Currents News has team coverage from the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.
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March for Life: Organizers Working to Build Culture of Life in the U.S.
Thousands of people are in Washington, D.C., to attend the March for Life.
Even though Roe v. Wade has been overturned, marchers are gathering because they say the necessary work to build a culture of life in the U.S. is not finished.
National Correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, John Lavenburg, joins Currents News from the nation’s capital to talk more about what to expect at the annual march.
Pro-lifers will kick the day off with a concert at 11 a.m.
After that, they’ll hear from some prominent pro-life speakers at the rally from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Then it’s the main event, hundreds of thousands will march from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., ending between the Supreme Court and the Capitol building.
6 Year-Old Role Model With Down Syndrome Inspires Inclusivity After Mom Chose Life
By Jessica Easthope
6-year-old model Noah Jacob’s smile says it all – it’s been seen by millions, but there’s only one person who Noah wants to smile back.
“Noah is amazing,” said Yami Johnson, Jacob’s mother. “He is just the sweetest little boy, wakes up happy, goes to bed happy, and he is the joy of our family.”
Johnson shares what people don’t see when they look at his ads – his story. It started with a battle.
“It was literally a fight for Noah; that’s what the beginning of my pregnancy was.”
Jacob is the youngest of 4 boys. Johnson got pregnant with him at 44 years old. The call about his diagnosis shook her to her core.
“What’s the percentage of my child having Down syndrome?” “He said, ‘97%.’ When he said 97%, my heart dropped.”
Johnson’s unexpected pregnancy was quickly coming with unrelenting heartache. Her doctors were giving her little hope and even fewer options.
“The baby might be a vegetable, might not walk. They didn’t give me any pamphlets on Down syndrome to educate myself, didn’t give me any organizations that I could reach out to, just said, ‘Here are some clinics where you can terminate.'”
The pressure to abort Jacob became so intense that Johnson was second-guessing what she knew was right.
“I received a phone call, and they were arranging a termination without telling me. Am I doing something terrible by bringing him, you know, to this world this way?”
Johnson found strength in her faith and leaned into what God wanted from her – to bring her baby into the world.
“I’m gonna trust God to get me through this. I said to God, ‘Here’s the deal: if this is what you’re giving, I’m gonna take him anyway he comes, but I need you to give me the strength to get through it. I need you to help me because I can’t do this without you.'”
Jacob’s first year of life saw two open-heart surgeries, kidney and lung disease, blood transfusions, and oxygen 24 hours a day.
“You have to act like everything’s fine, but on the inside, you’re just horrified, wondering what’s going on with your child.”
But all those days in the hospital are what kickstarted Jacob’s modeling career. Johnson didn’t know it at the time, she was filling a void in the market.
“I would take pictures of him in the hospital every day with his little outfits. I thought it was going to be very difficult for him to be a model because you didn’t see children with Down syndrome in ads. You just didn’t see it.”
Today, Jacob has become part of a new wave of inclusivity of disabilities in ads and commercials worldwide. And when he gets on set, he’s in his element.
“It became like a movement because followers from everywhere were sending me pictures next to Noah’s picture. Especially parents of children with special needs. One little boy said he looks like me.”
Johnson says people might see Jacob as a supermodel; she sees him as a role model for compassion, change, and what it means to choose life.
“I didn’t understand my purpose, and then when I became pregnant with Noah, I kind of understood that, and that’s where my faith grew even stronger. If you truly believe in God, you know he doesn’t make mistakes.”
Johnson’s job as Jacob’s mom isn’t easy. Right now, his heart is stable, and he no longer needs oxygen, but he’ll require more heart surgeries in the future.
“It’s worth every tear, worth every sleepless night. It’s priceless.”
Many have been inspired looking at Jacob’s ads. Johnson is inspired every day when she looks into his eyes.
Johnson is looking to help other moms of babies with down syndrome by connecting them with the support groups and resources she didn’t have during her pregnancy. To support her cause you can donate at ChoosingNoah.com.
Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 1/18/2024
Catholic News, Catholic Teaching, Catholic Perspective, News, Catholic, Pope Francis, News, Catholic Faith, New York City
Tens of thousands of people will meet on the National Mall in D.C. tomorrow for the annual Pro-Life rally.
National Correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, John Lavenburg joins Currents News from D.C.
A six-year-old from Canarsie has become the face of a movement.
Bishop Robert Brennan: We Really Need the People to be the Missionaries of the Pro-Life Movement
The bishops of New York have long supported pregnant mothers, vowing to help them in whatever way they can.
Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is among those fighting for the unborn.
He goes to the March for Life annually and is part of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee.
Ahead of the D.C. demonstration, Bishop Brennan joined Current News to talk about how the march has changed, and why it’s more important now than ever to support the unborn.
Mom Fights for Daughter’s Life, Against Doctor’s Advice
By Jessica Easthope
Gemma Dadone, 3, writhes in pain while getting her diaper changed. Both of her femurs are broken.
In nearly four short years of life, Gemma’s become no stranger to broken bones. She’s had more than 30 hairline fractures. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) causes her to have a collagen deficiency; her bones are very brittle.
“It takes her so much more effort than the average child. She has to take breaks. She has to lay back because her lung capacity is smaller than a regular child.”
Gemma’s mom Christine Darby knew life having a child with OI wouldn’t be easy, yet life without Gemma would be much harder.
“I heard her heartbeat, I felt her kicking and she was a part of me, and I felt that she deserved a chance at life, and a chance to grow and have a quality of life,” Christine said. “She’s going to be someone in the world and I’m happy that she has the chance to make a change.”
It was at the 13-week mark when Christine’s doctors noticed some bowing in Gemma’s legs on a sonogram. They immediately suggested she terminate her pregnancy. Gemma’s condition and the pressure to abort only got worse from there.
“Every Monday morning, they would call and they would say are you sure, are you sure, and I would say ‘yes I’m sure,’” Christine said. “They told me at one point why have a baby shower, what am I gonna do with all the stuff?”
“When they started calling Christine at 7 a.m. Monday morning, that they don’t think she should continue with her pregnancy, the trauma really started there, not a great way to start your week,” said Peter Dadone, Gemma’s father. “It was hard.”
But abortion was never on the table for the couple. Gemma’s cognitive ability is unaffected. Christine knew what she had to do as a Catholic and as Gemma’s mom, and she hasn’t looked back, even during the darkest of days.
“I felt such a strong connection to her, and I knew that I could not have an abortion,” Christine said. “I just felt that she was mine and I was meant to be her mom. Everyone deserves a chance at life, no matter the circumstance. Just look at her, they deserve a chance to see.”
Today Gemma is thriving. She goes to school, has friends, and dreams of growing up to teach doctors about the amazing potential babies with OI have, the potential every baby has.
“I’m so proud of how far she’s come,” Peter said. “Just in the last 2 years it’s been to the moon with her improvements.”
The next hurdle is saving up for an accessible home and car, to accommodate a power chair.
Gemma’s life will never be without challenges, but Christine says the best part is she’s here to conquer them.
A caring friend set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise money for the family to buy Gemma a specialized wheelchair. If you’d like to help donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gemmas-life-with-oi
Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 1/17/2024
Some Catholics are passionate about the pro-life cause, others have lived it.
In just two days, tens of thousands of people will converge on the National Mall in D.C. for the annual March for Life.
Before Bishop Robert Brennan heads to D.C., he joins Currents News to talk about how to advance the pro-life movement.
It’s been nearly five years since the Cathedral of Notre Dame was destroyed by fire.
Remembering Joe Esposito: Funeral Mass for Former NYPD Chief of Department
A dreary day outside matched the mood inside as the coffin of Joe Esposito was carried into St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Mourners filled the pews to say a final goodbye to the former NYPD Chief.
“All of us, who came here today to this magnificent cathedral to remember to pray for one of the greatest persons in my life — Espo,” said. Msgr. David Cassato, NYPD chaplain and former pastor of St. Athanasius, where Esposito was a parishioner.
Msgr. Cassato said Esposito was a personal friend and a man who lived his faith every day.
“Where was he every single Sunday? At church at St Athanasius at the 11:30 Mass,” Msgr. Cassato said.
The longest-serving chief of department in the history of the NYPD passed away last week at the age of 73 after a battle with brain cancer.
His daughter spoke at the funeral.
“When my mom left us when her heart gave out, my father lost his heart too,” Eve Esposito said. “And that cancer that was lurking in his system, hanging around since 9/11, I’m sure, decided it’s time: ‘Let’s send this man home to his wife.’”
Esposito helped guide the city in the days, weeks, and months after 9/11.
He also played a key role in reopening churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn during the pandemic.
At one point, Esposito served as chairman of the Diocesan Review Board, the panel that helps the bishop in responding to allegations of abuse against priests.
He’ll be remembered as a man who loved his city, loved his family, and just wanted to take care of everyone.
“We’re so proud to have been his daughter,” Eve said. “My dad, my hero, everyone’s hero.”
“I thank God for this man in my life!” Msgr. Cassato said. “Espo, rest in peace.”
In addition to his 45-year-long career with the NYPD, Esposito also served four years as commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management.
Mayor Eric Adams said, “He was the definition of public service.”
Young People Reconnect after World Youth Day Experience
by Katie Vasquez
It was a moment of prayer and eucharistic adoration as more than two dozen young people who went to World Youth day in August, took the time to reflect on their experience during a holy hour at Holy Family Church in Fresh Meadows.
“In the generation I am from, I don’t really see catholic youth that often that I can express my faith to,” said World Youth Day 2023 participant, Shaden De Leon Cruz, “so seeing that was just so it felt like a warm hug of just love and seeing god’s presence.”
“I feel like I’m very blessed to be surrounded by people who are on fire for their faith, but to see it at that scale in Portugal was so beautiful,” said World Youth Day 2023 participant, Rachel Burgos.
A chance for this group to strengthen their bond and commitment to Christ.
“More of our life is lived in the ordinary day to day, and we need times to bring us back to those moments of grace,” said Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Witnessing the Holy Father up close was an experience many say they will never forget.
“It ended up being exactly as transformative as I thought it would be. I remember specifically the first day when I saw him for the first time, it was pretty close to me,” said World Youth Day 2023 participant, Luis Ayala, ” I got goosebumps.”
Their trip was eye opening but also came with challenges.
“There is a lot of sacrifice that came in even prior to going to lisbon. but in sacrifice also is the great love that our young people have. they do so with joy,” said Diocese of Brooklyn Youth and Young Adultry Ministry Director, Father James Kuroly.
Lessons they will carry on.
“In school, any time I work, everything and every aspect, it’s truly changed my mindset aligned to putting god first in everything,” said De Leon Cruz.
These pilgrims are preparing for their next journey, celebrating the jubilee in Rome with the Holy Father in 2025.
Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 1/16/2024
Mourners gathered this morning at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to say a final goodbye to the NYPD’s former Chief of Department, Joe Esposito at his funeral Mass.
A special Mass was celebrated yesterday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
We are just days away from the national March For Life in Washington D.C.
Young people in the diocese came together in prayer over the weekend for a reunion of sorts.