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Murder or Self-Defense? Calls Grow for Manhattan DA to Drop Bodega Clerk’s Charges

Currents News Staff

A deadly stabbing captured on surveillance video. Jose Alba was working at an upper Manhattan bodega on July 1 when police say he got into a fight with another man.

According to a criminal complaint, a woman tried to buy a snack for her daughter. Her payment card was declined. She told police Alba reached over the counter and grabbed her daughter’s hand to get the item back.

The unidentified woman then left, but later returned to the store with her boyfriend, Austin Simon. A criminal complaint says Simon went behind the counter and pushed the bodega clerk.

Alba told an investigator Simon wanted him to apologize to the girl. Surveillance video shows Simon attempting to steer the clerk out of the area behind the counter.

The complaint states Alba “picked up a kitchen knife that was stashed behind the counter and stabbed Mr. Simon in the neck and chest at least five times.”

It goes on to say Simon’s girlfriend took a knife from her purse and stabbed Alba, who suffered a wound to his arm. Police say Simon died later that evening “of stab wounds to his neck and torso.”

Officers arrested Alba on July 2 and he is charged with one count of second-degree murder and has been released on $50,000 bond, partially secured by the owners of the bodega.

The case is reigniting the debate over self-defense laws in New York. New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he supports Alba.

“My heart goes out for that hard-working honest New Yorker that was doing his job in his place of business,” said Mayor Adams, “where a person came in and went behind the counter and attacked him. My heart goes out to that employee who was in the store doing his job. And so I am hoping that we take all of that into consideration as this hardworking New Yorker was doing his job and someone aggressively went behind the counter to attack him. So the DA has his job.”

In a meeting with bodega workers on Tuesday, the Manhattan DA said he wouldn’t drop the charges just yet and that they are still investigating.

Alvin Bragg has been criticized for his controversial, progressive policies. Bodega workers say that bail reform is a big problem and they need more protection saying they feel more unsafe than they did in the 1980s.

Astrophysicist Explains Image From Billions of Lightyears Away

Currents News Staff

This changes everything – sort of.

“We expect it to change our understanding of the universe,” said Neil deGrasse Tyson, an Astrophysicist.

He’s talking about the James Webb Space Telescope and what it can reveal. NASA says the telescope captures the deepest images of the universe humans have ever seen.

“You’re seeing galaxies that are shining around other galaxies,” said Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator. “And you’re seeing just a small little portion of the universe.”

This galaxy cluster is shown as it appeared about 4.6 billion years ago!

“Frankly, got emotional,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, a NASA Associate Administrator.

The telescope doesn’t just peek into “a galaxy far, far away” but it also looks back in time.

“This telescope is exquisitely tuned to see galaxies forming at the origin of the universe,” said Tyson.

That’s because it shows stars so distant, they might not even exist by the time their light reaches the telescope. In fact, by then, much of that light has stretched into infrared waves – invisible to us, but not to Webb.

“Over the thirteen-and-a-half billion years that the light has been traveling,” said Tyson. “The universe has been expanding.”

That’s why the telescope is launching a whole new way to gaze at the stars.

Pope Francis Urges Young People to Consume Less Meat to Save the Environment

Currents News Staff

Pope Francis met with the participants of the European Youth Conference, and encouraged them to transform the “old continent” into a new one. He said they can effect this change by being more attentive and less swayed by ideologies than previous generations, and urged them to be “sensitive to environmental issues.”

Pope Francis praised the concrete commitments young people have made to care for humanity’s common home. He explained how urgent it is “to reduce consumption not only of fossil fuels, but of many superfluous things.” The Holy Father also said that in certain parts of the world “it would be advisable to consume less meat.”

The pontiff also asked them to read his encyclical “Laudato Si'”, where he thinks both believers and non-believers can find reasons to commit themselves to integral environmentalism. He encouraged young people to be capable of generating new ideas but, above all, of seeking new paths to travel along together.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 7/11/22

Bishops nationwide are condemning President Biden’s executive order to safeguard abortion rights.

Several churches in one state are targeted by vandals who even set one of them on fire.

The kids of Brooklyn are getting in on the action to carry their own Giglio.

Children Carry On Italian-American Tradition By Lifting Giglio at Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Currents News Staff 

They’ve been preparing and they’ve been praying.

“Well, I did do a couple of push-ups with friends,” said Evan Smith.

Dozens of children in Brooklyn are flexing their muscles and getting ready to lift the 400 lb. children’s Giglio at the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

“It’s gonna be really heavy” said Smith.

Seven-year-old Nicholas Notaro is picked as the leader or capo.

“I’m gonna be the capo,” Notaro said. “I’m gonna lead the Giglio.”

So with the support of their families, and a blessing from the pastor, Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello: It was time.

“Heavenly Father,” said Msgr. Jamie. “We come together tonight to lift this children’s Giglio.”

With a scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel around their necks, they put their faith into action.

Like pros and like their fathers and grandfathers before them, the children made the Giglio dance as they processed through the feast. When the work was done, the fun began!

Food and rides galore.

“Because I’m around for close to 50 years,” said Lucy Spata, “so if I’m around this long, you know it’s gotta be good!”

After 135 years, this parish perfected the recipe for a good time by bringing their faith into the streets.

“I think people should come to the feast to experience the spirit of faith,” said Msgr. Jamie.

 

Maryland Police Investigate Fires and Vandalism at Multiple Houses of Worship

Currents News Staff

The arson triggered the fire detection system at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church in Maryland around 1:55 a.m. Sunday.

“People are coming in today shocked,” said Patricia Zapor from the Archdiocese of Washington. “There were some small attempts to burn some of the pews. Some books were shredded, and the stations of the cross were removed from the wall.”

That’s when Montgomery County Fire and Rescue arrived and put the fire out. This morning, the cleanup began.

“Of course, they are concerned that they were allegedly targeted,” said Peter Piringer from the fire and rescue team.

Although the investigation is ongoing, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said there are similarities between the arson and vandalism at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church and the arson and vandalism that happened just a few minutes down the road at North Bethesda United Methodist Church.

“In both cases, there were some associated vandalism with that,” said Piringer. “Again, there are similarities: Not too far apart. Relatively same time of night occurring. And both being churches.”

The arson at the Methodist church happened Saturday at 2:35 a.m.

“Again this was an arson,” said Piringer. “Intentionally set fires.”

That’s not all – a third church was vandalized on the same road. Investigators found headstones broken and wood pieces shattered at Wildwood Baptist Church.

Sunday Mass ended with a different prayer.

“And encourage people to pray for whoever would do something like this,” said Zapor. “That their hearts be healed.”

 

Meet The ‘CandyMan’ Who Sells Candy Bars For Cancer Research and Patient Care

Currents News Staff

His name is Fred Reagan, but his nickname is: “The Candy Man” and it’s easy to see why.

The 77-year-old Lakefield man is preparing for his 17th Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk in October.

“I started doing it with a good friend of mine who lost his daughter in law, 30 years of age, with cancer,” Reagan said.

His goal is to raise $20,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“He’s really what we want all of our supporters to be like,” said Zachary Blackburn, Assistant Vice President of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. “Just that passion, that energy. Fred himself, through the end of last year, has raised just shy of $107,000”

How does he do this? By way of mail.

“I’ll send out about 260 letters this year and I had a stamp made at Staples that says AKA the Candyman,” Reagan said.

And by selling Hilliards Chocolates.

“This is our chocolate bars for the fundraising program,” said Maegan McCarthy Dec, the Hilliards Chocolates President. “There’s 40 chocolate bars in there. They are $1 each and then they can resell them for $2 or whatever they choose to.”

Now in his 12th year of using the program, Fred says he’s close to selling his 100,000th candy bar!

“It’s very close,” Reagan said. “I think by the end of October, November, I will have hit 100-thousand candy bars.”

Fred sells the candy bars out of a cooler in his car but he also works with about 20 local businesses – some that he visits weekly to drop off boxes of chocolate.”

“He’s great. He is amazing,” said Cale Rynscewicz from Winbergs Hardware. “He’s such a joy to have around. Every time he’s around I’m always smiling, I’m always laughing.”

“I drive around,” said Reagan. “I probably put 5 to 6,000 miles on my car every year but that’s okay. It’s a good cause. And one of these days, we’re going to have a cure for cancer.”

President Biden Signs Executive Order Safeguarding Abortion Access

The order pushes back limits on women’s access to federally approved abortion medication and services

By Currents News Staff and Melissa Enaje

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — President Joe Biden signed an executive order formalizing instructions to the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services protecting abortion access, just two weeks after the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to the procedure.

“The fastest way to restore Roe is to pass a national law,” Biden said on July 8. “The challenge is, go out and vote.”

The order extends to other governmental bodies including the Federal Trade Commission. Biden is asking the FTC to take steps that will protect the privacy of those seeking an abortion online in addition to establishing an “interagency task force” to safeguard abortion access.

“The Biden Administration is obsessed with increasing abortion in America,” Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said in a statement that he and other Republican senators introduced to block the executive order. 

Biden’s order also intends to mitigate potential penalties women would face if they seek an abortion. It will also direct agencies to work to educate medical providers and insurers on how and when they’re required to share patient information with authorities. 

The White House also said it would assign volunteer lawyers who could provide women and providers with pro-bono legal assistance in order to navigate the new state restrictions.

“President Biden has made clear that the only way to secure a woman’s right to choose is for Congress to restore the protections of Roe as federal law,” the White House said. “Until then, he has committed to doing everything in his power to defend reproductive rights and protect access to safe and legal abortion.”

While the Biden Administration takes action to safeguard abortion access and care, New York Catholic bishops have spoken out about the responsibility of the pro-life community to build “a culture of life.”

“Building a culture of life is not solely the responsibility of the government,” the bishops said in a statement. “All of us need to respect the dignity and sanctity of human life in everything we do: in how we treat our children, spouses, and parents; in the way we behave in our place of work; in sum, how we live Jesus’ two great commandments to love God and love our neighbor.”

Tokyo Archbishop Condemns Political Violence That ‘Kills Democracy’

By Currents News Staff and Nirmala Carvalho

TOKYO (Crux) — After a gunman fatally shot former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign rally in western Japan on Friday, July 8, Archbishop Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo lamented that “violence kills democracy.”

Abe was campaigning for local candidates in Nara when a person shot him in the back at close range with what news reports have described as a homemade gun. He was airlifted to a hospital but officials said he was not breathing and his heart had stopped.

The hospital confirmed his death. Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his cabinet ministers hastily returned to Tokyo from campaign events around the country after the shooting, which Kishida called “dastardly and barbaric.”

Abe is the longest-serving prime minister in Japan’s history, having been in office twice, first from 2006-2007 and then from 2012-2020. A member of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, he was controversial for his views on re-militarizing Japan and his revisionist views on Japan’s actions during World War II.

Archbishop Kikuchi told Crux he was “deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news of the attack on the former prime minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe.”

The archbishop also deplored the fact that political violence might be happening in Japan.

“After more than 70 years since the present constitution was promulgated in 1947, with a strong desire to establish peace, the principle of democracy based on freedom of speech and vote is supposed to be the core value of this society,” he said.

“There are differences of opinion existing in the society over all kinds of issues and political antagonism among politicians made them fight each other. However this fight has been done by debate and not by violence,” Archbishop Kikuchi continued.

“Violence kills democracy. Violence kills freedom. Violence kills justice. The differences of political opinion have to be solved through dialogue and voting in freedom. No one has the right to use violence to silence opposition. Only dialogue provides a real solution to realize justice and peace,” he told Crux.

Opposition leaders in Japan also condemned the attack as a challenge to Japan’s democracy.

When he resigned as prime minister in 2020, Abe said he had a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis he’d had since he was a teenager.

He told reporters at the time that it was “gut-wrenching” to leave many of his goals unfinished. He spoke of his failure to resolve the issue of Japanese people who were abducted years ago by North Korea, a territorial dispute with Russia, and a revision of Japan’s war-renouncing constitution.