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[Catholic Caucus] Sorry, Cdl Cupich, you can’t insist that private baptisms require episcopal approval Church law informs parents that they have an obligation—not just an option—to have their children baptised in the ‘first few weeks’ April 2, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Much has been written about the lack of Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) in the current public health situation, but I’d like to say something about the Sacrament of Baptism. This will only affect a small number of people, but it has a particular interest because in principle, as we are all taught in Catechism, anyone having...

I’m now honestly considering running for office. Never had any desire to previously, but something changed in me last night. Had a conversation with my husband and I think it’s a plan.

Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert and member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, said he doesn’t know why some states still do not have stay-at-home orders in place to steam the spread of the coronavirus. "Whether there should be a federally mandated directive for that or not, I guess that’s more of a political question, but just scientifically, doesn’t everybody have to be on the same page with this stuff?” CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked the physician during an interview on live television Thursday evening. "I don't understand why that's not happening,” Fauci responded. “If you look...

ALBANY, NY—New York state has announced a new plan to raise taxes on the novel coronavirus. The 15% income tax on all COVID-19 viruses, coupled with an 8% luxury disease tax, is expected to generate significant revenue and stop the virus in its tracks. The plan is designed to cause the virus to flee the state to a lower-tax, more virus-friendly area. "We thought about all the different ways to solve problems that we know of, and we just returned to the tried-and-true method: taxing something until it runs away," said Governor Andrew Cuomo. "This new legislation will cause the...

Baker said his parents were in perfect health until three weeks ago when they visited their doctor, who told both of them that they may have a slight case of pneumonia but should be fine. When they continued to feel worse, his parents went to the hospital on March 19. .... “I started thinking, "This has got to stop. We’ve got to work to stop spreading this virus,'” said Baker. He said that people have to stop thinking, "I’m too young, I’m too healthy" and realize that "it could happen to somebody in your family.”

A 38-year-old, female, Belizean national from San Pedro is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Belize, according to The Ministry of Health. The patient sought medical attention after arriving in Belize on Thursday, March 19. She arrived at the private health facility with symptoms on Friday, March 20. Prior to this visit, she travelled from Los Angeles, California and transited through Texas. Based on her symptoms and travel history, Belize’s health system was alerted, and due process and protocol was started. All necessary precautions were taken on the Ministry’s end. The sample was processed for COVID-19 and other flu...

A cable news correspondent who has been barred from White House briefings by a journalists’ organization said Thursday she had been explicitly invited by President Trump’s press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, and plans to continue covering the daily sessions. Chanel Rion, who works for the Trump-friendly One America News Network, made the remarks on the air Thursday amid a standoff with the White House Correspondents Association over her repeated appearances in the small briefing room on days when it was not her organization’s turn to attend. Hours later, she showed up to the briefing for the third consecutive day. Rion said...

Ammon Bundy said this at the public meeting he organized: "It's all of us going to the governer's house, right, literally, and saying, YOU WILL NOT DO THIS! WE ARE NOT OK WITH THIS! WE ARE GOING TO HIS HOUSE!" How is calling for potentially infected and undoubtedly armed angry people to show up at the Governor's personal residence not considered a real threat? He plans to hold another public event tonight in Emmett Idaho.

The last witch execution that can be documented in the Holy Roman Empire’s illustrious history took place on this date in 1756, in Landshut, during the age of Maria Theresa.* Its subject was a 15-year-old named Veronika Zeritschin, who was beheaded and then burned.

Such were the expectations for the Navy hospital ship U.S.N.S. Comfort that when it chugged into New York Harbor this week, throngs of people, momentarily forgetting the strictures of social distancing, crammed together along Manhattan’s west side to catch a glimpse. On Thursday, though, the huge white vessel, which officials had promised would bring succor to a city on the brink, sat mostly empty, infuriating local hospital executives. The ship’s 1,000 beds are largely unused, its 1,200-member crew mostly idle. Only three patients had been transferred to the ship, officials said, even as New York hospitals struggled to find space...

How dangerous is the COVID-19 coronavirus?   [slightly edited and restructured answer I originally wrote on Quora, to the question, but which summarily deleted by them without explanation] That depends on many factors.The Guardian (March 21) and some other news media stated that about 80% of people who get Covid-19 experience a mild case [WHO said the same] – about as serious as a regular cold – and recover without needing any special treatment.[1]Also, the amount of the coronavirus that you first take in may play a factor in the severity of your symptoms (other aspects being equal).[2]CDC (March...

President Donald Trump said Thursday his administration will soon release nationwide recommendations on wearing face masks after initially telling Americans they weren't necessary to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But a top health adviser on his team strongly cautioned that masks should not lull Americans into a false sense of security that would lead them to abandon social distancing guidelines. Speaking at a White House task force briefing, Trump said the new guidance would stop short of requiring all Americans to wear face coverings. "I don't think they'll be mandatory because some people don't want to do that," he said,...

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATIONSUBJECT:       Providing an Order of Succession Within the Pension Benefit Guaranty CorporationBy the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered that:Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this memorandum and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in the order listed, shall act...

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITYSUBJECT:       Providing Federal Support for Governors’ Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”), and section 502 of title 32, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to take measures to assist State and territorial Governors under the Stafford Act in...

As the nation gets more stringent about non-essential travel and bans on group gatherings to slow the spread of coronavirus, one expert says the pandemic may result in an unintended rise in drug and alcohol relapses among those who are in recovery.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCYSUBJECT:       Order Under the Defense Production Act Regarding 3M CompanyBy the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) (the “Act”), it is hereby ordered as follows:Section 1.  Policy.  On March 13, 2020, I declared a national emergency recognizing the threat that the novel (new) coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 poses to our healthcare systems.  In recognizing the public health risk, I noted that...

This story first appeared in 1600 Daily, the White House’s evening newsletter. Subscribe now to get breaking news from President Trump before anyone else. President Trump announced updated guidelines this week to continue slowing the spread of Coronavirus in America. This 30-day window will be crucial: If every American does his or her part, the latest model suggests we could save 1 million or more U.S. lives.🎬 Surgeon General: Why these next 30 days matter“We’re attacking the virus on every front with social distancing, economic support for our workers, rapid medical intervention—and very serious innovation—and banning dangerous foreign travel that threatens...

Today, I have issued an order under the Defense Production Act to more fully ensure that domestic manufacturers can produce ventilators needed to save American lives. My order to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Homeland Security will help domestic manufacturers like General Electric, Hill-Rom, Medtronic, ResMed, Royal Philips, and Vyaire Medical secure the supplies they need to build ventilators needed to defeat the virus. I am grateful to these and other domestic manufacturers for ramping up their production of ventilators during this difficult time. Today’s order will save lives by removing obstacles in the...