
Mt 7:6 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ message to the president of the United States ( Letter of June 7 , 2020 ) stuns us as women , christians , and dominican religious , but at the same time it provokes us to distance ourselves from and denounce the ambiguity of your thought and your position , which moreover employs a dualistic and discriminatory language .
We can not accept that a member of the Magisterium of the catholic church could use the Scriptures to support a policy that goes against every evangelical principle .
We had already deplored your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but now it seems like a true and proper blasphemy to use the biblical term “ children of light ” to declare that Trump and also you and your entire entourage are victims of particular ecclesial and socio-political conspiracies .
To deny the evidence of these recent racist actions taken by members of the police , which have been supported and defended by president Trump himself , is something that we consider to be contrary to the gospel .
The children of light , whom you speak about so much , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see clearly , and denounce what they see with boldness [ parrhesia ] .
Neither Jesus of Nazareth nor his first male and female disciples [ discepoli e discepole ] ever said , “ Blessed are the strong , the arrogant , the oppressors , ” but rather “ Blessed are the humble , the meek , the lovers of justice and peace , ” even in the precariousness of our human and historical condition .
We can not understand how you could forget this message and extrapolate the Johannine message of light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government as violent as the present government of the United States .
Violent in words ( it is enough to see the messages of President Trump in recent days ) and also in actions , not only within the United States but also in its foreign policy , its international relations , even to the point of wanting to appropriate a vaccine that , like every method of treatment , ought to be the patrimony of all humanity .
We are truly appalled , but at the same time we are confident that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attribute – making a huge and confusing error – to the children of darkness , find no place in the human soul and above all in the soul of those women and men who are suffering .
We , women religious [ donne religiose ] , feel that we are truly “ daughters of Eve , ” but not according to the metaphor you have used .
Rather , we think that certain attitudes , such as the language that you use , are not nourished by the children of Eve as you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thus discriminatory mentality , such as president Trump , whom you support , displays .
Know that we too pray for Trump and his country , but not with the same intention that you hope for .
We pray as women of faith , with the same words that the true biblical tradition has taught us : we ask to work together so that the humble , not the rich , may be exalted ; we ask that the powerful and bullies who humiliate and destroy the hope of peoples may exist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump and also for you who say that you support him .
It should be clear , however , that we are on the side of the weakest and oppressed , certain that it is only to them that the wisdom that the rulers of this world did not know has been revealed ( cf .
1 Cor 2:8 ) .
Theologian of the Union of Dominican Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas and community [ Do not be provoked by evildoers ; do not envy those who do wrong .
Ps 36:1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you sent to me last June 17 , also on behalf of your community , a letter that you wrote following the letter that I sent to the President of the United States .
Since you address yourself personally to me , I ask you to give me space on your site to respond to you .
I remain bewildered by several expressions in your letter : not only those regarding me personally , but also the showy misrepresentation of reality in accusing President Trump of being “ the proponent of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has shown itself to be increasingly discriminatory and violent , both with regard to the health emergency and these latest events of racism.
” In truth I do not see how one can make him responsible for the events of racism , which have arisen in a context in which the police and the local governments are in the hands of the Democratic Party , and which have been proven by evidence that little by little is emerging to have been orchestrated by the false flag financed by the globalist elites precisely in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President currently in office .
At the international level , Trump ’ s term of office is the only one for a long time in which the United States has not started any military conflicts , and in many cases peace treaties have been established and foreign military deployments have been withdrawn .
The economy was in strong growth ( until the Covid emergency ) , and thus also the protection of the rights of workers .
If then you maintain that establishing public order and demanding respect for the law is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have to remind you that civil authority has a moral duty to impose respect for the laws , and in order to do this it is permitted to use proportionate force : this doctrine is taught and wonderfully explained by Saint Thomas Aquinas , the patron of the Institute to which you belong .
I do not believe that the President is “ violent in words and also in actions , ” certainly no more than those who in their own political program favor and support the killing of millions of children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even after birth : this violence , much more hateful since it rages the most against those who are the most defenseless , does not appear to me to quite be in accord with your commitment as a religious sister .
You reprove me for using a “ dualistic and discriminating language ” – in fact , it is precisely that , and I think that it can not be otherwise , when what it is in question is the eternal battle between good and evil .
The Truth is always discriminatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Light is also discriminatory , for it does not tolerate darkness or those who hide in it .
Just as Our Lord , the stumbling stone , is discriminatory and divisive , who will gather the just to His right hand and drive out the wicked to His left .
You are my friends , if you do what I command you , says the Lord ( Jn 15:4 ) .
The condition for friendship with God is obedience to His Commandments and His Law , in the bond of Charity .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse their own freedom and do not conform themselves to the will of God will not be able to rejoice in the beatific vision , nor participate in His eternal glory .
In the same way , the Sixth Commandment , which condemns sodomy as a sin that cries out for vengeance before the face of God , was given in a “ homophobic and thus discriminatory mentality.
” Saint Paul discriminated , just as Christ discriminated , and so too in Eden the Eternal Father discriminated , driving out our first parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this discrimination made us through our own fault deserving of divine punishment , it also merited for us ever since the fall of our first parents the promise of a Redeemer born of the Virgin , of a new Adam and a new Eve .
It was this “ dualist ” vision that led our fathers toward the Promised Land , in the abandonment of idolatry and the adoration of the One True God .
The Martyrs too discriminated when they preferred to face torment and torture rather than burn incense to idols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the Angelic Doctor discriminated when they fought against heresies and preached true doctrine .
Saint Dominic discriminated when he preached the Cross .
You too , Reverend Mother , discriminate when you take positions against my words , against Trump , and against discrimination .
You discriminate when you speak of “ we women religious [ donne religiose ] ” placing an accent on “ women ” that seems to want to claim a role that is not based on adhesion to the order willed by God nor to the admonition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state : “ We ask to work together so that the humble and not the rich may be exalted ; we ask that the powerful and bullies who humiliate and destroy the hope of peoples may exist no longer.
” You recall , Reverend Mother , that the humble of whom the Gospel speaks are not necessarily those whom today ’ s world exploits for cynical projects of social engineering , nor the many who are torn from their Homeland in order to pander to the plans for destabilization that always enrich the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not always and necessarily evil : if Providence has granted them material goods , He asks them to become His cooperators in remembering the poor and needy .
Nor are the powerful to be blamed , if their power is placed in service of the Good : it is those who abuse their power and the authority given to them who merit blame from the citizens and divine punishment .
I fear that your words find too much space for the thinking of the world , rather than a supernatural vision supported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In substance , the absence of an exterior and visible sign of your religious Vows appears to me to reveal implicitly your desire to hide your religious identity ( perhaps in order not to offend others ’ sensibilities ? )
, with the risk however of leaving yourself in an interior void that no ideology of this world will be able to fill .
And yet it is precisely this that we ought to expect from a daughter of Saint Dominic and Saint Thomas : to ensure that the legitimate aspirations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authentic roots in Revelation , in the Christian social order , in the faithful application of the social doctrine of the Church .
Because there is no Charity where there is no Truth : You teach me that they are both essential attributes of God , and it is not possible to love God if one does not also unconditionally welcome the integral Truth that He has transmitted to us in the Holy Church , the one Ark of Salvation .
You write : “ It should be clear , however , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weakest and oppressed , certain that it is only to them that the wisdom that the rulers of this world did not know has been revealed ( cf .
1 Cor 2:8 ) .
” I imagine that in that group of the weakest and oppressed you include the fathers and mothers of families who want to give a Christian education to their children ; the many who are daily persecuted simply because they profess the Catholic faith ; the millions of innocents that the modern Moloch sacrifices each day on the impure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic interests and speculations condemn to abandonment or death because they are considered useless ; the children ensnared in their most tender years by the infernal ideology of gender ; the young people corrupted in their morality by LGBT thought ; the elderly faithful of St. Louis who were assaulted a few days ago by a group of people who praise Black Lives Matter .
In conclusion , your open letter confirms what I have written many times : the alignments are being more clearly defined day by day , and this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permits many to understand what is really happening and which side each person intends to align with .
To you , Reverend Mother , and to Your Community I send my heartfelt blessing , entrusting myself to Your prayers .

PETITION: Urge U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference to defend Catholic heritage and statues! Sign the petition here.
July 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – On June 17, Sister Antonietta Potente, a Dominican sister and theologian, had published on the website Terra e Missione an open letter (read full letter below) to Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, telling him that she is “deeply indignant” about a letter that “that you, a christian and a bishop, have written in support of President Trump, the proponent of a policy that, in recent months, has shown itself to be increasingly discriminatory and violent, both with regard to the health emergency and these latest events of racism.”
Sister Potente, speaking on behalf of other sisters as well, also rebuked Viganò for employing a “dualistic and discriminatory language” and using “Scriptures to support a policy that goes against every evangelical principle.” Potente claims that Trump had supported “actions” by the police that were “racist” and thus against the Gospels.
“It seems like a true and proper blasphemy to use the biblical term 'children of light' to declare that Trump and also you and your entire entourage are victims of particular ecclesial and socio-political conspiracies,” Potente wrote. She also accused “President Trump, whom you support” of a “homophobic and thus discriminatory mentality.” Finally, the Dominican sister wrote that she and her fellow religious sisters will always be on the side of the “weakest and oppressed.”
Potente’s letter is responding to a now-famous open letter published by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò on June 6, in which he supported President Donald Trump and warned him that the current crises over the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter riots are a part of the eternal spiritual struggle between the forces of good and evil. Viganò then also encouraged the President to continue the fight on behalf of the “children of light.”
In responding to this sister, Archbishop Viganò (see full text below) denies that President Trump is responsible for the recent events in the U.S., saying that “in truth I do not see how one can make him [President Trump] responsible for the events of racism, which have arisen in a context in which the police and the local governments are in the hands of the Democratic Party, and which have been proven by evidence that little by little is emerging to have been orchestrated by the false flag financed by the globalist elites precisely in order to oppose the Republican party and the President currently in office.” Viganò adds that internationally, “Trump’s term of office is the only one for a long time in which the United States has not started any military conflicts, and in many cases peace treaties have been established and foreign military deployments have been withdrawn.” He also points to the high employment rates for workers under the Trump Presidency.
Most importantly, the Italian prelate compares Trump's policy with those working for the killing of the unborn: “I do not believe” Viganò states, “that the President is 'violent in words and also in actions,' certainly no more than those who in their own political program favor and support the killing of millions of children right up until the moment before birth and even after birth: this violence, much more hateful since it rages the most against those who are the most defenseless, does not appear to me to quite be in accord with your commitment as a religious sister.”
The archbishop also says that one needs to be discriminatory in life, just as God Himself is discriminatory with those who finally reject Him and His Commandments. “Saint Paul discriminated, just as Christ discriminated, and so too in Eden the Eternal Father discriminated, driving out our first parents who had disobeyed Him,” he writes.
Finally, Archbishop Viganò defends the use of law and order when he says, “if then you maintain that establishing public order and demanding respect for the law is a discriminatory action, I fear that I have to remind you that civil authority has a moral duty to impose respect for the laws, and in order to do this it is permitted to use proportionate force.”
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Please see here the full exchange of letters between the sister and the archbishop:
Open letter of Sister Antonietta Potente to Monsignor Carlo Maria Viganò
We are deeply indignant at the words that you, a christian and a bishop, have written in support of president Trump, the proponent of a policy that, in recent months, has shown itself to be increasingly discriminatory and violent, both with regard to the health emergency and these latest events of racism. It seems to us that using Scripture to justify the political violence of president Trump is like giving “pearls to swine” according to the evangelical words: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot (cf. Mt 7:6). The language that you use in your message to the president of the United States (Letter of June 7, 2020) stuns us as women, christians, and dominican religious, but at the same time it provokes us to distance ourselves from and denounce the ambiguity of your thought and your position, which moreover employs a dualistic and discriminatory language.
We cannot accept that a member of the Magisterium of the catholic church could use the Scriptures to support a policy that goes against every evangelical principle. We had already deplored your call for the resignation of pope Francis, but now it seems like a true and proper blasphemy to use the biblical term “children of light” to declare that Trump and also you and your entire entourage are victims of particular ecclesial and socio-political conspiracies. To deny the evidence of these recent racist actions taken by members of the police, which have been supported and defended by president Trump himself, is something that we consider to be contrary to the gospel. The children of light, whom you speak about so much, are those who walk in the light, see clearly, and denounce what they see with boldness [parrhesia].
Neither Jesus of Nazareth nor his first male and female disciples [discepoli e discepole] ever said, “Blessed are the strong, the arrogant, the oppressors,” but rather “Blessed are the humble, the meek, the lovers of justice and peace,” even in the precariousness of our human and historical condition. We cannot understand how you could forget this message and extrapolate the Johannine message of light and darkness in order to support a government as violent as the present government of the United States. Violent in words (it is enough to see the messages of President Trump in recent days) and also in actions, not only within the United States but also in its foreign policy, its international relations, even to the point of wanting to appropriate a vaccine that, like every method of treatment, ought to be the patrimony of all humanity. We are truly appalled, but at the same time we are confident that these regurgitations of racism, which you attribute – making a huge and confusing error – to the children of darkness, find no place in the human soul and above all in the soul of those women and men who are suffering. We, women religious [donne religiose], feel that we are truly “daughters of Eve,” but not according to the metaphor you have used. Rather, we think that certain attitudes, such as the language that you use, are not nourished by the children of Eve as you say, but rather by a homophobic and thus discriminatory mentality, such as president Trump, whom you support, displays. Know that we too pray for Trump and his country, but not with the same intention that you hope for. We pray as women of faith, with the same words that the true biblical tradition has taught us: we ask to work together so that the humble, not the rich, may be exalted; we ask that the powerful and bullies who humiliate and destroy the hope of peoples may exist no longer. Thus we also pray for Trump and also for you who say that you support him. It should be clear, however, that we are on the side of the weakest and oppressed, certain that it is only to them that the wisdom that the rulers of this world did not know has been revealed (cf. 1 Cor 2:8).
Sister Antonietta Potente
Theologian of the Union of Dominican Sisters of Saint Thomas Aquinas and community
(for further information: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonietta_Potente)
Source: Terra e Missione
***
Noli aemulari in malignantibus, neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
[Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. Ps 36:1]
Reverend Mother,
I have read the open letter that you sent to me last June 17, also on behalf of your community, a letter that you wrote following the letter that I sent to the President of the United States. Since you address yourself personally to me, I ask you to give me space on your site to respond to you.
I remain bewildered by several expressions in your letter: not only those regarding me personally, but also the showy misrepresentation of reality in accusing President Trump of being “the proponent of a policy that, in recent months, has shown itself to be increasingly discriminatory and violent, both with regard to the health emergency and these latest events of racism.” In truth I do not see how one can make him responsible for the events of racism, which have arisen in a context in which the police and the local governments are in the hands of the Democratic Party, and which have been proven by evidence that little by little is emerging to have been orchestrated by the false flag financed by the globalist elites precisely in order to oppose the Republican party and the President currently in office. At the international level, Trump’s term of office is the only one for a long time in which the United States has not started any military conflicts, and in many cases peace treaties have been established and foreign military deployments have been withdrawn. The economy was in strong growth (until the Covid emergency), and thus also the protection of the rights of workers.
If then you maintain that establishing public order and demanding respect for the law is a discriminatory action, I fear that I have to remind you that civil authority has a moral duty to impose respect for the laws, and in order to do this it is permitted to use proportionate force: this doctrine is taught and wonderfully explained by Saint Thomas Aquinas, the patron of the Institute to which you belong. I do not believe that the President is “violent in words and also in actions,” certainly no more than those who in their own political program favor and support the killing of millions of children right up until the moment before birth and even after birth: this violence, much more hateful since it rages the most against those who are the most defenseless, does not appear to me to quite be in accord with your commitment as a religious sister.
You reprove me for using a “dualistic and discriminating language” – in fact, it is precisely that, and I think that it cannot be otherwise, when what it is in question is the eternal battle between good and evil. The Truth is always discriminatory when error places it into question. Light is also discriminatory, for it does not tolerate darkness or those who hide in it. Just as Our Lord, the stumbling stone, is discriminatory and divisive, who will gather the just to His right hand and drive out the wicked to His left. You are my friends, if you do what I command you, says the Lord (Jn 15:4). The condition for friendship with God is obedience to His Commandments and His Law, in the bond of Charity. This too is discriminatory, because those who abuse their own freedom and do not conform themselves to the will of God will not be able to rejoice in the beatific vision, nor participate in His eternal glory. In the same way, the Sixth Commandment, which condemns sodomy as a sin that cries out for vengeance before the face of God, was given in a “homophobic and thus discriminatory mentality.” Saint Paul discriminated, just as Christ discriminated, and so too in Eden the Eternal Father discriminated, driving out our first parents who had disobeyed Him.
But if this discrimination made us through our own fault deserving of divine punishment, it also merited for us ever since the fall of our first parents the promise of a Redeemer born of the Virgin, of a new Adam and a new Eve. It was this “dualist” vision that led our fathers toward the Promised Land, in the abandonment of idolatry and the adoration of the One True God. The Martyrs too discriminated when they preferred to face torment and torture rather than burn incense to idols. The Doctors of the Church, including the Angelic Doctor discriminated when they fought against heresies and preached true doctrine. Saint Dominic discriminated when he preached the Cross. You too, Reverend Mother, discriminate when you take positions against my words, against Trump, and against discrimination. You discriminate when you speak of “we women religious [donne religiose]” placing an accent on “women” that seems to want to claim a role that is not based on adhesion to the order willed by God nor to the admonition of the Apostle of the Gentiles.
You state: “We ask to work together so that the humble and not the rich may be exalted; we ask that the powerful and bullies who humiliate and destroy the hope of peoples may exist no longer.” You recall, Reverend Mother, that the humble of whom the Gospel speaks are not necessarily those whom today’s world exploits for cynical projects of social engineering, nor the many who are torn from their Homeland in order to pander to the plans for destabilization that always enrich the usual people. And the rich are not always and necessarily evil: if Providence has granted them material goods, He asks them to become His cooperators in remembering the poor and needy. Nor are the powerful to be blamed, if their power is placed in service of the Good: it is those who abuse their power and the authority given to them who merit blame from the citizens and divine punishment.
I fear that your words find too much space for the thinking of the world, rather than a supernatural vision supported by sound doctrine and fed by solid piety. In substance, the absence of an exterior and visible sign of your religious Vows appears to me to reveal implicitly your desire to hide your religious identity (perhaps in order not to offend others’ sensibilities?), with the risk however of leaving yourself in an interior void that no ideology of this world will be able to fill. And yet it is precisely this that we ought to expect from a daughter of Saint Dominic and Saint Thomas: to ensure that the legitimate aspirations of the least ones find their own most authentic roots in Revelation, in the Christian social order, in the faithful application of the social doctrine of the Church. Because there is no Charity where there is no Truth: You teach me that they are both essential attributes of God, and it is not possible to love God if one does not also unconditionally welcome the integral Truth that He has transmitted to us in the Holy Church, the one Ark of Salvation.
You write: “It should be clear, however, that we are on the side of the weakest and oppressed, certain that it is only to them that the wisdom that the rulers of this world did not know has been revealed (cf. 1 Cor 2:8).” I imagine that in that group of the weakest and oppressed you include the fathers and mothers of families who want to give a Christian education to their children; the many who are daily persecuted simply because they profess the Catholic faith; the millions of innocents that the modern Moloch sacrifices each day on the impure altar of abortion; the elderly whom economic interests and speculations condemn to abandonment or death because they are considered useless; the children ensnared in their most tender years by the infernal ideology of gender; the young people corrupted in their morality by LGBT thought; the elderly faithful of St. Louis who were assaulted a few days ago by a group of people who praise Black Lives Matter.
In conclusion, your open letter confirms what I have written many times: the alignments are being more clearly defined day by day, and this is certainly a tribute to the truth that permits many to understand what is really happening and which side each person intends to align with.
To you, Reverend Mother, and to Your Community I send my heartfelt blessing, entrusting myself to Your prayers.
+ Carlo Maria Viganò, Archbishop
6 July 2020
Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
Official translation by Giuseppe Pellegrino
Follow Maike Dr. Maike Hickson was born and raised in Germany. She holds a PhD from the University of Hannover, Germany, after having written in Switzerland her doctoral dissertation on the history of Swiss intellectuals before and during World War II. She now lives in the U.S. and is married to Dr. Robert Hickson, and they have been blessed with two beautiful children. She is a happy housewife who likes to write articles when time permits. Dr. Hickson published in 2014 a Festschrift, a collection of some thirty essays written by thoughtful authors in honor of her husband upon his 70th birthday, which is entitled A Catholic Witness in Our Time. Hickson has closely followed the papacy of Pope Francis and the developments in the Catholic Church in Germany, and she has been writing articles on religion and politics for U.S. and European publications and websites such as LifeSiteNews, OnePeterFive, The Wanderer, Rorate Caeli, Catholicism.org, Catholic Family News, Christian Order, Notizie Pro-Vita, Corrispondenza Romana, Katholisches.info, Der Dreizehnte, Zeit-Fragen, and Westfalen-Blatt.
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