thestream--2020-04-01--Trump is Working to ‘Flatten the Curve’ of Economic Slowdown

Governor Mike DeWine ’ s early and aggressive response to the coronavirus pandemic helped Ohio minimize the damage from a public health perspective .
Similarly , President Trump is preparing the entire country for a rapid post-COVID economic resurgence , even while he works to provide state and local leaders the resources they need to fight the virus .
By now , even the national press is recognizing that DeWine stuck his neck out when he became one of the first governors in the country to institute bans on large public gatherings , cancel sporting events , close schools , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our governor demanded serious changes from Ohioans — including postponing elections — even before the Buckeye State officially recorded its first case .
The result so far has been one of the lowest per capita rates of confirmed cases in the country .
Hopefully , it will mean Ohio experiences significantly less death and suffering than places that moved more slowly .
The Trump administration has worked hard from the very beginning to ensure that leaders such as DeWine have the necessary resources to implement their coronavirus strategies .
In addition to signing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health efforts at the beginning of March , the President also declared a national emergency , freeing up more than $ 40 billion in additional funding .
While state and local leaders are responsible for managing the front-line efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus , however , the nationwide economic carnage inflicted by the measures we ’ re taking to save lives requires a much greater remedy than any state can provide .
Only the federal government can fund initiatives such as nationwide paid leave , emergency unemployment benefits for workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks to make sure all Americans have support during these trying times .
Only the federal government can prevent small businesses and critical American industries from going belly up over an unforeseeable , catastrophic , but temporary crisis .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Even as he marshals the vast resources of the United States government to get state officials such as Governor DeWine the resources they need to combat COVID-19 , President Trump is already looking ahead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As he has said , we can not let the cure become worse than the disease .
If our efforts to save lives plunge survivors into years of poverty and destitution then our efforts will have been in vain .
That ’ s why the President ’ s economic team has been working around the clock with leaders of both parties in Congress to devise an effective fiscal response while Doctors Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx and the rest of the experts on the White House coronavirus task force focus on fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trillion relief bill is a bold and necessary response to the storm of economic uncertainty that has already left more than three million Americans jobless .
Once the legislation takes effect , these workers will receive an additional $ 600 per week in unemployment benefits — along with a four-month eligibility extension — to ensure they can maintain themselves and their families during this period of crisis .
Unemployment isn ’ t the only hardship the coronavirus is causing , though , which is why most Americans will also receive substantial payments in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than $ 75,000 will get $ 1,200 , and since parents qualify for an extra $ 500 per child , a married couple with two children will receive a total of $ 3,400 .
President Trump and his team understand that Americans must have both the ability and the confidence to re-engage in the economy once the danger has passed .
Industries that are especially impacted by coronavirus-related shutdowns — such as aerospace , airlines , and hospitality — will also need direct government support in order to survive weeks or months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as cruel , to allow a virus that originated in China to destroy America ’ s economic potential and permanently destroy millions of American jobs .
Just as Governor DeWine took aggressive , forward-looking steps to protect public health in Ohio , President Trump is doing the same thing for the nation ’ s economy while simultaneously ensuring that effective local officials like DeWine are getting adequate federal support for their efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Ken Blackwell served as the mayor of Cincinnati , Ohio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio Secretary of State .
He currently serves as an adviser to the Family Research Council and on the board directors for Club for Growth and National Taxpayers Union .

Governor Mike DeWine’s early and aggressive response to the coronavirus pandemic helped Ohio minimize the damage from a public health perspective. Similarly, President Trump is preparing the entire country for a rapid post-COVID economic resurgence, even while he works to provide state and local leaders the resources they need to fight the virus.
Coronavirus Strategies
By now, even the national press is recognizing that DeWine stuck his neck out when he became one of the first governors in the country to institute bans on large public gatherings, cancel sporting events, close schools, and institute a state of emergency. Our governor demanded serious changes from Ohioans — including postponing elections — even before the Buckeye State officially recorded its first case.
The result so far has been one of the lowest per capita rates of confirmed cases in the country. Hopefully, it will mean Ohio experiences significantly less death and suffering than places that moved more slowly.
The Trump administration has worked hard from the very beginning to ensure that leaders such as DeWine have the necessary resources to implement their coronavirus strategies. In addition to signing an $8.3 billion bill to fund public health efforts at the beginning of March, the President also declared a national emergency, freeing up more than $40 billion in additional funding.
A Greater Remedy
While state and local leaders are responsible for managing the front-line efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus, however, the nationwide economic carnage inflicted by the measures we’re taking to save lives requires a much greater remedy than any state can provide. Only the federal government can fund initiatives such as nationwide paid leave, emergency unemployment benefits for workers who lose their jobs, and stimulus checks to make sure all Americans have support during these trying times. Only the federal government can prevent small businesses and critical American industries from going belly up over an unforeseeable, catastrophic, but temporary crisis.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Even as he marshals the vast resources of the United States government to get state officials such as Governor DeWine the resources they need to combat COVID-19, President Trump is already looking ahead to the inevitable economic fallout of this fight. As he has said, we cannot let the cure become worse than the disease. If our efforts to save lives plunge survivors into years of poverty and destitution then our efforts will have been in vain.
An Effective Fiscal Response
That’s why the President’s economic team has been working around the clock with leaders of both parties in Congress to devise an effective fiscal response while Doctors Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx and the rest of the experts on the White House coronavirus task force focus on fighting the coronavirus.
The massive $2.2 trillion relief bill is a bold and necessary response to the storm of economic uncertainty that has already left more than three million Americans jobless. Once the legislation takes effect, these workers will receive an additional $600 per week in unemployment benefits — along with a four-month eligibility extension — to ensure they can maintain themselves and their families during this period of crisis.
Stimulus Payments
Unemployment isn’t the only hardship the coronavirus is causing, though, which is why most Americans will also receive substantial payments in the very near future. Individuals making less than $75,000 will get $1,200, and since parents qualify for an extra $500 per child, a married couple with two children will receive a total of $3,400. President Trump and his team understand that Americans must have both the ability and the confidence to re-engage in the economy once the danger has passed.
Industries that are especially impacted by coronavirus-related shutdowns — such as aerospace, airlines, and hospitality — will also need direct government support in order to survive weeks or months without revenue. It would be foolhardy, as well as cruel, to allow a virus that originated in China to destroy America’s economic potential and permanently destroy millions of American jobs.
Moving Forward
Just as Governor DeWine took aggressive, forward-looking steps to protect public health in Ohio, President Trump is doing the same thing for the nation’s economy while simultaneously ensuring that effective local officials like DeWine are getting adequate federal support for their efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Ken Blackwell served as the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Ohio State Treasurer, and Ohio Secretary of State. He currently serves as an adviser to the Family Research Council and on the board directors for Club for Growth and National Taxpayers Union.


thestream--2020-04-01--In Lockdown, But Still Connecting? 7 Hints for Speaking to a Camera

Suddenly , out of the blue — or in this case out of Wuhan — you find yourself teleconferencing .
Thanks to social distancing you ’ ve been tossed into the world of Zoom and Skype and Facetime , for work , for play , for social engagements … and in the case of many pastors , sermons .
For some , the camera can be as scary as COVID-19 .
For most , we just haven ’ t had need to know the best practices for speaking to a lens .
Until now .
Karl Faase is here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tree Media , an Australian-based ministry dedicated to “ telling the story of the game-changing message of Jesus.
” He ’ s put together “ 7 Hints for Speaking to Camera.
” PS .
We would like to add an eighth tip , courtesy of our own John Zmirak .
He learned this one the hard way a few weeks back during an appearance on Blaze TV .
Make sure you properly set your alarm clock to ensure you have time to shave and clean yourself up before you have to be on @ @

Suddenly, out of the blue — or in this case out of Wuhan — you find yourself teleconferencing. Thanks to social distancing you’ve been tossed into the world of Zoom and Skype and Facetime, for work, for play, for social engagements … and in the case of many pastors, sermons.
For some, the camera can be as scary as COVID-19. For most, we just haven’t had need to know the best practices for speaking to a lens. Until now.
Karl Faase is here to help. Faase is CEO of Olive Tree Media, an Australian-based ministry dedicated to “telling the story of the game-changing message of Jesus.” He’s put together “7 Hints for Speaking to Camera.”
PS. We would like to add an eighth tip, courtesy of our own John Zmirak. He learned this one the hard way a few weeks back during an appearance on Blaze TV. Make sure you properly set your alarm clock to ensure you have time to shave and clean yourself up before you have to be on camera.


thestream--2020-04-01--Military Photo of the Day: Mercy in the City of Angels

A U.S. Navy hospital corpsman confirms white and red blood cell counts on a test sample aboard the deployed hospital @ @ @ @ @ 26 , 2020 .
Thank you to everyone aboard the USNS Mercy , which is @ @ @ @ @ of Los Angeles , for helping the sick .
You are American heroes !
Support @ @ @ @ @ Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .

A U.S. Navy hospital corpsman confirms white and red blood cell counts on a test sample aboard the deployed hospital ship USNS Mercy on March 26, 2020.
Thank you to everyone aboard the USNS Mercy, which is currently docked at the Port of Los Angeles, for helping the sick. You are American heroes!
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.


thestream--2020-04-02--‘I’ve Never Done This’: MSNBC Host Asks Pastor TD Jakes to Pray on Live TV

An MSNBC host shocked viewers on Monday when he asked popular megachurch pastor Bishop T.D .
Jakes to lead viewers in prayer .
The moment unfolded during MSNBC Live when host Craig Melvin was speaking with Jakes about the COVID-19 crisis .
Melvin abruptly posed a fascinating question .
“ For folks who aren ’ t able to get to church yesterday , I ’ ve never actually done this on the air , ” Melvin proclaimed .
“ Can you lead us in prayer for 30 seconds ?
” Jakes responded affirmatively and proceeded to offer the following invocation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we bow our heads to you in humility , understanding that we are not competent in and of ourselves to handle this kind of global calamity .
We look to you , Lord , to be the source , the strength , the help , the light that we need .
Strengthen our first responders .
Strengthen even our broadcast people .
Strengthen all of us whose lives have been devastated and disrupted and give us the peace that passes all understanding .
In Christ ’ s name we pray , Amen.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
If you ’ re looking for more spiritual inspiration , consider watching sermons and uplifting messages right now on PureFlix.com .
Billy Hallowell is the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com , the former senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze ; he has contributed to The Washington Post , Human Events , The Daily Caller , Mediaite , and The Huffington Post , among other news sites .
He has also appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HuffPo Live , among others .
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider .
Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows .
You can get a free , one-month trial here .

An MSNBC host shocked viewers on Monday when he asked popular megachurch pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes to lead viewers in prayer.
The moment unfolded during MSNBC Live when host Craig Melvin was speaking with Jakes about the COVID-19 crisis. Melvin abruptly posed a fascinating question.
“For folks who aren’t able to get to church yesterday, I’ve never actually done this on the air,” Melvin proclaimed. “Can you lead us in prayer for 30 seconds?”
Jakes responded affirmatively and proceeded to offer the following invocation:
“Our Father and our God, we bow our heads to you in humility, understanding that we are not competent in and of ourselves to handle this kind of global calamity. We look to you, Lord, to be the source, the strength, the help, the light that we need. Strengthen our first responders. Strengthen even our broadcast people. Strengthen all of us whose lives have been devastated and disrupted and give us the peace that passes all understanding. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Watch the powerful moment unfold:
If you’re looking for more spiritual inspiration, consider watching sermons and uplifting messages right now on PureFlix.com.
Billy Hallowell is the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com, the former senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze; he has contributed to The Washington Post, Human Events, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, and The Huffington Post, among other news sites. He has also appeared on Fox News, FOXNews.com LIVE and HuffPo Live, among others.
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here.


thestream--2020-04-01--Of Course Wearing a Mask Will Reduce Your Chances of Contracting COVID-19

I never bought the advice from official groups against wearing masks to reduce the chance of viral infection .
These days , when my wife and I go to a grocery store or drug store , we wear masks .
We happen to have high-powered N-95 masks , which we had bought for household work long before the COVID-19 pandemic .
But if we only had lower-grade masks , we would have worn those .
Early in the COVID-19 crisis , the World Health Organization claimed that people without symptoms of the sickness didn ’ t need masks .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands of some people , masks could do more harm than good .
For instance , Dr. April Baller at WHO assured us : “ If you do not have any physical symptoms , such as fever , cough or runny nose , you do not need to wear a medical mask .
Masks alone can give you a false feeling of protection and can even be a source of infection when not used properly.
” This line was echoed in the U.S. by the CDC .
Both groups have stood behind this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resistance from other experts and the public at large .
( # MasksforAll has recently been trending on Twitter . )
I was a skeptic from the beginning , based on two facts .
First , the advice was contradictory , since these same officials complained that medical providers were at risk because of a shortage of masks .
They seemed to be saying : Masks won ’ t keep the general public from contracting the virus , and besides , health care workers need them !
Our surgeon general , Dr. Jerome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a single tweet : It doesn ’ t take a Ph.D. in logic to see the problem : Either non-sick people don ’ t need the masks , or medical workers need them .
After all , medical workers are members of the set of non-sick people .
If masks protect medical workers , wouldn ’ t they protect grocers and mechanics as well ?
Second , even without the contradiction , it just seemed obvious to me that almost any mask , used properly , will reduce the risk of either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , we ’ re told that we should avoid touching our faces , mouths , and noses .
If wearing masks reduces the chances doing that , then wearing a mask will make some difference .
What ’ s With the Official Advice ?
Let ’ s assume officials at WHO and CDC aren ’ t stupid or evil .
So , what ’ s with the weird advice ?
What I think is going on is that these groups are trying to prevent folks in flyover country from buying and hoarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a shortage of masks for doctors , nurses , and the like who were working directly with the sick .
Indeed , the CDC made the point openly : “ If you are NOT sick : You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick ( and they are not able to wear a facemask ) .
Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t mean the CDC hates non-medical people .
Perhaps they reasoned this way : If people with little risk of catching the virus buy up all the good masks , then people in the hot spots won ’ t have enough masks .
And that , in turn , could lead to more people catching the virus , getting sick and dying .
Therefore , it ’ s best to tell people outside the hot spots not to wear masks .
That ’ s an interesting conjecture .
An economist might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But even if it ’ s true , it doesn ’ t mean that wearing a mask won ’ t give you some protection .
Still less does it mean that wearing a mask could put you more at risk .
In other words , wearing a mask could still reduce your chance of picking up the virus .
But Viruses Are Really Small !
There ’ s a secondary claim that someone brings up on Twitter whenever I complain about the official advice : Not all masks will block teeny tiny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing a government-approved N-95 mask , then the virus might slip right through , like a grain of sand passing through a cattle grate .
Actually , the CDC claims absurdly , “ For the general American public , there is no added health benefit to wear a respiratory protective device ( such as an N95 respirator ) .
” But , let ’ s grant the point .
Yes , some masks are better than others .
And wearing any mask propped up on your forehead won ’ t do much .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus-infused fingers on the inside of a mask will defeat the purpose .
Still , surely wearing any clean mask , even a bandanna , over your mouth and nose will stop some of the spittle from the guy next to you at Costco who sneezes in the air .
Stopping droplets matters , since they often carry viruses .
Even if an isolated virus might slip through the weave of a mask , the mask could stop a droplet of spit carrying a virus .
I mean , the CDC says to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than into your hand or into the open air .
( This is solid science .
MythBusters proved it . )
If that ’ s good advice , then surely wearing a mask would reduce the chances of sucking the virus into your lungs .
Ditto when it comes to preventing you from biting your nails or picking your nose .
Do we really need to wait for randomized , controlled studies to prove this ?
Well , no .
We don ’ t need to wait .
In fact , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide what to do right now .
Should you wear a mask when you go to the grocery store or not ?
I ’ d say yes even if no one had ever studied the matter .
Still , there are studies .
Dr. Zoë Harcombe has done a systematic review of the studies that tested whether masks and other interventions reduce the spread of infections in a population .
Long story short : Yes , it helps to wear masks .
Among the studies are “ meta-analyses , ” which are studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Harcombe notes , concludes that A 2020 follow up study by other researchers also found strong evidence that masks can reduce transmission of viruses .
You can read her whole discussion here .
This may be the first clear lesson of the crisis : When officials contradict both themselves and common sense , you should probably trust common sense .
Jay Richards is the Executive Editor of The Stream , an Assistant Research Professor in the School of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America , and a Senior Fellow @ @ @ @ @

I never bought the advice from official groups against wearing masks to reduce the chance of viral infection. These days, when my wife and I go to a grocery store or drug store, we wear masks. We happen to have high-powered N-95 masks, which we had bought for household work long before the COVID-19 pandemic. But if we only had lower-grade masks, we would have worn those.
Early in the COVID-19 crisis, the World Health Organization claimed that people without symptoms of the sickness didn’t need masks. In fact, they said that in the hands of some people, masks could do more harm than good.
For instance, Dr. April Baller at WHO assured us: “If you do not have any physical symptoms, such as fever, cough or runny nose, you do not need to wear a medical mask. Masks alone can give you a false feeling of protection and can even be a source of infection when not used properly.”
This line was echoed in the U.S. by the CDC.
Both groups have stood behind this advice, even in the face of resistance from other experts and the public at large. (#MasksforAll has recently been trending on Twitter.)
The Contradiction
I was a skeptic from the beginning, based on two facts.
First, the advice was contradictory, since these same officials complained that medical providers were at risk because of a shortage of masks. They seemed to be saying: Masks won’t keep the general public from contracting the virus, and besides, health care workers need them!
Our surgeon general, Dr. Jerome Adams, managed to pack the contradiction into a single tweet:
Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!
https://t.co/UxZRwxxKL9 — U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020
It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in logic to see the problem: Either non-sick people don’t need the masks, or medical workers need them. After all, medical workers are members of the set of non-sick people. If masks protect medical workers, wouldn’t they protect grocers and mechanics as well?
Common Sense
Second, even without the contradiction, it just seemed obvious to me that almost any mask, used properly, will reduce the risk of either getting or transmitting a virus. For instance, we’re told that we should avoid touching our faces, mouths, and noses. If wearing masks reduces the chances of doing that, then wearing a mask will make some difference.
Surely wearing any clean mask, even a bandanna, over your mouth and nose will stop some of the spittle from the guy next to you at Costco who sneezes in the air.
What’s With the Official Advice?
Let’s assume officials at WHO and CDC aren’t stupid or evil. So, what’s with the weird advice? What I think is going on is that these groups are trying to prevent folks in flyover country from buying and hoarding masks. Why? Because that would create a shortage of masks for doctors, nurses, and the like who were working directly with the sick.
Indeed, the CDC made the point openly: “If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
This doesn’t mean the CDC hates non-medical people. Perhaps they reasoned this way: If people with little risk of catching the virus buy up all the good masks, then people in the hot spots won’t have enough masks. And that, in turn, could lead to more people catching the virus, getting sick and dying. Therefore, it’s best to tell people outside the hot spots not to wear masks.
That’s an interesting conjecture. An economist might even find a way to test it. But even if it’s true, it doesn’t mean that wearing a mask won’t give you some protection. Still less does it mean that wearing a mask could put you more at risk.
In other words, wearing a mask could still reduce your chance of picking up the virus.
But Viruses Are Really Small!
There’s a secondary claim that someone brings up on Twitter whenever I complain about the official advice: Not all masks will block teeny tiny viruses. Unless you’re properly wearing a government-approved N-95 mask, then the virus might slip right through, like a grain of sand passing through a cattle grate.
Actually, the CDC claims absurdly, “For the general American public, there is no added health benefit to wear a respiratory protective device (such as an N95 respirator).”
But, let’s grant the point. Yes, some masks are better than others. And wearing any mask propped up on your forehead won’t do much. Oh, and rubbing your snotty, virus-infused fingers on the inside of a mask will defeat the purpose.
Still, surely wearing any clean mask, even a bandanna, over your mouth and nose will stop some of the spittle from the guy next to you at Costco who sneezes in the air. Stopping droplets matters, since they often carry viruses. Even if an isolated virus might slip through the weave of a mask, the mask could stop a droplet of spit carrying a virus.
I mean, the CDC says to sneeze into the joint of your elbow rather than into your hand or into the open air. (This is solid science. MythBusters proved it.) If that’s good advice, then surely wearing a mask would reduce the chances of sucking the virus into your lungs.
Ditto when it comes to preventing you from biting your nails or picking your nose.
Do we really need to wait for randomized, controlled studies to prove this?
Studies Show …
Well, no. We don’t need to wait. In fact, we can’t. We have to decide what to do right now. Should you wear a mask when you go to the grocery store or not?
I’d say yes even if no one had ever studied the matter. Still, there are studies. Dr. Zoë Harcombe has done a systematic review of the studies that tested whether masks and other interventions reduce the spread of infections in a population.
Long story short: Yes, it helps to wear masks. Among the studies are “meta-analyses,” which are studies of studies. One such 2011 study, Harcombe notes, concludes that
the following interventions can help — frequent handwashing and barriers to transmission such as isolation and wearing protective clothing (masks, gloves and gowns). The review found “no evidence that the more expensive, irritating and uncomfortable N95 respirators were superior to simple surgical masks.”
A 2020 follow up study by other researchers also found strong evidence that masks can reduce transmission of viruses.
You can read her whole discussion here.
This may be the first clear lesson of the crisis: When officials contradict both themselves and common sense, you should probably trust common sense.
Jay Richards is the Executive Editor of The Stream, an Assistant Research Professor in the School of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America, and a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute.


thestream--2020-04-01--Samaritan’s Purse Builds Field Hospital for Coronavirus Patients in Central Park

“ I think that isolation is one of the hardest parts of this whole situation , ” Stephanie Morales said .
She ’ s a physician ’ s assistant with Samaritan ’ s Purse who flew to Cremona , Italy , to work at the field hospital there .
She ’ s found that prayer makes a difference , maybe because praying with people helps them see they ’ re not alone .
The Lord is with them .
He ’ ll be there when no one else can be .
In a video produced by the non-profit , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are separated from their families showing visible and measurable signs of anxiety .
She asks if she can pray for them and has seen their heart rates slow down .
“ God ’ s peace is so good and it ’ s measurable.
” “ Chronicles says that if we humble ourselves and we pray that God hears us and He wants to deliver us from evil , ” Morales said in the video .
“ We ’ re doing everything medically that we can do .
But we ’ re adding prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole place and just asking God to come through for the Cremona hospital and also all over the world .
Just the Lord ’ s mercy to please pour out on all of us.
” This will be happening in Central Park .
Samaritan ’ s Purse tweeted Tuesday that their medical personnel are completing the process of setting up an emergency field hospital in Central Park for COVID-19 patients .
The repository unit consists of 14 tents and 68 beds .
The Central Park unit will receive patients from the nearby Mount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samaritan ’ s Purse .
Central Park seems an unlikely place in the world for Samaritan ’ s Purse to set up shop .
It ’ s “ the most improbable thing , ” said Dr. Elliott Tenpenny .
The doctor fought Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is now leading the Central Park field hospital .
New York badly needs it .
The state has the most cases and deaths in the nation by far : 75,629 active cases and 1,941 total deaths as of Wednesday .
Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking healthcare professionals across the country , if you don ’ t have a healthcare crisis in your community , please come help us in New York now.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
The Navy sent a 1,000-bed hospital ship to Manhattan on Monday .
Unlike the Samaritan ’ s Purse field hospital , these beds are to alleviate the non-COVID-19 burden on hospitals .
Some publications criticized Samaritan ’ s Purse ’ s stance on marriage and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faith .
A headline on the liberal website Gothamist reads , “ Group Behind Central Park Coronavirus Tent Hospital Asks Volunteers To Support Anti-Gay Agenda.
” Another on the same site declared : “ De Blasio “ Very Concerned ” About Anti-Gay Evangelical Group Running Central Park Coronavirus Hospital.
” Mt .
Sinai released a statement saying they disagreed with Samaritan ’ s Purse on LGBTQ matters and explained why the non-profit is uniquely equipped to serve .
Samaritan ’ s Purse retweeted part four of six of the statement , part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Samaritan ’ s Purse are unified in our mission to provide the same world-class care to anyone and everyone who needs it , no questions asked .
We are all focused on one thing : saving lives.
” The Hope That We Have Samaritan ’ s Purse President an CEO Franklin Graham told former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on Huckabee that COVID-19 is unlike other crises the organization has responded to in that it is a “ worldwide pandemic.
” “ The world is upside down , ” Graham told Mike Huckabee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scared .
They don ’ t know where to go , what to do .
And I can tell you right now , as Christians , I believe this is a great opportunity for us to stand up , to be counted , and to let people know the hope that we have — and that ’ s our faith in Jesus Christ.
” Aliya Kuykendall is a Staff Writer for The Stream .
You can follow Aliya on Twitter @ AliyaKuykendall and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

“I think that isolation is one of the hardest parts of this whole situation,” Stephanie Morales said. She’s a physician’s assistant with Samaritan’s Purse who flew to Cremona, Italy, to work at the field hospital there. She’s found that prayer makes a difference, maybe because praying with people helps them see they’re not alone. The Lord is with them. He’ll be there when no one else can be.
In a video produced by the non-profit, she reports that she has seen patients who are separated from their families showing visible and measurable signs of anxiety. She asks if she can pray for them and has seen their heart rates slow down. “God’s peace is so good and it’s measurable.”
“Chronicles says that if we humble ourselves and we pray that God hears us and He wants to deliver us from evil,” Morales said in the video. “We’re doing everything medically that we can do. But we’re adding prayer to all of our patients in this whole place and just asking God to come through for the Cremona hospital and also all over the world. Just the Lord’s mercy to please pour out on all of us.”
“God’s peace is so good and it’s measurable.” Hear from one of our @SamaritansPurse medical team members in Cremona, Italy, and how prayer is making a difference with COVID-19 patients. pic.twitter.com/c4BOhetdUY — Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) March 30, 2020
This will be happening in Central Park. Samaritan’s Purse tweeted Tuesday that their medical personnel are completing the process of setting up an emergency field hospital in Central Park for COVID-19 patients.
This morning, our team is finishing preparation of our respiratory care unit in Central Park. The doors of our hospital will open to patients later today. #coronavirus https://t.co/ZP6tGeI5XL pic.twitter.com/On1ExFf8db — Samaritan's Purse (@SamaritansPurse) March 31, 2020
The repository unit consists of 14 tents and 68 beds. The Central Park unit will receive patients from the nearby Mount Sinai Health System but be staffed by Samaritan’s Purse.
The Most Improbable Thing
Central Park seems an unlikely place in the world for Samaritan’s Purse to set up shop. It’s “the most improbable thing,” said Dr. Elliott Tenpenny. The doctor fought Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is now leading the Central Park field hospital.
New York badly needs it. The state has the most cases and deaths in the nation by far: 75,629 active cases and 1,941 total deaths as of Wednesday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “I am asking healthcare professionals across the country, if you don’t have a healthcare crisis in your community, please come help us in New York now.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The Navy sent a 1,000-bed hospital ship to Manhattan on Monday. Unlike the Samaritan’s Purse field hospital, these beds are to alleviate the non-COVID-19 burden on hospitals.
Some publications criticized Samaritan’s Purse’s stance on marriage and abortion, expressed in their statement of faith. A headline on the liberal website Gothamist reads, “Group Behind Central Park Coronavirus Tent Hospital Asks Volunteers To Support Anti-Gay Agenda.” Another on the same site declared: “De Blasio “Very Concerned” About Anti-Gay Evangelical Group Running Central Park Coronavirus Hospital.”
Mt. Sinai released a statement saying they disagreed with Samaritan’s Purse on LGBTQ matters and explained why the non-profit is uniquely equipped to serve.
Update on #COVID19 from Dr. Charney and @DrDavidReich: Mount Sinai and @SamaritansPurse are unified in our mission to provide the same world-class care to anyone and everyone who needs it, no questions asked. 4/6 pic.twitter.com/9j6i1usdWd — Mount Sinai Health System (@MountSinaiNYC) April 1, 2020
Samaritan’s Purse retweeted part four of six of the statement, part of which reads: “Mount Sinai and Samaritan’s Purse are unified in our mission to provide the same world-class care to anyone and everyone who needs it, no questions asked. We are all focused on one thing: saving lives.”
The Hope That We Have
Samaritan’s Purse President an CEO Franklin Graham told former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on Huckabee that COVID-19 is unlike other crises the organization has responded to in that it is a “worldwide pandemic.”
“The world is upside down,” Graham told Mike Huckabee. “People are afraid. People are scared. They don’t know where to go, what to do. And I can tell you right now, as Christians, I believe this is a great opportunity for us to stand up, to be counted, and to let people know the hope that we have — and that’s our faith in Jesus Christ.”
Aliya Kuykendall is a Staff Writer for The Stream. You can follow Aliya on Twitter @AliyaKuykendall and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-04-01--What We Can Learn From Medieval Monks About Isolation

When I first visited a Benedictine monastery the monk who opened the door said , “ Follow me .
I ’ ll show you to your cell.
” The word “ cell ” comes from the Latin cella , the word for a small room , a store room or a hut .
Each monk lives alone in his own room , and in some monastic traditions the cell has two doors : one into the larger monastery and another into the monk ’ s own , individual walled garden .
What is the point of living in such isolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monks went out to live in the desert caves of Egypt in the fourth century .
They did so in an action of repentance and retreat from the world .
They went to be alone with God and the word “ monk ” comes from the Greek word monos — which means alone .
The monks were isolated for the spiritual motivation of finding God in solitude .
They were imitating Jesus who often went into the mountains alone to pray .
Down through the ages monks and nuns have continued this tradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reminder that while we are called to love our neighbor we are first called to an exclusive , one-on-one relationship with God .
Guidelines for Making the Most of Isolation Many of us now are facing isolation because of the coronavirus .
To find ways to cope with the isolation we can turn to the practical experience of the monks and nuns who have perfected the art of solitude .
What are some basic guidelines for making the most of isolation ?
First is the need for routine .
A routine gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first fixed points in the routine should be a time of prayer or meditation .
In a monastery the day is punctuated with up to seven periods of prayer .
Short services that are composed of a hymn , some psalms , a Scripture reading and prayer make up what is called the “ Divine Office.
” Christians of all traditions should keep their “ quiet time ” morning and evening as the fixed points in their schedule .
Even those for whom a formal religious practice is not part of their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points in the day to sit still , meditate and find the calm point within .
The monks broke their day down into three main activities : work , prayer and study .
We have already seen how prayer becomes the backbone of the schedule .
Work and study fit into the day in other equal parts .
The work might simply be the day-to-day routine of cooking , cleaning , gardening , helping the family and keeping life ticking over .
However , it might include your work from home , keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family or taking up a creative hobby or past time during your confinement .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Study for the medieval monks would have meant reading classic books , theology and sacred Scripture .
For us “ study ” can include anything that feeds the mind positively .
With our modern technology this could simply be reading , but it could also be watching a good film , listening to an educating podcast , taking part in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new language or studying that special area of interest that you ’ ve been putting off .
Breaking the day into segments of work , prayer and reading is practical because we get bored with any one activity for too long .
Plus , as we change gears from work to prayer and from prayer to study the three activities cross pollinate one another .
What we study enlightens our prayer and what we pray empowers our work .
All three together help to give life meaning and direction .
Best of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole person .
We are all little trinities of body , mind and spirit .
The three parts of us need to be nurtured and nourished .
Work builds up the body .
Study builds up the mind and Prayer nourishes the Spirit .
Social distancing and isolation is nothing new , and learning from the wisdom of the past can help change this present crisis from a time of worry , fear and aimless waste into a productive , positive time—a time in which our lives can broaden and deepen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a Catholic priest working in South Carolina .
He is the author of Listen My Son-St Benedict for Fathers .
Visit his website and blog at dwightlongenecker.com

When I first visited a Benedictine monastery the monk who opened the door said, “Follow me. I’ll show you to your cell.”
“A cell!” I thought. “Just like a prison!”
The word “cell” comes from the Latin cella, the word for a small room, a store room or a hut. Each monk lives alone in his own room, and in some monastic traditions the cell has two doors: one into the larger monastery and another into the monk’s own, individual walled garden.
What is the point of living in such isolation? You might ask. The first monks went out to live in the desert caves of Egypt in the fourth century. They did so in an action of repentance and retreat from the world. They went to be alone with God and the word “monk” comes from the Greek word monos — which means alone.
The monks were isolated for the spiritual motivation of finding God in solitude. They were imitating Jesus who often went into the mountains alone to pray. Down through the ages monks and nuns have continued this tradition as an example for all people and a reminder that while we are called to love our neighbor we are first called to an exclusive, one-on-one relationship with God.
Guidelines for Making the Most of Isolation
Many of us now are facing isolation because of the coronavirus. To find ways to cope with the isolation we can turn to the practical experience of the monks and nuns who have perfected the art of solitude.
What are some basic guidelines for making the most of isolation? First is the need for routine. A routine gives structure to the day, and the first fixed points in the routine should be a time of prayer or meditation.
The monks broke their day down into three main activities: work, prayer and study.
In a monastery the day is punctuated with up to seven periods of prayer. Short services that are composed of a hymn, some psalms, a Scripture reading and prayer make up what is called the “Divine Office.” Christians of all traditions should keep their “quiet time” morning and evening as the fixed points in their schedule. Even those for whom a formal religious practice is not part of their lives can build a routine around two fixed points in the day to sit still, meditate and find the calm point within.
The monks broke their day down into three main activities: work, prayer and study. We have already seen how prayer becomes the backbone of the schedule. Work and study fit into the day in other equal parts. The work might simply be the day-to-day routine of cooking, cleaning, gardening, helping the family and keeping life ticking over. However, it might include your work from home, keeping in touch with other housebound friends and family or taking up a creative hobby or past time during your confinement.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Study for the medieval monks would have meant reading classic books, theology and sacred Scripture. For us “study” can include anything that feeds the mind positively. With our modern technology this could simply be reading, but it could also be watching a good film, listening to an educating podcast, taking part in an online book club, learning a new language or studying that special area of interest that you’ve been putting off.
Meaning and Direction
Breaking the day into segments of work, prayer and reading is practical because we get bored with any one activity for too long. Plus, as we change gears from work to prayer and from prayer to study the three activities cross pollinate one another. What we study enlightens our prayer and what we pray empowers our work. All three together help to give life meaning and direction.
Best of all, work, prayer and study improve the whole person. We are all little trinities of body, mind and spirit. The three parts of us need to be nurtured and nourished. Work builds up the body. Study builds up the mind and Prayer nourishes the Spirit.
Social distancing and isolation is nothing new, and learning from the wisdom of the past can help change this present crisis from a time of worry, fear and aimless waste into a productive, positive time—a time in which our lives can broaden and deepen in the best of ways.
Dwight Longenecker is a Catholic priest working in South Carolina. He is the author of Listen My Son-St Benedict for Fathers. Visit his website and blog at dwightlongenecker.com


thestream--2020-04-01--Are We Living Through an April Fool’s Prank from Hell?

Okay , I have a theory .
I could be wrong .
( Darwin was , and I ’ m not as smart as Darwin . )
But let me lay it out for you and offer some pieces of evidence .
Events will reveal , in the long run , if I am right .
Here goes : Satan , or some lesser devil , is trying to fool us into thinking that these are the End Times .
Right now , as in this week or this month , the world is going to end .
Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what that will mean .
Some think they might be raptured , and their driverless minivans sent spinning onto medians all across the Bible Belt .
The kind of people I know ?
They ’ re more likely to believe what the Virgin Mary supposedly told an Italian friar .
We will see ( rather , won ’ t see ) “ three days of darkness ” when the air will be poisoned and the only visible light will come from special blessed candles available online from certain websites .
Support The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Such details aren ’ t important now .
Because I don ’ t think the End is near .
But I think the Enemy wants to provoke us into dreading it .
He wants us to eat too much , drink too much , spend too much , and forget about the future .
Because we ’ re not going to have one .
The events in Revelation will come on us quite soon , and there ’ s nothing we can do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staring Up at the Judas Tree Sure , we just might be saved , but he ’ ll urge us to despair of that prospect too .
The Enemy will magnify our sins and minimize God ’ s grace , as he did to the guilt-crazed Judas .
And he ’ ll have a halter ready for us , over there by the Judas Tree , which he ’ ll whisper to us is really the only sure way out .
Our children ?
They won ’ t grow up , won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
They ’ ll all be gone soon , in horrible ways he ’ s happy to encourage us to imagine .
Our favorite restaurants and shops ?
They ’ ll all be closed , and those waiters and chefs and small business owners ?
They ’ ll be destitute and alone , in quarantined apartments eating their last cans of cat food till the seas all boil away .
Our churches ?
They ’ ll never reopen .
They ’ ll go broke during this crisis , and their doors won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down from heaven .
Sure we could pray at home , but what ’ s the point ?
Or maybe we ’ ll get around to it after reading … three more hours of bad news on Twitter .
Or screaming back at CNN on television .
Or crawling into a bottle .
Why do I think that all of this hails from Hell ?
Well , where else would such “ encouragement ” come from ?
But I have other reasons .
I think the Enemy ’ s urging fallen , faithless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruelly than normal , in an orchestrated effort to make the church go crazy .
And I find it a daily struggle to push back against that myself .
To wit , just a scant selection of insane , infuriating incidents : • Abortion clinics stay open in New York City , while the mayor threatens to seize the property of churches that don ’ t stay closed .
• A massive gay pride march scheduled for June in Britain will apparently defy the country ’ s quarantine .
Will authorities step in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold your breath .
Gay bath houses stayed open , spreading AIDS , for years until most of their customers simply died off .
• Our media are acting like the Hutu media in Rwanda before the anti-Tutsi genocide started .
They ’ re scapegoating Christians as little better than “ cockroaches , ” science deniers and infection vectors .
See how The New York Times went after evangelicals last week .
Then look at their “ news ” story painting Jerry Falwell , Jr. , as a 2020 Typhoid Mary for letting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s dorms .
Instead of going home and possibly infecting their parents .
• Local governments are closing gun stores , but releasing criminals on the streets for the criminals ’ “ safety.
” Then they ’ re threatening to fill those ( infected ? )
jails with … citizens who try to go to church or buy a gun , or otherwise violate the quarantine .
• Too many clergy are treating this lockdown as straight-up vacation time .
Bishops in several states have banned even “ driveby ” blessings and confessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ norms .
• Meanwhile a priest who runs a major Catholic charity in Austria urged people locked at home to take advantage of … a porn site .
I could go on , but why help the devil ?
He ’ s lashing his minions into overdrive these days , precisely to beat us down with discouragement , crush us with paranoia , and generally to poke us and prod us until we ’ re ready to “ curse God , and die.
” ( Job 2 : 9 ) That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of the soul .
Let ’ s cultivate a spirit of trust in God , and humbly remind ourselves that His plans exceed our imaginings .
While we should always have judgment day ( the world ’ s or our own ) in the back of our minds , we shouldn ’ t fill our minds with frightening scenarios taken from Revelation .
Let ’ s remember Christ as He always is for His people : the Good Shepherd , seeking the lost .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

Okay, I have a theory. I could be wrong. (Darwin was, and I’m not as smart as Darwin.) But let me lay it out for you and offer some pieces of evidence. Events will reveal, in the long run, if I am right. Here goes:
Satan, or some lesser devil, is trying to fool us into thinking that these are the End Times. Right now, as in this week or this month, the world is going to end. Of course, Christians have wildly varying theories about what that will mean. Some think they might be raptured, and their driverless minivans sent spinning onto medians all across the Bible Belt. The kind of people I know? They’re more likely to believe what the Virgin Mary supposedly told an Italian friar. We will see (rather, won’t see) “three days of darkness” when the air will be poisoned and the only visible light will come from special blessed candles available online from certain websites.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Such details aren’t important now. Because I don’t think the End is near. But I think the Enemy wants to provoke us into dreading it. He wants us to eat too much, drink too much, spend too much, and forget about the future. Because we’re not going to have one. The events in Revelation will come on us quite soon, and there’s nothing we can do. We’re going to die.
Staring Up at the Judas Tree
Sure, we just might be saved, but he’ll urge us to despair of that prospect too. The Enemy will magnify our sins and minimize God’s grace, as he did to the guilt-crazed Judas. And he’ll have a halter ready for us, over there by the Judas Tree, which he’ll whisper to us is really the only sure way out.
The Enemy will magnify our sins and minimize God’s grace, as he did to the guilt-crazed Judas.
Our children? They won’t grow up, won’t give us grandchildren. Our friends? They’ll all be gone soon, in horrible ways he’s happy to encourage us to imagine.
Our favorite restaurants and shops? They’ll all be closed, and those waiters and chefs and small business owners? They’ll be destitute and alone, in quarantined apartments eating their last cans of cat food till the seas all boil away.
Our churches? They’ll never reopen. They’ll go broke during this crisis, and their doors won’t open again before the fire rains down from heaven. Sure we could pray at home, but what’s the point? Or maybe we’ll get around to it after reading … three more hours of bad news on Twitter. Or screaming back at CNN on television. Or crawling into a bottle.
Wicked Caesars, Hireling Shepherds, and Hutu Media
Why do I think that all of this hails from Hell? Well, where else would such “encouragement” come from? But I have other reasons. I think the Enemy’s urging fallen, faithless people to act even more perversely and cruelly than normal, in an orchestrated effort to make the church go crazy. And I find it a daily struggle to push back against that myself. To wit, just a scant selection of insane, infuriating incidents:
Abortion clinics stay open in New York City, while the mayor threatens to seize the property of churches that don’t stay closed.
A massive gay pride march scheduled for June in Britain will apparently defy the country’s quarantine. Will authorities step in to stop it? Don’t hold your breath. Gay bath houses stayed open, spreading AIDS, for years until most of their customers simply died off.
Our media are acting like the Hutu media in Rwanda before the anti-Tutsi genocide started. They’re scapegoating Christians as little better than “cockroaches,” science deniers and infection vectors. See how The New York Times went after evangelicals last week. Then look at their “news” story painting Jerry Falwell, Jr., as a 2020 Typhoid Mary for letting adult students stay in Liberty University’s dorms. Instead of going home and possibly infecting their parents.
Local governments are closing gun stores, but releasing criminals on the streets for the criminals’ “safety.” Then they’re threatening to fill those (infected?) jails with … citizens who try to go to church or buy a gun, or otherwise violate the quarantine.
Too many clergy are treating this lockdown as straight-up vacation time. Bishops in several states have banned even “driveby” blessings and confessions, which obeyed “social distancing” norms.
Meanwhile a priest who runs a major Catholic charity in Austria urged people locked at home to take advantage of … a porn site.
“Curse God and Die”?
I could go on, but why help the devil? He’s lashing his minions into overdrive these days, precisely to beat us down with discouragement, crush us with paranoia, and generally to poke us and prod us until we’re ready to “curse God, and die.” (Job 2: 9)
That’s the fatal mistake, of course, the death of the soul. Let’s cultivate a spirit of trust in God, and humbly remind ourselves that His plans exceed our imaginings. While we should always have judgment day (the world’s or our own) in the back of our minds, we shouldn’t fill our minds with frightening scenarios taken from Revelation. Let’s remember Christ as He always is for His people: the Good Shepherd, seeking the lost.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-04-01--Somebody at the Vatican Hates Us Miserable Humans

Last week , I put a hopeful spin on Pope Francis ’ comment that the Wuhan Virus was “ nature ’ s revenge.
” As I argued , that might be right .
Cruel and filthy animal practices at Chinese wet markets have proven a pandemic factory .
And a threat to global health .
If China won ’ t close them , we ought to declare economic war on that country .
Just as we did on Japan in the 1930s , for its genocidal attacks on … China .
A story published a few days ago at Vatican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much further .
It went into some ugly , anti-human territory .
Church Militant reports : The column headlined “ Coronavirus : earth ’ s unlikely ally ” by Jesuit priest Fr .
Benedict Mayaki , claimed that “ the changes in human behavior due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic are yielding unintended benefits to the planet .
In the article , Fr .
Mayaki claimed : “ Earth is healing herself ” as a result of “ the reduction in human activity.
” Coronavirus was an ecological boon to the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , land and sea travel is yielding benefits for the planet as carbon emission sees a projected decline , ” Mayaki trumpeted .
“ In Italy , fish have returned to the canals in Venice .
Less tourism and water transport have allowed the murky waters to settle .
Migratory birds , including swans have been sighted gliding through the city ’ s waterways , ” he wrote .
Failing to indict China for its role in the origin and spread of the virus , Mayaki noted that “ China , the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a significant decrease in the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the air ” because of the “ decline of economic and industrial activities during the coronavirus outbreak.
” The Jesuit also hailed the merit of “ improvement in its air quality ” for Hong Kong , as “ key air pollutants dropped by nearly a third from January to February this year.
” The Silver Lining in the Cloud Above the Crematorium Simply staggering .
The column left me speechless .
But not for long .
Church Militant reporter Dr. Jules Gomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : It ’ s one thing for historians to look back on the Black Plague and conclude that after the massive damage it caused , society bounced back — in some ways even stronger , since land was more plentiful , wages rose and serfs gained more rights .
But can you imagine during the plague , people ’ s own pastors sitting around idle ( Masses not just private but canceled ) , reflecting on how the plague was improving things at the moment ?
They would have been burned as witches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting better .
Because the furor this column provoked got it pulled down pretty quickly .
No explanation , no retraction statement .
No apology to people whose elderly parents might have died , as thousands already have throughout Italy .
Just the WHOOSH of a story going down the Memory Hole .
Vaticania has always been allied with East Asia , I guess .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
God calls priests be to shepherds , who conform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fr .
Mayaki ascend to a plane far above Christ ’ s suffering flock ?
Or take the “ biosphere ’ s ” perspective ?
How can he look past the bodies piling up , unshriven and unblessed , in Italy ’ s graveyards ?
Walk past the empty , dying family businesses , and see … an opportunity for swans ?
( Incidentally , the Church Militant piece exposes such environmental “ benefits ” cited by the Jesuit priest as fake news . )
There are environmentalists who quietly take satisfaction at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of them was the Vatican ’ s senior scientific advisor Hans Schellnhuber .
That German scientist consulted with Pope Francis on his 2015 letter on the environment , Laudatio Si .
Schellnhuber appeared alongside cardinals at Vatican science summits .
As Stream contributor William Briggs reported , Schellnhuber speaks of “ Gaia , ” an image some scientists use to personify the environment , almost as a real , living being : Be not afraid !
There is a cure .
If we don ’ t enact drastic changes to cut back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gaia will impose her own limits on mankind .
Schellnhuber warns : “ maybe the carrying capacity of the earth would go down to just 1 billion , and then the discussion would be settled.
” It ’ s one thing to look at environmental limits , and the costs we impose on our neighbors or descendants .
We call that prudent stewardship , and it obeys God ’ s command to Adam in Genesis .
It ’ s quite another thing to view the biosphere as a kind of immanent goddess .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities are a form of inflammation .
Let your thoughts run along these lines , and you ’ ll end writing things like … Father Benedict Miyaki ’ s column .
I ’ ll never forget the Edgar Allen Poe story “ The Masque of the Red Death.
” In the story , aristocrats during a plague lock themselves in a Renaissance palace , not too unlike the Vatican .
They avoid all contact with the common people .
These princes offer no help in this time of desperation and need .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfaction in the thinning of “ the herd ” the plague is bringing about .
I won ’ t spoil the ending , but I think you can likely guess it .
That ’ s not a good look for a priest of the Society of Jesus .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

Last week, I put a hopeful spin on Pope Francis’ comment that the Wuhan Virus was “nature’s revenge.” As I argued, that might be right. Cruel and filthy animal practices at Chinese wet markets have proven a pandemic factory. And a threat to global health. If China won’t close them, we ought to declare economic war on that country. Just as we did on Japan in the 1930s, for its genocidal attacks on … China.
The Virus: ‘Earth’s Ally’?
A story published a few days ago at Vatican News took the pope’s assertion much further. It went into some ugly, anti-human territory. Church Militant reports:
The column headlined “Coronavirus: earth’s unlikely ally” by Jesuit priest Fr. Benedict Mayaki, claimed that “the changes in human behavior due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic are yielding unintended benefits to the planet. In the article, Fr. Mayaki claimed: “Earth is healing herself” as a result of “the reduction in human activity.” Coronavirus was an ecological boon to the world, as “the global reduction in air, land and sea travel is yielding benefits for the planet as carbon emission sees a projected decline,” Mayaki trumpeted. “In Italy, fish have returned to the canals in Venice. Less tourism and water transport have allowed the murky waters to settle. Migratory birds, including swans have been sighted gliding through the city’s waterways,” he wrote. Failing to indict China for its role in the origin and spread of the virus, Mayaki noted that “China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, now has a significant decrease in the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the air” because of the “decline of economic and industrial activities during the coronavirus outbreak.” The Jesuit also hailed the merit of “improvement in its air quality” for Hong Kong, as “key air pollutants dropped by nearly a third from January to February this year.”
The Silver Lining in the Cloud Above the Crematorium
Simply staggering. The column left me speechless. But not for long. Church Militant reporter Dr. Jules Gomes contacted me for comment. I responded:
It’s one thing for historians to look back on the Black Plague and conclude that after the massive damage it caused, society bounced back — in some ways even stronger, since land was more plentiful, wages rose and serfs gained more rights. But can you imagine during the plague, people’s own pastors sitting around idle (Masses not just private but canceled), reflecting on how the plague was improving things at the moment? They would have been burned as witches.
An Opportunity for Swans
The Vatican PR team must be getting better. Because the furor this column provoked got it pulled down pretty quickly. No explanation, no retraction statement. No apology to people whose elderly parents might have died, as thousands already have throughout Italy. Just the WHOOSH of a story going down the Memory Hole. Vaticania has always been allied with East Asia, I guess.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
God calls priests be to shepherds, who conform themselves to Christ. So how can Fr. Mayaki ascend to a plane far above Christ’s suffering flock? Or take the “biosphere’s” perspective? How can he look past the bodies piling up, unshriven and unblessed, in Italy’s graveyards? Walk past the empty, dying family businesses, and see … an opportunity for swans? (Incidentally, the Church Militant piece exposes such environmental “benefits” cited by the Jesuit priest as fake news.)
Gaia’s Immune System, Weeding Us Out
There are environmentalists who quietly take satisfaction at the notion of human population plummeting. One of them was the Vatican’s senior scientific advisor Hans Schellnhuber. That German scientist consulted with Pope Francis on his 2015 letter on the environment, Laudatio Si. Schellnhuber appeared alongside cardinals at Vatican science summits. As Stream contributor William Briggs reported, Schellnhuber speaks of “Gaia,” an image some scientists use to personify the environment, almost as a real, living being:
Schellnhuber echoes the theme of a cognizant, i.e. self-aware, planet in [a] … 2004 paper in Nature 2004, “Climbing the co-evolution ladder,” suggesting again that mankind is an infection, saying that mankind “perturbs … the global ‘metabolism’” of the planet.
Be not afraid! There is a cure. If we don’t enact drastic changes to cut back carbon use and climate change? Then Gaia will impose her own limits on mankind. Schellnhuber warns: “maybe the carrying capacity of the earth would go down to just 1 billion, and then the discussion would be settled.”
Is Mankind the Real Virus?
It’s one thing to look at environmental limits, and the costs we impose on our neighbors or descendants. We call that prudent stewardship, and it obeys God’s command to Adam in Genesis. It’s quite another thing to view the biosphere as a kind of immanent goddess. Or mankind as a virus whose economic activities are a form of inflammation. Let your thoughts run along these lines, and you’ll end writing things like … Father Benedict Miyaki’s column.
I’ll never forget the Edgar Allen Poe story “The Masque of the Red Death.” In the story, aristocrats during a plague lock themselves in a Renaissance palace, not too unlike the Vatican. They avoid all contact with the common people. These princes offer no help in this time of desperation and need. In fact, some among this elite take satisfaction in the thinning of “the herd” the plague is bringing about. I won’t spoil the ending, but I think you can likely guess it.
That’s not a good look for a priest of the Society of Jesus.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-04-01--Texas Governor Deems Religious Services Essential as Police Bust Southern Pastors Holding Sunday Ser

Texas Governor Deems Religious Services Essential as Police Bust Southern Pastors Holding Sunday Services

As authorities arrest pastors for holding Sunday services in defiance of social distancing orders , Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that religious services are to be considered essential in his state .
Abbott issued an executive order relating to state-wide continuity of essential services and activities during the coronavirus pandemic .
The order mandated that all Texans will minimize social gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household , and , among other statutes , clarified that religious services conducted in churches , congregations and houses of worship are to be considered essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shall consist of everything listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce , Version 2.0 , plus religious services conducted in churches , congregations , and houses of worship , ” the order stated .
“ Other essential services may be added to this list with the approval of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
The governor encouraged those involved in essential services to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitation , social distancing and working from home when possible .
Abbott ’ s order came as authorities arrested pastors in Louisiana and Florida for holding Sunday services and bused large groups of people to attend the services .
Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran called Rev .
Tony Spell of the Louisiana Life Tabernacle Church “ reckless and irresponsible ” for holding Sunday services , and Florida Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister called megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne ’ s actions “ reckless disregard of public safety.
” Content created by The Daily Caller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

As authorities arrest pastors for holding Sunday services in defiance of social distancing orders, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that religious services are to be considered essential in his state.
Abbott issued an executive order relating to state-wide continuity of essential services and activities during the coronavirus pandemic. The order mandated that all Texans will minimize social gatherings and in-person contact with people who are not in the same household, and, among other statutes, clarified that religious services conducted in churches, congregations and houses of worship are to be considered essential services.
“‘Essential services’ shall consist of everything listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, Version 2.0, plus religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship,” the order stated. “Other essential services may be added to this list with the approval of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The governor encouraged those involved in essential services to practice good hygiene, environmental cleanliness, sanitation, social distancing and working from home when possible.
Announcing the arrest of Dr. Ronald Howard-Browne, Pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, who intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community in danger. pic.twitter.com/1gERVdzyIp — Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) March 30, 2020
Abbott’s order came as authorities arrested pastors in Louisiana and Florida for holding Sunday services and bused large groups of people to attend the services.
Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran called Rev. Tony Spell of the Louisiana Life Tabernacle Church “reckless and irresponsible” for holding Sunday services, and Florida Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister called megachurch pastor Rodney Howard-Browne’s actions “reckless disregard of public safety.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-04-01--God and the Coronavirus: Hard Questions, and How You Can Equip Yourself to Answer Them

This virus is horrific .
The questions are bound to come : How could God have let this happen ?
Does He love us ?
Is God even real ?
These questions aren ’ t just floating in the cloud .
Family members , friends , and co-workers are bound to be asking them .
Are you ready ?
It ’ s one thing to know the internet has good answers , and quite another to be prepared when someone you care about needs you to answer .
The reason I bring this up is because I ’ m confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be a hard question , but the hardest thing about it for most of us is deciding we ’ re going to get up to speed for it .
Is it worth the effort ?
Of course it is !
Just as many people need financial help right now , many also need a clearer picture of God in these times .
That ’ s just as real a need , if not more so , in many cases .
You can help !
So how do you do it ?
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It helps if you actually know some answers , obviously , and for that you ’ d do well to review some good teaching on it .
I ’ ll write more here myself over the coming days , with a view to making it very practical .
This isn ’ t so much about telling you there are answers , but helping you know how you can answer .
Know Which Question They ’ re Asking First things first , though .
Knowing the answer isn ’ t all it takes ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the question — the real question , that is .
Because when someone asks , “ How could God have let this happen ?
” there are all kinds of different questions they might really be asking .
For some , it ’ s almost on the level of a theoretical concern .
They ’ re intellectually confused .
They want to believe in a good God , but suddenly it ’ s a lot harder than it used to be .
( Don ’ t be embarrassed if that describes you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
For others it ’ s a skeptical challenge : “ Hah !
You say there ’ s a God , and He ’ s all-powerful and all-good ?
You can ’ t really believe that now , can you ?
” For some it ’ s not about theory at all .
At heart , they ’ re not really asking , “ How could God let this happen ?
” They ’ re wondering something more like , “ Why me ?
Why my loved one ?
Why so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to make it through this pain ?
” With this last group you ’ d better not launch too quickly into theoretical answers .
More often they need what ’ s usually called the ministry of presence instead : Weeping with them , sitting with them , putting an arm around them .
That ’ s harder now than it ’ s ever been , and the word “ presence ” itself is a painful reminder of our condition .
We can only do the best we can do — but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
They might ask again how God could let this happen .
If they do , your answer must depend on how much of God they already understand .
If they know Christ , you can remind them that God is good and He loves them , but gently and without over-explaining .
If they aren ’ t so confident in God ’ s love , often the best thing you can do for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His love but to demonstrate it .
You might think that ’ s enough — that no one ’ s going to come to you saying they doubt God .
You don ’ t know that , though .
The wise and responsible thing to do is to be ready for it .
God Has Demonstrated He Loves Us No Matter What Not only that , but when you whisper to your grieving friend , “ I know it hurts like crazy , but don ’ t lose hope ; God still loves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be wondering whether your words are really true .
You ’ ll want to be confident you ’ re speaking truth .
So how can we be sure God loves us , even in the toughest times ?
I think of when my first cousin Jeanette encountered a very evil man on a jogging trail .
Another cousin found her body a few days later .
Jeanette was 35 .
We had really tough questions to face following that .
Some of them had no answers , and never will this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Why our family ?
Why us ?
” But I never doubted God ’ s love .
He proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt , by Christ ’ s sacrifice for us on the Cross .
He was willing to die , just as we do , except with torture that exceeded even what happened to Jeanette .
God showed He ’ s in it with us .
Jeanette died unwillingly , for no fault of her own ; God ’ s Son died for us willingly , while having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down through history have agreed : No matter how bad it gets , through persecutions or through plagues , there is never any need to doubt God loves us .
We might have other questions ( and I ’ ll write further answers ) , but God ’ s love need never be in question .
How Do You Know Which Question to Answer ?
One final point needs addressing .
Someone asked me , “ If we ’ re supposed to start by discerning which question they ’ re really asking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do I find out ?
” I answered with just one word : “ Slowly.
” Then after a pause , I added , “ With a lot of listening.
” This is no time to rush .
Even the skeptic ’ s challenge , “ How can anyone believe in a God like that !
?
” may really be the cover for some deep wound .
It may look like a theoretical question they ’ re asking , but in reality they could be crying out for God ’ s love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it ’ d be appropriate to ask , with all gentleness , “ What happened ?
Would you be willing to tell me who or what hurt you ?
” In the long run , though , there ’ s more to it than just presence and listening .
Keep your eyes on this site for more to come .
You really can answer this hard question — if you ’ ll determine to equip yourself for it .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mind : Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations : A Christian Parent ’ s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens , and the lead editor of True Reason : Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism .

This virus is horrific. The questions are bound to come: How could God have let this happen? Does He love us? Is God even real? These questions aren’t just floating in the cloud. Family members, friends, and co-workers are bound to be asking them. Are you ready? It’s one thing to know the internet has good answers, and quite another to be prepared when someone you care about needs you to answer.
The reason I bring this up is because I’m confident you can answer. Yes, it can be a hard question, but the hardest thing about it for most of us is deciding we’re going to get up to speed for it.
Is it worth the effort? Of course it is! Just as many people need financial help right now, many also need a clearer picture of God in these times. That’s just as real a need, if not more so, in many cases. You can help!
So how do you do it? How do you actually answer the question? It helps if you actually know some answers, obviously, and for that you’d do well to review some good teaching on it. I’ll write more here myself over the coming days, with a view to making it very practical. This isn’t so much about telling you there are answers, but helping you know how you can answer.
Know Which Question They’re Asking
First things first, though. Knowing the answer isn’t all it takes; you need to be sure you know the question — the real question, that is. Because when someone asks, “How could God have let this happen?” there are all kinds of different questions they might really be asking.
It’s one thing to know the internet has good answers, and quite another to be prepared when someone you care about needs you to answer.
For some, it’s almost on the level of a theoretical concern. They’re intellectually confused. They want to believe in a good God, but suddenly it’s a lot harder than it used to be. (Don’t be embarrassed if that describes you. Lots of people are feeling that way.)
For others it’s a skeptical challenge: “Hah! You say there’s a God, and He’s all-powerful and all-good? You can’t really believe that now, can you?”
It Isn’t Always Mere Theory
For some it’s not about theory at all. At heart, they’re not really asking, “How could God let this happen?” They’re wondering something more like, “Why me? Why my loved one? Why so much grief and loss? How am I going to make it through this pain?”
With this last group you’d better not launch too quickly into theoretical answers. More often they need what’s usually called the ministry of presence instead: Weeping with them, sitting with them, putting an arm around them. That’s harder now than it’s ever been, and the word “presence” itself is a painful reminder of our condition. We can only do the best we can do — but we should do that much, anyway.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
They might ask again how God could let this happen. If they do, your answer must depend on how much of God they already understand. If they know Christ, you can remind them that God is good and He loves them, but gently and without over-explaining. If they aren’t so confident in God’s love, often the best thing you can do for the time being is not to speak of His love but to demonstrate it.
You might think that’s enough — that no one’s going to come to you saying they doubt God. You don’t know that, though. The wise and responsible thing to do is to be ready for it.
God Has Demonstrated He Loves Us No Matter What
Not only that, but when you whisper to your grieving friend, “I know it hurts like crazy, but don’t lose hope; God still loves you,” you won’t want to be wondering whether your words are really true. You’ll want to be confident you’re speaking truth.
So how can we be sure God loves us, even in the toughest times? I think of when my first cousin Jeanette encountered a very evil man on a jogging trail. Another cousin found her body a few days later. Jeanette was 35.
We had really tough questions to face following that. Some of them had no answers, and never will this side of heaven: “Why Jeanette? Why our family? Why us?” But I never doubted God’s love. He proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt, by Christ’s sacrifice for us on the Cross. He was willing to die, just as we do, except with torture that exceeded even what happened to Jeanette.
God showed He’s in it with us. Jeanette died unwillingly, for no fault of her own; God’s Son died for us willingly, while having no fault of His own.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person — though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:6–8).
Christ-followers down through history have agreed: No matter how bad it gets, through persecutions or through plagues, there is never any need to doubt God loves us. We might have other questions (and I’ll write further answers), but God’s love need never be in question.
How Do You Know Which Question to Answer?
One final point needs addressing. Someone asked me, “If we’re supposed to start by discerning which question they’re really asking, how do I do that? How do I find out?” I answered with just one word: “Slowly.” Then after a pause, I added, “With a lot of listening.”
This is no time to rush. Even the skeptic’s challenge, “How can anyone believe in a God like that!?” may really be the cover for some deep wound. It may look like a theoretical question they’re asking, but in reality they could be crying out for God’s love. So there might come a point when it’d be appropriate to ask, with all gentleness, “What happened? Would you be willing to tell me who or what hurt you?”
In the long run, though, there’s more to it than just presence and listening. Keep your eyes on this site for more to come. You really can answer this hard question — if you’ll determine to equip yourself for it.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream, and the author of A Christian Mind: Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens, and the lead editor of True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism.