News – Page 3388 – Brown Pelican Society of Lousiana

April 23, 2020

The Bitter Fruit of the Secret Vatican-Beijing Accord, by Phil Lawler

By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture - As you may already have seen, Civilta Cattolica, the Jesuit-run Vatican journal, is now available in China. The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, welcomed the appearance of the Chinese edition as “fruit of the friendly encounter with the rich tradition of the Chinese people.”… It isn’t surprising that China would welcome Civilta Cattolica. The magazine has enthusiastically supported Pope Francis in his outreach to the Beijing regime. Its editor, Father Antonio Spadaro, traveled to Beijing last June to organize a “Forum for Civilizational Dialogue.” The current issue features an editorial entitled: ”Confidence in the Journey of the Church in China.”

April 23, 2020

Is Homeschooling ‘Dangerous’? Parents, Former Students Respond to Harvard Professor, by Mary Farrow

By Mary Farrow, Catholic News Agency - While coronavirus is forcing most families to make school at home work whether they want to or not, Elizabeth Bartholet, Wasserstein public interest professor of law at Harvard University and faculty director of the law school’s Child Advocacy Program, has argued that homeschooling is “dangerous.” Her views were featured in the May-June issue of Harvard Magazine… Among other things, Bartholet argues that homeschooling puts children at risk of abuse by their parents, while if children were in public schools, they would be among teachers who are mandatory reporters of any suspected abuse that may be taking place.

April 23, 2020

The CDC Testing Disaster, by David Harsanyi

By David Harsanyi, National Review - The New York Times reports today that the CDC failed to follow its own protocols when creating coronavirus tests, sending kits out across the country that had been rendered ineffective because they were tainted with the COVID-19 due to sloppiness: Problems ranged from researchers entering and exiting the coronavirus laboratories without changing their coats, to test ingredients being assembled in the same room where researchers were working on positive coronavirus samples, officials said. Those practices made the tests sent to public health labs unusable because they were contaminated with the coronavirus, and produced some inconclusive results.

April 23, 2020

Pope Francis on Earth Day: We Have ‘Polluted and Despoiled’ the Planet, by Thomas D. Williams

By Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D., Breitbart - Pope Francis issued a severe indictment Wednesday of humanity’s failure to care for the planet, as environmentalists commemorate the 50th anniversary of “Earth Day.”… “Because of our selfishness we have failed in our responsibility to be guardians and stewards of the earth,” the pope said in his video-streamed General Audience. “We need only take a frank look at the facts to see that our common home is falling into serious disrepair.”… “We have failed to care for the earth, our garden-home; we have failed to care for our brothers and sisters… We have sinned against the earth, against our neighbours, and ultimately against the Creator…