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‘Peace, Love & Holy Spirit’ – How Archbishop Gustavo is Crossing Lines to Bring Comfort to Uvalde

 Currents News Staff

Preparing to visit the hospital where many of the victims of an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas were brought on May 24, Archbishop of San Antonio Gustavo García-Siller’s voice shook with disbelief as he vowed that the archdiocese “is going to be there with [the victims’ families], for them,” and do “whatever it takes” to support them. 

John Lavenburg, National Correspondent for The Tablet and Crux is in Uvalde, Texas. He spoke to the Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo García-Siller, and with the local Catholic community there. He joins Currents News to discuss how the community is coming together after tragedy.

All coverage on Lavenburg’s trip to Uvalde will be on Currents News and TheTablet.org

 

Minneapolis Still In Pain Two Years After George Floyd Murder

Currents News Staff

Two years after the world watched the video of Georgy Floyd taking his last breath, the healing continues.

“I think there is depression there is despair and people don’t know its depression they don’t even know its despair,” said Rev. Brian Herron from Zion Baptist Church. “I think one of these things is this overwhelming sense of hopelessness that is permeating our community right now that nothing is going to get better.”

Rev. Brian says those feelings boiled over leading to an uprising in the streets which is a collective cry for justice.

So his sanctuary became a place of healing from the storm created by the murder of George Floyd.

“It became clear to me that we could be out on the block and have an impact and make a difference and we can do the protest and things,” said Rev. Brian. “But where do people come to be well and to process their pain and to process their grief.”

Pastor Brian believes two years after George Floyd’s murder, some things have changed while others remain the same.

“I think we are still dealing with the trauma,” said Rev. Brian. “But let’s go to the other side also this has really created some activism and a expression of optimism from a lot of our young people that they can make a difference that they can change things.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday, 5/26/22

As the investigation continues into the Texas school shooting, the debate over gun laws has re-ignited.

U.S. bishops are calling for more gun control, with some calling mass shootings a “pressing life issue.”

Pope Francis will lead a rosary for peace on Tuesday May 31st.

Final Wish Fulfilled: Vatican Pilgrim Presents Late Friend’s Painting to Pope Francis

Currents News Staff

Before Alberto Lopez Brasaola died, a friend promised to take his painting to the Pope. Ibon Perez has made Brasaola’s wish come true. 

It was like asking for a miracle seeming impossible. But Ibon Pérez, a young Basque from Lekeitio, has fulfilled the promise he made to painter Alberto López Brasaola before his death last March. 

Pérez, accompanied by Brasaola’s family, gave Pope Francis Barsaola’s painting at the end of the General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. 

Brasaola passed away at the age of 84 after a life among paintbrushes. Sometimes he painted walls for work and sometimes he drew inspiration from a magazine about hearts to bolster his creativity. 

To make Brasaola’s wish come true, Pérez also asked for help on social media. 

A journalist by profession, he enlisted the help of his Vatican colleagues to get the long-awaited invitation from the Holy See. Once he received it, he and Brasaola’s family traveled to Rome together with the painting to greet Pope Francis.  

“It’s a unique experience–an experience that cannot be described,” said Pérez. “My mother is blind and she told me yesterday, ‘I wish I could see the Pope’. Now, I have seen him. I saw him face to face for my mother. And that’s it. It’s a dream come true.”

In addition to the challenges of meeting with the Pope, both Pérez and Brasaola’s family paid for the trip and accommodations in Rome out of their own pockets, something that Perez feels has been worth it. 

“Alberto wanted me to give this painting to the Pope,” Pérez said. “I believe that he would have been pleased with it ending up in the Basilica of Santa María de Lekeitio, but I know that it will be in the Casa de Santa Marta (where the Pope resides). I hope that when the Pope looks at this painting, it will tell him: Jorge María, take strength and go the distance. Because he told us to pray for him.

Apart from the painting, Perez also presented Pope Francis with tea and sweet biscuits that are common in Argentina.

Texas School Shooting Reignites Gun Control Debate Across the Country

Currents News Staff

Nineteen small children were slaughtered by a gunman not much older than they were. He was the legal owner of two AR-15 style rifles.

“They are assault rifles,” said Texas state senator Roland Gutierrez. “It’s the first thing he did when he turned 18.”

A week ago, a day after his 18th birthday, the gunman bought a rifle, according to the local state senator. The next day, 375 rounds of ammunition were bought and two days after that, a second rifle. Yet four days later, he shot and killed 19 kids and two adults.

“Maybe we could at least agree that we should raise the age for purchasing these weapons,” said Texas Rep. Colin Allred.

But just last year, lawmakers lowered to the age of 18, the age that some Texans can get a handgun license.

For rifles, Texas law mirrors federal law of 18 and up. You can buy one of these after just a basic background check. But from an unlicensed dealer, or at a gun show, no check is required.

In California, the legal age to buy assault style rifles was upped to 21 in 2019. Two weeks ago, it was struck down back to 18.

Why?

“America would not exist without the heroism of the young adults who fought and died in our revolutionary army,” wrote California Judge Ryan Nelson. “Today we reaffirm that our constitution still protects the right that enabled their sacrifice: the right of young adults to keep and bear arms.”

So, 18-year-olds in California can buy semi-automatic weapons today, in part, because teenage soldiers died carrying single-shot muskets in a war more than 200 years ago.

“Stronger gun laws save lives,” said Shannon Watts from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Weaker gun laws cause gun crime and gun violence. The data is in. We need our lawmakers to act.”

This latest tragedy in Texas is far from an isolated instance of a legally-armed teenaged attacker.

Just 11 days ago, an 18-year-old White Supremacist gunned down 13 people in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Buffalo, New York who was also armed with a semi-automatic weapon that he was also legally allowed to buy and own.

Saint Michael the Archangel, Be Our Protection

Currents News Staff

In light of the devastating school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Currents News ended the May 25 newscast in a different way – with prayer.

Father Christopher Heanue, rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, joined the newscast to lead the St. Michael the Archangel prayer.

A Nation Remains In Shock After Texas Teen Shoots and Kills 21 People in School Rampage

Currents News Staff

What should have been a joyous day just before summer break turned into a nightmare when 19 children and two teachers were shot and killed at Robb Elementary on Tuesday. Families instead of planning vacations are now planning funerals.

The suspected gunman is an 18-year-old who police say shot his grandmother before going to the school and opening fire on a fourth-grade class.

“Evil swept across Uvalde yesterday,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

The suspected gunman is an 18-year-old who police say shot his grandmother before going to the school and opening fire on a fourth-grade class.

“He dropped out of school,” said Steve McCraw, Director at Texas Department of Public Safety. “He had no criminal history that we can find.”

As the community grapples with this horrific tragedy, the conversation in Washington turns to curbing gun violence.

“Our country is sickened and outraged by the senseless evil that struck Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell.

“One nation under guns. It doesn’t have to be that way,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer. “Our parents don’t need to drop their kids off at school and wonder if their kid will be next.”

Many are now wondering whether these words from politicians will be turned into action.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 05/25/22

Uvalde, Texas is the latest community torn apart – a classroom, turned into a killing chamber.

What can the Catholic Church do to make the Texas school shooting the last of its kind? Right now, a complete report on Currents News.