12 Comments

Thank you, JD, for your excellent work. I'm curious about the reported disruptions to liturgies mentioned in Ottawa, were you able to confirm that the disrupters were actually sympathetic to the Freedom Convoy participants' cause? As we saw in the US, BLM protests assembled by peace-seeking individuals had a tendency to be co-opted by agitators who sought to do destructive things. Antifa and BLM operatives were uncovered thanks to the work of Andy Ngo, for example. Just a question posed in an effort to fully understand what is transpiring near the US-Canada border and in Canada's capitol city.

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Thanks for keeping US abreast of the evolving situation in Ukraine and the revisions to the cannon.

As for the coverage of Canada from the one churches in Ottawa, I'm afraid this doesn't tell the full story of the larger picture. Despite attempts by the mainstream media to publicly co-opt the movement with plants of Confederate flags and swastikas, protestors of all races and ethnic backgrounds have been peacefully gathering for weeks. Prime Minister Trudeau has refused to meet with protestors out of ignorance and pride and has subsequently issued a state of emergency so that he can enact draconian measures to cripple those who are standing up to the rampant discrimination of the unvaccinated. They are threatening us peaceful protestors by taking away our insurance and freezing all our banking services. These authoritarian measures are frightening, please pray for the PM, that his heart would soften for those he is supposed to be leading and for the peaceful Canadians fighting for freedom!

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Feb 15, 2022·edited Feb 15, 2022

Please pray for peace. Know that on the Russian side of that border, there are beloved children of God and remember that NATO is also increasing their presence on their doorstep. Please pray for continued de-escalation from BOTH sides as the risk of a devastating war, including the use of nuclear weapons, is increasingly becoming trivialized, especially in Western media.

Before you think I am some Russian propagandist, I can tell you that I am a Veteran Naval Officer and I love my country. We've learned from the Iraq War in 2003 that it is not beneath U.S. Officials to exaggerate or lie when it comes to foreign threats. The Ukrainian President has repeatedly stated that the continued (and uneventful) American claims that Russia will invade are causing significant problems in his country and they are having significant impacts on global markets as well.

Again, pray for peace on both sides and as Americans, let's rethink our entanglements in foreign affairs that are not our business.

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A nice parallel to Blessed Michal Sopocko is that today is also the feast day of St. Claude de la Colombiére, who was spiritual director to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Just as St. Faustina's visions inspired devotion to the Divine Mercy, St. Margaret Mary's inspired devotion to the Sacred Heart. Same lesson, different saint, same outcome. Blessed Michal, St. Faustina, St Claude, and St. Margaret Mary, Pray for us!

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I assert up front I am definitely NOT a cannonist. I spent a good part of the summer reading canon law as related to sexual abuse and also the role of bishops. What I came away with is a real question as to why the church needs all of these canons- many archaic. There was a prevailing theme of guilty till proven innocent rather than the other way around. Bishops etc.making decisions on folks thousands of miles away whom they have never met. I hope Jesus is more merciful and understanding than so many of these “rules”. How did this church become so rule reliant and legalistic?

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It seems that reports in the Catholic Register and statements from priests and others involved present a far different story about the trucker protest than what you have stated. It is not the first time I’ve caught you in a lie.

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Feb 16, 2022Liked by JD Flynn

Thank you, JD, and to Ed also, for the report as always.

I wanted to make particular note of my appreciation for the broad and expanding vision of news and information coverage at the Pillar.

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Your comments about the Russian invasion and the possible suppression of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church are spot on. People in the west do not realize the great effort the Russian Church has put into its good relationship with Mr Putin. The suppression of the Ukrainian independent church would be welcomed by the Russian Church mainly because the "official" Ukrainian Orthodox Church is just an extension of the Russian Church into the Ukraine. Next will come the suppression of the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church to rid the Ukraine of its other church that is independent of Russia. Very sad and needing much prayer.

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