Free Republic

Catholic Bishops Pander To Washington State Politics Rather Than Defend Their Faith Washington state Catholic leaders would rather stick it to the president than let him defend their right to celebrate Mass. Following President Donald Trump’s direction on Friday for states to allow houses of worship to reopened and to declare public worship as essential, Gov. Jay Inslee immediately thumbed his nose, and Washington bishops quickly follow suit.In a disappointing response, the bishops demonstrated that rather than stand up for their flock and acknowledge the president’s commitment to religious freedom, they prefer hand-wringing and waffling while they wait for the...

[ST. PAUL, MN] — Governor Tim Walz today signed Executive Order 20-65, activating the Minnesota National Guard to help protect Minnesotans’ safety and maintain peace in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Local leaders have requested National Guard resources after extensive damage to private property occurred and peaceful protests evolved into a dangerous situation for protesters and first responders.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Gov. Tim Walz has signed an executive order activating the Minnesota National Guard “to help protect Minnesotans’ safety and maintain peace in the wake of George Floyd’s death.” The executive order also declares a peacetime emergency, activating the State Emergency Operations Center. Protests in South Minneapolis turned violent and destructive Wednesday night near the Minneapolis Police Department’s 3rd Precinct. “It is time to rebuild. Rebuild the city, rebuild our justice system, and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they’re charged to protect. George Floyd’s death should lead to justice and systemic change, not more death...

A German government official appeared to court Twitter to relocate its headquarters to Europe as the social media giant faces tensions with President Trump. “Hey @Twitter & @jack, this is an invitation to move to Germany! Here you are free to criticize the government as well as to fight fake news,” tweeted Thomas Jarzombek, who oversees tech affairs for Germany’s Economic Affairs Ministry. “We have a great startup and tech ecosystem, your company would be a perfect fit and I will open any doors for you!” he added, tagging President Trump. SNIP

They will track you and tell you what you can and cannot do. You will be a puppet of the state. You must do what they say for the greater good. Freedom will be lost forever.

The coronavirus lockdowns are America’s most regressive government actions since the draft. Even as liberals have quickly noted the virus’s disparate incidence, they have ignored the inequities of government responses. Ironically, these responses have been most regressive in states with the most “progressive” governments. In just four months, coronavirus has gone from takeoff to lockdown in the U.S. America’s first Wuhan virus case appeared on Jan. 21, and the first American died Feb. 12. California went into lockdown March 19, followed by New York the next day, and New Jersey on March 21. Two months later, America is only now...

Maryland county bans Eucharist in church reopening order Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 27, 2020 / 12:00 pm MT (CNA).- This story is developing and has been updated.An executive order issued Tuesday in Maryland’s Howard County outlines public health rules under which churches may reopen. The order prohibits the distribution and consumption of any food or drink as part of any religious service, effectively outlawing the distribution of Communion and the celebration of the Mass. Howard County Executive Order #2020-09 outlines the conditions and regulations that must be met for non-essential businesses--which in Maryland includes churches and other houses of worship--to resume...

The governors of all 50 states and the mayors of many large cities have assumed unto themselves the powers to restrict private personal choices and lawful public behavior in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. They have done so not by enforcing previously existing legislation but by crafting their own executive orders, styling those orders as if they were laws, using state and local police to enforce those so-called laws and – presumably when life returns to normal and the courts reopen – prosecuting the alleged offenders in court. It is hard to believe that any judge in...

Wichita, Kansas – Reports to one Kansas county’s hotline and web form for reporting “violations” of Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly’s COVID-19 stay at home orders reveal several startling lessons about human nature and the priorities of those most likely to tattle. What soon became known as the “snitch line” was operated by Sedgwick County, Kansas, from late March through May 1, 2020. A listing of the 1,582 complaints made to the county was obtained by Operation Rescue. It showed complaints made from March 26 through April 27, 2020. It also revealed what people wanted shut down most. Among those complained...

Hopefully, many of the things that lay heavy upon the nation right now will be in our collective rear-view mirror in the near future. These things include constant mention of pandemic and crisis, hourly radio reports and TV news reports of coronavirus infections and deaths, face masks, the pronouncements of "experts" like the little gnome man and the scarf lady, and ubiquitous signs and messages that implore us to stay home and stay safe (OBEY!) All of this is aimed at creating and reinforcing a state of fear and panic because scared people are easier to manipulate. SNIP It is...

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. — Friedrich NietzscheCriminal terrorists attacked us on 9/11, and nations of the world united to treat us all like criminals and turn the fun and exciting world of air travel into an experience redolent of herding livestock to market. Nineteen years later, a virus outbreak happens, and governments of the world — upon advice of the experts — treat us like infected patients, demanding we quarantine ourselves and cease all economic and social activities. Is this the first time democratic governments have quarantined...

Hertz, which started with a fleet of a dozen Ford Model T’s a century ago and became one of the world’s largest car rental companies, filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday after falling victim to its mountain of debt. The coronavirus pandemic has devastated Hertz by grounding business travelers and tourists, making it impossible for the company to continue paying its lenders. A sharp drop in used car prices has also decreased the value of its fleet. “They were doing quite well, but when you turn off the revenues and you own all these cars and all of a sudden...

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. is preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon as Monday night if the company fails to rework its debt and can’t get lenders to extend a grace period on a missed payment. The rental-car company has been talking to some of its creditors about how to ease its burden without going through bankruptcy, but negotiations have been a struggle and the company is preparing to file for Chapter 11 court protection, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Hertz could file this evening, though Tuesday would be more likely if a deal isn’t reached. The...

Hertz has joined several other top car rental companies in cutting ties with the National Rifle Association (NRA). The company wrote on Twitter on Friday that it would stop offering a discount on rental cars to NRA members.

Mass IT layoffs are often small and unnoticed. They are not on the scale of the Carrier air conditioning plant layoff; its Indianapolis facility, which currently employs 2,000 people, is moving to Mexico. Hertz IT employees share two things with the Carrier workers: They were also angry, and they got the news on the same day, Feb. 10. The Carrier layoffs arrived guillotine-like; the plant is closing, period. But IT layoffs are rarely like that. There are ambiguities and uncertainties and lifeboats for some, and so it was at Hertz. In an early morning conference call, Hertz's IT employees were...

“Did you know Hertz is putting cameras in rental cars!? This is bullsh*t. I wonder if it says they can tape me in my Hertz contract.” [snip] The system can’t be turned off from what I could tell. Further investigation revealed that the camera can see the entire inside of the car. I know rental car companies have been tracking the speed and movements of their vehicles for years but putting a camera inside the cabin of the vehicle is taking their need for information a little TOO FAR.

A video posted on social media this week shows a police officer keeping his knee planted on the neck of a black man who pleaded that he couldn’t breathe and subsequently died shortly afterward. It happened Monday night, when cops were responding to a “forgery in progress.” Police arrived and saw the suspect sitting in a car. According to the Department, the man resisted arrest so he was placed in handcuffs, adding “he appeared to be suffering medical distress.” The Police Dept. added, “At no time were weapons of any type used by anyone involved in this incident.” What the...

Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Sunday night that his office has sued a Minnesota restaurant owner who planned to reopen for business Monday. Kris Schiffler, owner of Shady’s Bar and Grill, planned on reopening his six locations for dine-in business Monday, two weeks earlier than the June 1 reopening date set by the state. He told one local outlet that he received a call from Ellison’s office Friday threatening $25,000 in fines per location, which would amount to $150,000 in total. Ellison’s office said it will continue to investigate other bars, restaurants, and taverns that threaten to “illegally reopen for...

(CNN)New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office deflected questions about a report from The Associated Press that the state sent more than 4,500 patients recovering from coronavirus to nursing homes by saying they followed guidance from federal agencies. "I just want to reiterate once again that the policy that the Department of Health put out was in line directly with the March 13 directive put out by (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) that read, and I quote, 'Nursing homes should admit any individuals from hospitals where Covid is present,'" said Secretary to the...

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday refused again to give an end date to New York City's lockdown despite the number of new hospitalizations lowering to 230 - less than half what they were the day the city shut down. Cuomo's requirements are that the city have 30% of its hospital and ICU beds free and that there are enough contact tracers - 2,250. The city will only say that it has hired 'well over 1,000' contact tracers. As of Monday, 29 percent of hospital beds were free and 29 percent of ICU beds were free.