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City Withdraws Wrongful Violation After Buildings Dept Asks Resident to Remove Flags ‘in Error’

By Jessica Easthope

Joe Maffia calls himself a proud patriot, and this is how he expresses himself.

American flags aren’t uncommon on his Gerritsen Beach block, but on Jan. 19, Maffia was the only person asked to take his down.

The New York City Buildings Department showed up and called his “Let’s Go Brandon” flag, a popular flag flown by Trump supporters, and his American flag illegal signs in a residential district. 

Maffia refused to remove them, deciding instead to evoke his First Amendment rights and fight for his freedom of speech.

“I told them I’d remove the bottom flag, no problem,” Maffia said. “They said no, both flags, or you’re going to get a summons for $500. I said, ‘Give me the summons; people died for that flag.’ “

It was all captured on the Resurrection parishioner’s doorbell camera — the inspectors were following up after getting a 311 call from a neighbor. Maffia doesn’t know who it was.

“Thank God for the Ring doorbell that caught it because I don’t think anyone would believe what I was saying,” Maffia said. “I’m a simple person; I don’t want the spotlight on me, but it’s not right what the city is doing.”

After Currents News reached out to the Department of Buildings to investigate, the city withdrew the violation, saying it was issued ‘in error’; they even left Joe a voicemail.

“How can you tell somebody you have to take down an American flag?” Maffia said. “Even the other flag, freedom of speech. It’s like they’re trying to take everything away from people, and it’s insane, take a little bit and a little bit and see what they can get.”

But what’s disturbing Maffia and his neighbors is that a city agency would act on a civilian complaint without following protocol.

“I think it’s a disgrace, it’s America, and we should be allowed to have our American flags,” neighbor Bernadette McNally said. “That’s the government now; we have no rights anymore. It’s like a communist country.”

“We’ve wanted speed bumps on the street and to make the street a one-way for years now, but the flag situation’s getting taken care of pretty quickly,” said Frank Lobasso, another neighbor.

Joe’s waiting for the official notice that the violation has been withdrawn and his court hearing has been canceled.

“And I just want to thank Currents News for bringing this to everyone’s attention and getting this somewhat resolved,” Maffia said. “It’s not in writing yet, but hopefully, it is on the way.”

Maffia said this is a clear example of government overreach and though he’s happy his case is getting resolved he, unfortunately, thinks it will happen again to someone else.

You can read more about this story online at TheTablet.Org.

Church Caretaker Slashed During Confrontation

by Katie Vasquez

John Mach showed off dozens of stitches which mend a serious cut that he received Sunday evening.

The caretaker at the Church of the Immaculate Conception was going about his normal duties, when he says he spotted a man urinating on a nearby car and confronted him. 

“I got physical with him because he was exposing himself, he left,” said Mach.

But that wasn’t the end, John says later on as he was trying to help a parishioner who was in a wheelchair, the man returned, slashing him in his neck from behind his ear almost down to his chin. 

“He just cut me without me looking,” said Mach. “I felt something hot go down my throat. I broke my long john, wrapped it around my neck, and I started chasing him out of the premises.”

John didn’t catch the suspect and EMS took him to Mount Sinai Beth Israel. 

According to the NYPD crimes went down in 2023, murder dropping 12 percent and shooting incidents falling 25 percent.  

Longtime East Village resident Sarah Ferguson says while this isn’t a violent neighborhood, this corner has gone downhill.

“I don’t know the exact cause or why it’s kind of off the hook. But that particular block between First avenue and A has definitely changed.”

John says he wouldn’t hesitate to stand up for his church if it happened again. 

“If I have to get another one, I’ll get it. I don’t care. This is the church of the community. I’m not going to let nobody violate our rights,” said Mach.  “We are fighting basically. I’m fighting for my parishioners. This is proof. It ain’t supposed to be like that. 

Meanwhile police say the suspect is still on the loose and are asking for the public’s help. 

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) 

 

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 1/23/2024

Police are searching for a man who they say slashed a church worker in Manhattan.

On the anniversary of the Roe v Wade ruling, which has since been overturned, the Biden administration is trying to make abortion more accessible.

A parishioner at Resurrection Church in Brooklyn is speaking out after the New York City Department of Buildings issued him a summons for refusing to remove flags from his own property.

The winners of The Tablet’s 2024 Keep Christ In Christmas Art Contest have been announced.

“Witness For Life” Group Defends the Unborn Outside Clinics

by Katie Vasquez

Prayers for the unborn, outside a planned parenthood in Brooklyn Heights. 

Every second Saturday of every month, the Brooklyn segment of the group “Witness for Life” is outside the Planned Parenthood on Court Street, praying for the lives of the unborn.

“I think for us as Catholics, we’re obligated to continue with what Christ taught us in light of what we see, what’s happening in the world, and how we need to defend all forms of life from conception to natural death,” said Witness for Life member, Omar Castro. 

They hope their presence will help the women getting an abortion consider another path.

“We’re not there to judge. we’re not there to confront anybody. we cannot make these mothers who are already under stress feel even worse. we’re there to help,” said Castro. 

The peaceful prayers happening after they’ve said their morning prayers.

The group walks to the clinic after 8am mass at St. Charles Borromeo church. It’s not a long journey, only taking the space of 2 blocks but the path has sometimes been blocked by pro-abortion protestors.

“I did have fear for the priests because they were all over them being irreverent to them, blowing pot smoke in their face and calling all kinds of obscenities and all kinds of things that the clergy has done and throwing it out on their face,” said Witness for Life member, Maria Cardenas. 

“We’re just simply praying there and all the people, all of them all for Planned Parenthood, you saw that. Really it is disheartening really, you know, and even elderly people, nobody seems to be for Jesus,” said 

Despite the danger, the group says they will still march for the unborn, both here in the diocese of Brooklyn, and in D.C. during the national March for Life.

“Through prayer and with the marches that we do, God is listening to us and, you know, we’re making strides and we must continue to fight.” said Cardenas.

And just like the March for Life, they hope to change the culture of America, to one where abortion is unthinkable.

If you’d like to join the group, you can meet up with them after the 8am mass on the second Saturday of the month.

That’s at St. Charles Borromeo church, 19 Sidney Place in Brooklyn Heights. 

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 1/22/2024

Tens of thousands marched for life in Washington D.C. despite the snow and the freezing cold hoping to end abortion around the country.

But the fight for life isn’t just once a year, every day’s a battle. Whether it be outside a Planned Parenthood or in the hearts of mothers. The Diocese of Brooklyn is protecting the unborn. Join Currents News for their March for Life special.

Supporting Women Year Round as a Sidewalk Counselor

by Katie Vasquez

Before the sun rises, a few people pile into the pews at the Church of St. Catherine of Siena on the Upper East Side.

One of them is Bernadette Patel. This is how she starts her day as a sidewalk counselor.  

“I’ll pray. One that God can use me as an instrument and that if I can say anything or do anything to help a woman choose life, that she does it,” said Patel. 

Once a week for almost five years, Bernadette boards the subway downtown to Planned Parenthood on Bleecker street, praying the rosary along the way.

Donning her signature pink vest, she hopes she can change the minds of women going in. 

Patel said, “Most of them, it’s like feeling forced to because of circumstances and then that prompts the question of like, how is this a choice?”

While Currents News was there, two women tried to enter the clinic but Bernadette convinced them to not support the abortion provider. 

“Planned Parenthood is famous for like, abortions, and when they find that out, they’re like, oh, I don’t want to support this place. like, you don’t have to. there’s different places you can go. so, like, the, just like regular, well, women’s exams or things like that,” said Patel.

Her ministry is not always met with positivity. 

“People that come up and just like, scream nasty things. We’ve had cases where we had to file police reports,” said Patel.

But it’s the rare success stories that motivate her. 

“We had a turnaround with this, so it was a couple, handed her this and with the pictures of development and the father just started crying and like the woman seemed really shaken,” said Patel.

Even when she’s faced with difficult situations, she reminds herself why she started this work. 

“So many women just going in. and i was like, they like someone needs to just talk to them. and then like, god just put on my heart, it’s you,” said Patel.

A calling she will continue for as long as she’s able.

National Prayer Vigil for Life Held in D.C.

March for Life activities really kicked off last night, at the National Prayer Vigil for Life. 

Almost 7,000 pro-lifers prayed for the unborn at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Bishop Michael Burbidge, the chair of the US Bishops pro-life committee, was the main celebrant. In his homily he reminded the crowd that though Roe V. Wade being overturned was a victory, the unborn are still in danger. 

His message was a rallying cry for the young pro-lifers, who want to keep advocating for unborn babies and their mothers. 

“We should be standing behind this like this is the true feminist movement. The movement to be there as a supporter of life, to be proud supporters of expectant mothers and to stand right by their throughout all of it,” said Sofia Tweed who attended the vigil mass. 

“Every single life is sacred, no matter when, what, where or what opportunity. and just to make it known to everyone that we care both about the mother and the child and that life is important no matter what stage,” said Maribel Boutrous, who attended the vigil mass. 

Pope Francis also sent a letter to the marchers, thanking them for  “this eloquent witness to the inviolable right to life of every person.”

Parishioners from the Diocese of Brooklyn Attend March for Life

by Katie Vasquez

The snow and frigid temperatures couldn’t stop these pro life advocates from letting their voice be heard,

marching in the nation’s capital, in the massive crowd was a group of 26 parishioners from the Diocese of Brooklyn, who are dedicated to the pro-life cause. 

Waking up early to brave the harsh weather, faithful from across the diocese are determined to spread the word. 

“When you see so many people in particular in your diocese that think the same way that you do and have the same vigor and passion, it’s really comforting, really comforting,” said parochial vicar of St. Helen’s Church, Father Michael Panicali. 

They traveled hundreds of miles to defend the unborn in D.C. 

“The issue of the dignity of life is core to our society. If we don’t have the dignity of life, then we don’t have anything,” said Blessed Trinity Church parishioner, Angela DiLalla. 

Because for them it’s more just a core tenant of their Catholic faith, it’s personal. 

“This is really where the tire hits the road for us. “It’s one thing to talk the talk,” said Holy Trinity Church parishioner, Frank Kazlausky,  “It’s another thing to take action and get involved. And I just became a grandfather two months ago, so it’s Frank ‘Pop Pop’ Kazlausky and I can’t imagine a life without this little baby girl. so that’s why we’re here.”

Walking through slush and puddles of water, tens of thousands march past the Capitol building and end at the Supreme Court.

The route not only marks the victory in the Dobbs decision but also shows the need to maintain a pro-life presence in Washington. 

Since Roe V. Wade was overturned, the issue of abortion has gone to the state level, and while there have been great strides in the legislature,  the marchers are not giving up until abortion is viewed as unthinkable. 

“There’s still a lot of work that has to be done within our tri state area in New York state, around,” said St. Thomas Apostle Church parishioner, Sal Isabella, “and we don’t stop the march. We won’t stop the fight until more happens.”

Even though this march is over, pro-lifers will continue to fight for the unborn. They are urging everyone to contact local lawmakers and advocate for life.

 

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 1/19/2024

The snow and frigid temperatures couldn’t stop these pro-life advocates from letting their voice be heard.

5,000 Pro-Lifers prayed for the unborn at the Basilica of The National Shrine of The Immaculate Conception.

Bernadette Patel was one of those thousands of marchers on the National Mall but her witness to life doesn’t just happen today.