This was a piece I wrote for The Spectator Australia a couple of weeks ago on National Cabinet’s four-phase plan. It was published on Monday July 5th. If you haven’t read it yet, you can do so by clicking here.
Category: COVID-19
Catholic/Christian Conundrums #1 – The Christian Response To COVID-19
Introduction:
Before we begin this piece, I’d like to provide you all with an introduction to what it is. This piece is the first in a series that will be published on a monthly basis. This is a collaborative series, that is, a series containing written parts from more than one author. It is the first collaboration you will see on this platform (hopefully the first of many). Your writers for this series are myself and Dia Beltran, whose show I have been a guest on. In this series, entitled Catholic/Christian Conundrums, we will take a look at some of the issues we face in the world as people of faith, from two perspectives. For the purpose of context, I am a Christian of the Catholic tradition, and Dia is a Christian of the Protestant tradition. We both share very similar values, although we may disagree in some areas of the faith. So throughout this series, we may at times agree on the issue at hand, or we may indeed find ourselves disagreeing, both of which are healthy and productive in this space. This first piece covers how Catholics/Christians can respond to COVID-19, particularly as the restrictions become more arbitrary and seek to further segregate society. As a means of distinguishing who is saying what, we have both written a half of the piece, our names above our contributions.
We hope you find this series informative, educational, interesting, and intriguing.
Joel:
There is no easy way of saying it – humanity has devolved. It is difficult to determine whether this has occurred through any fault of our own. It is more complex than it first appears. I do not think this is simply the fault of the general individual. It seems to be more attributable to a collective evil which has spread like a toxin throughout society, corrupting all it touches; in this case the minds of the general population. And it has left many of us weak and vulnerable, allowing ourselves to be preyed upon.
It began in the most morally compromised – politicians and bureaucrats. Some of the most easily corruptible human beings, they gave in to a greed for money and power, more so the latter, and, as a byproduct, control. All three of these have provided them with a means of twisted delight. They have not suffered like the general public have; they have not lost income, livelihoods, businesses. In fact, they have gained income, they have profited off the losses of wider society. And they show no sign of stopping.
In stoking fear, the media have aided them in their quest for domination over the people of their nations. Their gain? Views, clicks, blind trust. The disease then spread to others in the general population who put blind faith in government and media. This includes people from all walks of life, and all manner of political ideologies, theological beliefs, and general values. No one is immune, unless they are truly able to think critically for themselves.
So now, in a world that seems lost, overrun by power-tripping politicians, bureaucrats, media, and the sheep that follow them all, how can we as Christians restore order and freedom? How can we deal with people who have become hostile to anyone who does not follow the unlawful restrictions set down by those in power, who dob in their neighbours, friends, family, or whoever else just to get a high, or indeed because they have become spiteful, allowing the good in their hearts to become consumed by the darkness, by the evil that lurks within?
Dia will take you through a slightly more detailed history of Christianity’s battle against oppressive forces and how Christians should deal with the issues arising from COVID-19 in the latter half of this piece, with Biblical references to demonstrate. But, while I will discuss the Catholic response, I also want to focus on the faith as a whole during this time.
Catholics will no doubt know that we should obey the laws of Earth, but we should do so while also obeying the laws of God. We should strive to abide by the Ten Commandments set forth in Exodus. One of those Commandments is “You shall not give false witness against your neighbour” (Exodus 20:16), which means we should not lie. As Catholics, we are obligated to tell the truth, to abide by God, the author of all truth.
So begs the question in the current times, and likely in the times to come: what should we do in dire circumstances? Considering in the time of COVID-19 we are subject to arbitrary measures which limit our worship, our faith, and confine us in many ways, how can we navigate this while staying true to the Commandments? For example, what do we do if vaccine passports become a reality (which is beginning to appear more likely), and we who are rightly skeptical of the largely experimental substance and decide not to take it are subject to targeted restrictions? Is it ok to mislead someone on our vaccination status then?
It is an intriguing question. In the interests of defending our faith, or being able to worship, we should. I think God would understand us doing this in order to maintain our ability to go to church, to worship and connect with Him in His Holy House.
Additionally, Catholics should resist compliance with unlawful directions. In the undertaking of His ministry on this Earth, Jesus Christ often said and did things that were considered unlawful by the religious authorities of the time, the Pharisees. He healed a man on the Sabbath (in Mark 3:1-6). He performed many miracles which they attempted to deem the work of evil spirits. So we should take after our great Saviour and Redeemer and do the same. We should refuse to comply with the unlawful arbitrary restrictions set down by our leaders who would rather we worship them than worship God. And we should take heed of the warnings Jesus gave us of bad shepherds, those who lead us astray, those who we could easily follow off a cliff.
Finally I will say this: Church leaders need to stand against the COVID tyranny we now face. Do not allow the Government to take the place of God. Do not allow Christian persecution to occur unchecked in what is supposed to be a free and democratic society. Worship is essential. Our spiritual and mental health is just as important as our physical health. We should do all we can to protect the faith, to stand by it, and to stay true to it, even in the most trying of times.
Dia:
There was a time when a certain group of people had to hide their faith; it was not permitted to pray to the one true God (the God of the Bible). This occurred in the story of Daniel in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament in the Gospel of John under a Judaic governance.
Sadly, this is a pattern that is repeated time and time again throughout history which leads to the understanding that as Christians we will suffer, and we will be persecuted.
Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh are the perfect examples of real Christian persecution. In the months of 2009 & 2010 they were imprisoned for 8 months for a thought crime. What was their thought crime? Faith in Jesus Christ.
In Iran, they often give long sentences to Christians for their faith. Evin Prison is renowned for this. However, this type of persecution is not exclusive to Iran; persecution of Christians occurs in North Korea, China, Pakistan and most of the Middle East. What makes this particular age unique is the fact that one would not expect these things to occur in the western world, yet that is exactly where we have arrived.
I am not suggesting that our suffering matches those in Iran, however, with the introduction we have had to persecution in Australia, Canada and the United States among others.
I have no doubt that we have embarked on the slippery slope of Christianity being crucified in the western world. Jon MacArthur, Pastor Henry Hildebrandt, Pastor Tim Stephens and Paul Furlong; do you know these names? If not, you should look them up as they are the modern faces of western Christian persecution.
What are we to do in these ever-changing times? Do we obey that of our leaders in government, as well as those in our churches who comply by wearing a mask, doing a check in and temperature check outside the doors of worship, or do we take a stand against those in governance for the sake of being able to still attend church and fellowship with other like-minded adherents?
And he said unto them, render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. Luke 20:25
This Bible verse gives a very clear explanation as to what is expected of us if we claim to be Christian and the laws of man become too convoluted – the only alternative is to follow the laws of God. What if one of God’s commandments came into full opposition with another; for example ‘honor thy mother and thy father’.
Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12
What if the child obeying his parents was the child of Satanists? Well, it stands to reason that the law of God takes precedence over the parents in this scenario. As with this hypothetical, we are the children in this example and the government does not serve our best interests, and as such the law of God is the only law we bow to. No amount of Christian persecution will distract me from my mission which is a Christ centric one.
What is my overall message? It is pretty simple: Do Not Comply. Christians these days are letting us down all the time; we have no real genuine role models of Christian or Catholic leaders. It seems they are too obedient to the government’s directives and rather than take a stand for the Lord, they are going about it from a perspective that is understandable but foolishly misguided.
Christians of today desire to practice their faith. This is done by abiding by the rule of the land, which, whilst well-intentioned, is actually a foolish endeavour as it directly opposes God’s law, and so Christians who partake in this obedience blaspheme unknowingly to God’s direct order.
Now the learned Christian will quote Romans 13: 1-3
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Weighing this up with other examples in scripture is crucial. Do the laws of the land today correlate at all with God’s laws? Here is where we require an example of the apostles in the book of Acts; they set out to obey only the law of God, and the men in power were seeking a way to punish Peter and John for the path they took.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obeyyou rather than God, you decide, for it is impossiblefor us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising. God for what had happened. Act 4:19-21
Above, both Peter and John are in a situation where the authorities want them killed but it does not take place. Today, we are in similar parallels. The examples of anti-government behavior exceed just this one story. Earlier in this piece I mentioned Daniel and the lions, but I can also add the midwives in Exodus who would not partake in infanticide.
What we are in need of now is more of this opposition. Tragically, it seems too few people are willing to make this stand.
Do not comply. Listen only to the law of God and maybe we can manage to fight back for our freedoms.
COVID Tyranny: How Your Leaders Are Working Against You
Just a few months ago, as the beginning of the vaccine rollout in Australia approached, Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised us they would not be made mandatory. To those of us who were privy to the ways in which politicians and the media act and set the narrative, we knew this was a lie from the get-go. Yet there were many who again naively believed the words that a career politician spoke. And therein lies the problem. Since when are politicians known to stick to their promises, to abide by their word?
After another convenient outbreak leading into the school holiday period in New South Wales, resulting in most of the State going into lockdown for the two weeks it spans, National Cabinet, the government body that has been utterly detrimental to this nation, has met to determine the nationwide response. Already most States and Territories have introduced restrictions, border closures, mask mandates, and even lockdowns, even where there are zero cases present. Some would say this is cowardice. Others (who typically follow the government like sheep) would deem it necessary to “keep people safe”. But not me.
I see it as a concerted act with a purpose. The vaccine uptake in Australia has not been as high as politicians would have hoped. Clearly, the number of individuals skeptical of the experimental vaccine is far greater than the government and their propaganda arms in the media are letting on. So it would stand to reason they have devised a strategy to push the vaccine harder, and essentially make it mandatory. Allow me to explain.
The whole gist of this lies in emotion and psychology. They need to be able to compel people to take the jab without appearing to compel them to. So how do they do this? They take your holidays from you. They take occasions where people gather in joy and happiness. Notice how every time there is an “outbreak”, it always seems to occur around a holiday period, or a public holiday, or even religious holidays. For example, last year we were restricted on Easter and Christmas. We have faced restrictions on New Year’s, Mother’s Day, and Australia Day among others. And now NSW just happens to be in a lockdown that spans the entire school holiday period. Sure, at first it may have seemed like it could be written off as pure coincidence. But it is now difficult to see it that way.
It was predictable that they would impose such restrictions and lockdowns again around the time of a holiday period, when people usually spend time with their families and friends, when they go out, go away on holidays. But the reasons as to why are also predictable in nature. They are doing this to compel us all to get the jab. They are attempting to incentivize it in their own way, by saying that if enough people get the vaccine, we will not have to lockdown anymore.
Currently, even people who have the jab are still in lockdown, still subject to restrictions. So it seems worthless to even get it. Sure, it may reduce your symptoms if you contract the virus, but the recovery rate is extremely high. So it stands to reason that people would be averse to getting the vaccine. In fact, those who are skeptical of the vaccine are rightly so. And that is what makes the following revelations even more nefarious.
Now keep in mind when reading the following that the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Paul Kelly, said at a Senate Inquiry when asked by Senator Malcolm Roberts if the vaccines were 100% safe: “I can’t say that they’re 100% safe”. The representative from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) also could not assure the Inquiry of the efficacy nor long-term outcomes of the vaccines.
National Cabinet have determined a set of new rules and regulations to be implemented across the country. Of the new rules, two set an extremely dangerous precedent for the coming months and years: Mandatory vaccinations for all aged care workers, and allowing Australians of any age to get the AstraZeneca vaccine under new indemnity arrangements.
Let us first address the latter, given it will provide the reason for which the former is so insidious. We already know the AstraZeneca jabs have been subject to many issues, including blood clots. We know people have died after having the jabs. The problematic occurrences have, over the last few weeks and months, pushed the government and TGA to change their stance on AstraZeneca several times, including limiting the vaccine to certain age groups (60+), and subsequently ruling it out altogether, telling Australians that if they have not yet had their first jab that they should get the Pfizer vaccine instead. The Minister even told us it was unsafe for the majority of the population.
But suddenly they have backtracked somewhat, telling us we can go and get the AstraZeneca jab so long as we sign over our indemnity rights. What does this mean? We know that, thus far, the companies who have created and produced these vaccines, which have in the not-so-distant past paid out billions of dollars in damages collectively, have recused themselves of liability from any problems that occur with their vaccines, which of course includes any adverse effects which occur in the long-term. The government have also recused themselves of liability. Now, under the new arrangements made in National Cabinet, GPs will also be free from liability, at least for the AstraZeneca vaccine. This means that if something goes wrong, and you end up suffering as a result, you cannot hold anyone who should be liable accountable. And just confirm the dangers of this vaccine, the head of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has since stated his shock at the government’s decision and has aired his disagreement with the Prime Minister on the matter, warning people, especially those under 40, not to get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
That is why making the vaccines mandatory for anyone is particularly despicable. The government know they cannot be held liable for any issues that arise from the vaccine over the coming months and years. That is why they have no issue supporting mandatory vaccinations. Now some may say, “It’s just aged care workers.” And to them I would say “Have you been living under a rock for the last year and a half?!” Have people not been paying attention throughout the era of COVID-19? These are the kind of buzz phrases that politicians, bureaucrats, media, and their lackeys have been using the whole time. “It’s just two weeks to flatten the curve”; “It’s just a mask”; “It’s just to slow the spread”; “It’s just a few more weeks”; “It’s just an app”; “It’s just until we get a vaccine”; “It’s just until everyone gets the vaccine”.
For pity’s sake people. It is not just. It is completely unjust. It’s disturbing is what it is. Those in power are a greater threat to this nation than the virus itself. Mandatory vaccinations for aged care workers are just the beginning of a slippery slope that descends into complete COVID tyranny. Next they will start making it mandatory for other sectors, be it hospitality, education, or whichever else. Soon enough you will not be able to go to church, or even the shops, without having the jab. They will segregate society into vaccinated and unvaccinated. The vaccinated will be given back some of their freedoms. The unvaccinated will be heavily restricted, treated like criminals, their homes becoming their prisons. Vaccination passports will no doubt become a reality. And yet, the vaccines do not prevent infection nor transmission. So the vaccinated could still easily contract the virus and spread it.
Currently, Scott Morrison has said that they will not even consider opening up or treating the virus as if it is the flu until at least next year. Even if the majority of Australians were vaccinated, lockdowns will continue to occur intermittently. All he will possibly consider is some relaxing of quarantine arrangements next year. That’s it. That is all they’ll do. This is tyrannical. There is no other word for it. Governments are not meant to intervene so heavily in the medical autonomy of their citizens. It is not the role of the government to dictate the risks people take to their own health. All they should do is provide advice and facilitate options. They should not force nor compel people to take certain risks, including with the vaccine. This kind of thing was what the Nuremberg Code was designed to prevent. In fact, the Australian Immunisation Handbook states that consent for vaccines “should be given voluntarily in the absence of undue pressure, coercion or manipulation”. It also takes from a core principle of the Nuremberg Code which reads:
“The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, overreaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion; and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision.”
Note that the government are doing all they can to coerce you to get the vaccine, including mandating vaccines, which means if you refuse you will no longer be able to work in certain industries. It is also likely they will begin to impose further restrictions specifically on those who are unvaccinated, again in an attempt to coerce you to get vaccinated. This is a clear breach of the Nuremberg Code, of which Australia is a signatory, and by extension the guidelines set forth in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Further, they are in violation of the Australian Constitution, of which Subsection 51(xxiiiA) states:
The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:
(xxiiiA) the provision of maternity allowances, widows’ pensions, child endowment, unemployment, pharmaceutical, sickness and hospital benefits, medical and dental services (but not so as to authorize any form of civil conscription), benefits to students and family allowances
Vaccine mandates are a form of “civil conscription”.
Those in power will continue to fear-monger. Fear is their ultimate weapon in these times. If they can continue to instill fear in the population, or at least in enough of the population, they can continue their reign of tyranny unchecked. The media may at times seem like their worst enemy, but they are in reality their greatest ally, as the constantly propagate fear of the virus in their programs. Even political commentators who are usually beacons of common sense have started pushing the vaccine and supporting the government’s mandatory vaccination policy. Some have even gone so far as to suggest the vaccinated should be allowed their freedom while the unvaccinated should remain subject to harsh restrictions and lockdowns. In essence, they want to medically segregate society.
It is pertinent to note as well that the harshest of restrictions, including lockdowns, always seem to be imposed by each State right around the time their State of Emergency is about to expire. It provides them with an excuse to extend it time and time again. They will continue to jump at the opportunities new variants of the virus present. But allow me to make something clear: there will always be new variants.
This virus is not going away, no matter how many people we vaccinate, no matter what restrictions we put in place. What is clear is that this virus has adapted in such a way that it is not going to kill itself off, unlike other viruses that mutate to become more potent, killing themselves off relatively quickly. What is evident from what has been labelled the Delta strain is that it is less potent than previous variants of COVID-19. Yes, it appears to be more infectious, however this does not mean we should fear it, panic, and lock everything down again. Viruses like this become more infectious but less potent as they progress. It is not abnormal behaviour. No matter how much the media, politicians and health bureaucrats tell you otherwise, this variant is not something we need to be panicking about. And it does not warrant further lockdowns and restrictions.
If anything, Australia needs to take a leaf out of Singapore’s book: No more restrictions, no more lockdowns, no more daily press conferences, no more announcements of case numbers, no more counters on the sides of our television screens with case and vaccine tallies, no more extensions of emergency powers, no more fear.
Each of us should be given back our God-given rights and freedoms. Each of us should live our lives as we wish, assessing our own risks and the risks to our health and taking whatever actions we deem necessary for ourselves. If you want to get vaccinated, go ahead. If you don’t, good for you. No-one should be restricted based on their vaccination status. No one should be alienated based on what should be a choice. Same thing goes for masks. If you want to wear a mask, feel free to. If you don’t, that’s perfectly fine. These things are frankly nobody else’s business but your own.
Our lives on this Earth are far too short to be subjected to COVID tyranny. This authoritarianism that has managed to pervade society has become a disease, and it is doing more harm to our world than the virus. Take a stand. Fight back against the tyrannical abuses of power both Labor governments and our so-called “liberal” governments are perpetrating upon this nation. To all those facing vaccine mandates in their industries, push back. If enough people threaten to strike or quit, the government may be forced to retract their despicable new rules. Stop worrying, stop fearing the virus, and start living your lives at your own risk, rather than at the government’s.
And just a final note to all those who will inevitably disagree with me, who will say that this is all hearsay, that it is all one big conspiracy theory. Think about this: You cannot sue them because they’re indemnified. You cannot talk about it on social media because they will censor you, or even permanently suspend your account. You cannot protest because of their restrictions, because they’ll fine you or arrest you. You cannot choose to take hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin because they are restricting them, practically deeming them illegal, despite their rate of success in treating COVID-19. Doctors who have pushed against the acceptable narrative have had the full force of the narrative-holders come down against them, discrediting them, making them out to be conspiracy theorists. How much more obvious does it need to be for you all to see that there are sinister agendas attached to all this?
COVID tyranny is well and truly here. It’s up to us to fight against it.
This Is How We Fight
Forgot to upload this earlier this week, but in case you haven’t read it yet, here’s a piece I wrote for The Good Sauce on fighting back against the COVID tyranny we’re all facing.
Live Stream With Dia Beltran And Jesse Bell
Had the opportunity to go back on my friend Dia’s Live Show last night. Was a bit last minute so didn’t have a chance to share it, but if you want to have a watch, you can do so below! Dia and I are also collaborating on a project which will be announced very soon, so keep an eye out for that.
JJ’s Outlook 