Four cardinals join global appeal decrying crackdown on basic freedoms over coronavirus

May 7, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Catholic clergy led by former papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò and Cardinals Robert Sarah, Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, Joseph Zen and Janis Pujats have joined an appeal “for the Church and the world” that warns that the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a “pretext” by world leaders to “control” people, strip them of their fundamental rights, while providing a “disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control” (read full text below).

In the face of restrictions around the world on the public celebration of the sacraments, the signatories assert the right of the Church to offer public worship, unimpeded by State interventions.

The signatories ask that “restrictions on the celebration of public ceremonies be removed.”

Along with the 4 cardinals signing the appeal are 8 bishops, 3 priests, 21 journalists, 11 medical doctors, 13 lawyers, 18 teachers and professionals, and 12 various groups and associations.

In reference to coronavirus lockdown measures around the world and the reduction of individuals’ civil liberties, the signatories say that they believe there are powers at work in society “interested in creating panic among the world’s population with the sole aim of permanently imposing unacceptable forms of restriction on freedoms, of controlling people and of tracking their movements.”

“The imposition of these illiberal measures is a disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control,” they state.

Arguing that widespread closures of shops and businesses has in some instances “precipitated a crisis that has brought down entire sectors of the economy,” the signatories continue to raise concerns about potential radical changes to the geopolitical landscape. They stated that such weakened economies “encourages interference by foreign powers and has serious social and political repercussions.”

“Those with governmental responsibility must stop these forms of social engineering, by taking measures to protect their citizens whom they represent, and in whose interests they have a serious obligation to act,” the letter states.

The letter also directly addresses several questions related to medical treatments for Covid-19.

In the first instance, the letter implores governments and international bodies not to allow “shady business interests” to influence their responses to the coronavirus.

“It is unreasonable to penalize those remedies that have proved to be effective, and are often inexpensive, just because one wishes to give priority to treatments or vaccines that are not as good, but which guarantee pharmaceutical companies far greater profits, and exacerbate public health expenditures,” the signatories write.

On the question of potential coronavirus vaccines, the signatories say that “for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses.” They insist too that individuals must be free to reject such vaccines without any penalties being imposed on them.

The letter also calls on governments not to adopt attempts to control people through “tracking systems or any other form of location-finding,” or for the crisis to be used as an excuse for increasing levels of media censorship and the de-platforming of dissenting voices.

“Let us not allow centuries of Christian civilization to be erased under the pretext of a virus, and an odious technological tyranny to be established, in which nameless and faceless people can decide the fate of the world by confining us to a virtual reality,” the letter urges.

The signatories stress that in the face of the current crisis, followers of God must try to understand the current situation in the light of the Gospels.

“This means taking a stand: either with Christ or against Christ. Let us not be intimidated or frightened by those who would have us believe that we are a minority: Good is much more widespread and powerful than the world would have us believe.”

“With faith, let us beseech the Lord to protect the Church and the world. May the Blessed Virgin, Help of Christians, crush the head of the ancient Serpent and defeat the plans of the children of darkness,” the appeal concludes.

In this time of great crisis, we Pastors of the Catholic Church, by virtue of our mandate, consider it our sacred duty to make an Appeal to our Brothers in the Episcopate, to the Clergy, to Religious, to the holy People of God and to all men and women of good will. This Appeal has also been undersigned by intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, journalists and professionals who agree with its content, and may be undersigned by those who wish to make it their own.

The facts have shown that, under the pretext of the Covid-19 epidemic, the inalienable rights of citizens have in many cases been violated and their fundamental freedoms, including the exercise of freedom of worship, expression and movement, have been disproportionately and unjustifiably restricted. Public health must not, and cannot, become an alibi for infringing on the rights of millions of people around the world, let alone for depriving the civil authority of its duty to act wisely for the common good. This is particularly true as growing doubts emerge from several quarters about the actual contagiousness, danger and resistance of the virus. Many authoritative voices in the world of science and medicine confirm that the media’s alarmism about Covid-19 appears to be absolutely unjustified.

We have reason to believe, on the basis of official data on the incidence of the epidemic as related to the number of deaths, that there are powers interested in creating panic among the world’s population with the sole aim of permanently imposing unacceptable forms of restriction on freedoms, of controlling people and of tracking their movements. The imposition of these illiberal measures is a disturbing prelude to the realization of a world government beyond all control.

We also believe that in some situations the containment measures that were adopted, including the closure of shops and businesses, have precipitated a crisis that has brought down entire sectors of the economy. This encourages interference by foreign powers and has serious social and political repercussions. Those with governmental responsibility must stop these forms of social engineering, by taking measures to protect their citizens whom they represent, and in whose interests they have a serious obligation to act. Likewise, let them help the family, the cell of society, by not unreasonably penalizing the weak and elderly, forcing them into a painful separation from their loved ones. The criminalization of personal and social relationships must likewise be judged as an unacceptable part of the plan of those who advocate isolating individuals in order to better manipulate and control them.

We ask the scientific community to be vigilant, so that cures for Covid-19 are offered in honesty for the common good. Every effort must be made to ensure that shady business interests do not influence the choices made by government leaders and international bodies. It is unreasonable to penalize those remedies that have proved to be effective, and are often inexpensive, just because one wishes to give priority to treatments or vaccines that are not as good, but which guarantee pharmaceutical companies far greater profits, and exacerbate public health expenditures. Let us also remember, as Pastors, that for Catholics it is morally unacceptable to develop or use vaccines derived from material from aborted fetuses.

We also ask government leaders to ensure that forms of control over people, whether through tracking systems or any other form of location-finding, are rigorously avoided. The fight against Covid-19, however serious, must not be the pretext for supporting the hidden intentions of supranational bodies that have very strong commercial and political interests in this plan. In particular, citizens must be given the opportunity to refuse these restrictions on personal freedom, without any penalty whatsoever being imposed on those who do not wish to use vaccines, contact tracking or any other similar tool. Let us also consider the blatant contradiction of those who pursue policies of drastic population control and at the same time present themselves as the savior of humanity, without any political or social legitimacy. Finally, the political responsibility of those who represent the people can in no way be left to “experts” who can indeed claim a kind of immunity from prosecution, which is disturbing to say the least.

We strongly urge those in the media to commit themselves to providing accurate information and not penalizing dissent by resorting to forms of censorship, as is happening widely on social media, in the press and on television. Providing accurate information requires that room be given to voices that are not aligned with a single way of thinking. This allows citizens to consciously assess the facts, without being heavily influenced by partisan interventions. A democratic and honest debate is the best antidote to the risk of imposing subtle forms of dictatorship, presumably worse than those our society has seen rise and fall in the recent past.

Finally, as Pastors responsible for the flock of Christ, let us remember that the Church firmly asserts her autonomy to govern, worship, and teach. This autonomy and freedom are an innate right that Our Lord Jesus Christ has given her for the pursuit of her proper ends. For this reason, as Pastors we firmly assert the right to decide autonomously on the celebration of Mass and the Sacraments, just as we claim absolute autonomy in matters falling within our immediate jurisdiction, such as liturgical norms and ways of administering Communion and the Sacraments. The State has no right to interfere, for any reason whatsoever, in the sovereignty of the Church. Ecclesiastical authorities have never refused to collaborate with the State, but such collaboration does not authorize civil authorities to impose any sort of ban or restriction on public worship or the exercise of priestly ministry. The rights of God and of the faithful are the supreme law of the Church, which she neither intends to, nor can, abdicate. We ask that restrictions on the celebration of public ceremonies be removed.

We should like to invite all people of good will not to shirk their duty to cooperate for the common good, each according to his or her own state and possibilities and in a spirit of fraternal charity. The Church desires such cooperation, but this cannot disregard either a respect for natural law or a guarantee of individual freedoms. The civil duties to which citizens are bound imply the State’s recognition of their rights.

We are all called to assess the current situation in a way consistent with the teaching of the Gospel. This means taking a stand: either with Christ or against Christ. Let us not be intimidated or frightened by those who would have us believe that we are a minority: Good is much more widespread and powerful than the world would have us believe. We are fighting against an invisible enemy that seeks to divide citizens, to separate children from their parents, grandchildren from their grandparents, the faithful from their pastors, students from teachers, and customers from vendors. Let us not allow centuries of Christian civilization to be erased under the pretext of a virus, and an odious technological tyranny to be established, in which nameless and faceless people can decide the fate of the world by confining us to a virtual reality. If this is the plan to which the powers of this earth intend to make us yield, know that Jesus Christ, King and Lord of History, has promised that “the gates of Hell shall not prevail” (Mt 16:18).

Let us entrust government leaders and all those who rule over the fate of nations to Almighty God, that He may enlighten and guide them in this time of great crisis. May they remember that, just as the Lord will judge us Pastors for the flock which he has entrusted to us, so will He also judge government leaders for the peoples whom they have the duty to defend and govern.

With faith, let us beseech the Lord to protect the Church and the world. May the Blessed Virgin, Help of Christians, crush the head of the ancient Serpent and defeat the plans of the children of darkness.

To add your signature to this appeal, visit www.veritasliberabitvos.info, which will be available online from 8 May.

Mgr. Carlo Maria Viganò, Archbishop, Apostolic Nuncio
Cdl Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship
Cdl Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, Prefect emeritus of Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith
Cdl Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop emeritus of Hong Kong
Cdl Janis Pujats, Archbishop emeritus of Riga
Mgr Luigi Negri, Archbishop emeritus of Ferrara-Comacchio Mgr Joseph Strickland, Bishop of Tyler, Texas
Mgr Thomas Peta, Metropolitan Archbishop of Astana
Mgr Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Astana
Mgr Jan Pawel Lenga, Archbishop emeritus of Karaganda
Mgr Rene Henry Gracida, Bishop emeritus of Corpus Christi
Mgr Andreas Laun, Auxiliary Bishop of Salzburg
Father Serafino Lanzetta, Theologian
Father Alfredo Maria Morselli, Theologian
Father Curzio Nitoglia, Theologian

Dr Aldo Maria Valli, journalist
Dr Magdi Cristiano Allam, writer
Dr Giulio Meotti, journalist
Dr Marco Tosatti, journalist
Claudio Messora, director Byoblu.com
Dr Robert Moynihan, writer, journalist
Jeanne Smits, journalist
Dr Olivier Figueras, journalist
Dr Cesare Sacchetti, journalist
Prof. Giorgio Nicolini, director of Tele Maria
Michael J. Matt, editor The Remnant
John-Henry Westen, co-founder, editor-in-chief LifeSiteNews.com
Vittoria Alliata di Villafranca, journalist and writer
Maria Guarini, editor
Prof. Francesco Lamendola
António Carlos de Azeredo, editor
José Narciso Pinto Soares, editorial counselor
Dr Massimo Rodolfi
Riccardo Zenobi, writer
Danilo Quinto, writer
Olivier Valette, writer

Dr Stefano Montanari, scientific director Nanodiagnostics laboratory, Modena
Dr Antonietta Gatti, research manager, Nanodiagnostics laboratory, Modena
Prof. Alessandro Meluzzi, psychiatrist
Dr Anna Rita Iannetti, doctor, PNEI and biointegrated medicine
Dr Fabrizio Giudici, orthopedic traumatologist
Dr Rosa Maria Roccaforte, cardiologist
Dr Silvana De Mari, doctor
Dr Maria Grazia Sordi, psychologist
Dr Roberto Marrocchesi, nutritionist
Dr Mario Sinisi
Dr Antonio Marcantonio

Dr Angelo Giorgianni, judge
João Freire de Andrade, jurist
Lawyer Francesco Fontana
Lawyer Luigi Valenzise
Lawyer Fabio Candalino
Lawyer Luca Di Fazio
Lawyer Massimo Meridio
Dr Lawyer Gianni T. Battisti
Lawyer Piero Peracchio
Lawyer Paola Bragazzi
Lawyer Luís Freire de Andrade
Lawyer Heitor A. Buchaul
Lawyer Maître Olivier Bonnet

Hon. Prof. Vittorio Sgarbi, art critic, essayist
Prof. Matteo D’Amico
Prof.ssa Mafalda Miranda Barbosa
Prof. Francesca Maimone
Prof. Martino Mora, philosopher
Prof. Massimo Viglione, historian and essayist
Prof. Elisabetta Sala, teacher and writer
Dr Ing. Alessandro Peracchio
Dr Luca Scantamburlo
Prof. Rosa Maria Bellarmino
Steven Mosher, president Population Research Institute
Prof. Emeterio Ferrés Arrospide, Coimbra University
Prof. Ibsen Noronha
Prof. ing. Amadeu Teixeira Fernandes, Georgetown University
Dr José Filipe Sepúlveda da Fonseca
Dr Alfonso Martone, CNR Italy
Dr Luís Ferrand d’Almeida
Ing. Roberto Imparato

Atman Association - President Manuela Baccin
Riprendiamoci Il Pianeta Association - President Magda Piacentini
Movimento 3V - Vaccini Vogliamo Verità - Secretary Luca Teodori
Libera Scelta Association - President Alessandra Bocchi
Iustitia in Veritate Association- Directors
Una Vox Association - President Calogero Cammarata
Comitato Famiglia e Vita - President Franco Rebecchi
Confederazione dei Triarii
AURET, Autismo, Ricerca e Terapie - President Lawyer Roberto Mastalia
Vita al Microscopio Association - President Nino Ferri
Texas Right to Life - Jim Graham
Cleveland Right to Life - Molly Smith

Nope. These are the good guys:

In the letter containing these allegations, Viganò called on Francis and all others who covered up McCarrick’s conduct to resign.[39][44] Viganò stated: “In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal church, he [Pope Francis] must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example to cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarrick’s abuses and resign along with all of them... We must tear down the conspiracy of silence with which bishops and priests have protected themselves at the expense of their faithful, a conspiracy of silence that in the eyes of the world risks making the church look like a sect, a conspiracy of silence not so dissimilar from the one that prevails in the mafia.

And:

A prominent voice of the College of Cardinals and in the Roman Curia, Sarah has been a forceful advocate for the defense of traditional Catholic teaching on questions of sexual morality and the right to life

You should retract such a stupid and vicious statement. These are the men and women of faith who have resisted and expose the perverts and abusers from the beginning.

You are ignorant of who these people are and the upright example of their lives and their work. You have no business making a negative judgment against them on the basis of no evidence, and against all reason. Please ask the moderator to remove your comment.

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Four cardinals join global appeal decrying crackdown on basic freedoms over coronavirus

The signatories assert the right of the Church to offer public worship