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Bullet’s Bravery: Hero Dog Saves Store Clerk During Gun Battle

Currents News Staff

A hero dog! Employees at a Philadelphia corner store say they’re lucky to be alive after two armed robbers raided their shop. It was all caught on camera. The hero of this story is a dog aptly named Bullet.

Security video shows the moments two would-be robbers rushed into Big A, a corner store on Torresdale Avenue in the city’s Wissinoming section early Tuesday morning.

“Two people come with a big gun and small gun,” said Big A Manager Sammy Aloubehi. “They come straight up all the way here with the gun at the girl’s head, my head … they say like don’t move.”

The store manager says one suspect points a gun at his clerk. You can see her sitting on the couch. Then as a dog jumps all over the suspect before, the clerk takes out a gun and fires. The suspect is seen running away before the second suspect shoots at the clerk several times.

“It happened right here,” Sammy said. “He came straight out with the gun … the girl she was here … the bullet is right here, it’s almost at her head.This was gonna kill somebody for no reason.”

Police say the 32-year-old clerk was struck four times. She’s now getting treated at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital.

“She’s fine right now … she’s better,” Sammy said.

The store manager also believes the would-be robbery may have turned deadly if not for his dog named Bullet. You can see Bullet jump all over the suspect getting in his way just as the clerk fires.

“If he didn’t move the guy, and cover him, he would shoot the girl before she shoot him,” Sammy said. “He did help.He saved my life and her life.”

No arrests have been made yet but police did recover a weapon left behind by one of the suspects.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday, 2/1/22

Another somber day in New York City as the NYPD says goodbye to another hero — the wake for Officer Wilbert Mora.

Father John O’Connor from St. Gregory the Great in Bellerose, Queens has been removed from ministry.

Mayor Eric Adams reiterates the need for NYPD safety officers in city schools after a middle schooler in Manhattan was busted with a backpack full of weapons last week.

St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Flushing, Queens is celebrating the Lunar New Year.

A Hero’s Farewell: Wake For NYPD Officer Mora at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Currents News Staff

With heavy hearts, they carried him on their shoulders as Officer Wilbert Mora starts his final journey home. New York’s finest will be at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for the second time in a week.

Just like Detective Jason Rivera’s wake, thousands are expected to turn out to pay their respects to his partner who died just days after him. Mora’s family is giving a thumbs up to officers lined up outside.

Mora, who entered the police academy in 2018, is remembered for always smiling.

But the mood at the 32nd precinct has been a somber one since Jan. 21 when the 27 year old and his 22-year-old partner were ambushed while responding to a domestic disturbance in Harlem.

Mora’s colleagues at the 32 describe him as a big teddy bear: kind, a goofball and life of the party who was always joking after roll call. 

He was a man who took care of his elderly parents and a hero even in death. Mora was an organ donor who will live on through the five people he saved with his heart, liver, two kidneys and pancreas.

Bishop Robert Brennan talked about the family’s decision to donate mora’s organs. 

“They made decisions knowing who he was,” Bishop Brennan said. “How he lived his life and how he served in the New York City police department, his goodness, his generosity… and so they made it possible for him to continue that even in his last days… even when you thought he had already given it all.”

Detective Rivera’s widow honored Officer Mora with an Instagram post saying “although I never met you, thank you for always being eager to work with my angel, regardless of him being a rookie. Take care of us.”

The funeral Mass for Officer Wilbert Mora will be at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Wednesday Morning at 10 a.m.

Be sure to tune in to Current News online, Facebook and Twitter, Wednesday for live coverage of Officer Mora’s funeral.

 

Queens Pastor Removed From Ministry

By Jessica Easthope and Paula Katinas

WINDSOR TERRACE — Father John O’Connor, pastor of St. Gregory the Great Church in Bellerose and director of the Liturgy Office for the Diocese of Brooklyn, has been removed from ministry by Bishop Robert Brennan after the Diocesan Review Board (DRB) found evidence of sexual misconduct, officials announced Monday.

The DRB was independently investigating claims contained in a Child Victims Act (CVA) lawsuit filed in August 2020 when they uncovered new evidence relating to an accusation of inappropriate internet contact with minors leveled against him in March 2000. At that time, he was serving as a priest at St. Athanasius in Bensonhurst.

As a result of the new evidence discovered regarding the claim in 2000, the DRB — which is made up of laypeople with expertise in family law, law enforcement, and mental health issues — recommended to Bishop Brennan that Father O’Connor be permanently removed from ministry. That means he is prohibited from celebrating Mass publicly, performing public ministerial duties, and living in an ecclesiastical residence. In addition, his name will be added to a list on the diocese’s website of priests who have been credibly accused of wrongdoing.

Father John O’Connor, who was ordained in 1993, served at the following parishes over the years: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Athanasius, St. Clare’s, Incarnation, and St. Gregory the Great. He was named director of the Liturgy Office in 2014.

Officials from the diocese, including Msgr. Sean Ogle, vicar for clergy and consecrated life, visited St. Gregory the Great on Sunday to inform parishioners of his removal. 

“The overall sentiment was one of great sadness,” Msgr. Ogle said. “Several parishioners said the only thing we can do is pray for everyone involved.”

In a letter to parishioners, Bishop Brennan announced that Msgr. Edward Ryan, who Father John O’Connor succeeded as pastor at St. Gregory in 2020, will serve as the temporary administrator of the parish after the removal of Father O’Connor. 

“I am aware this news is disturbing and even devastating to many,” Bishop Brennan said. “I encourage us all to stay vigilant in our commitment to protecting our children and youth.”

In March 2000, when the allegations against Father John O’Connor first came to light, the diocese placed him on leave so that he could seek treatment. He remained on leave and received treatment from May 2000 to August 2001. He was allowed to return to ministry and continued to receive treatment through 2005.

After the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children in 2002, the Diocese of Brooklyn instituted a zero-tolerance policy that mandates the permanent removal of any clergy member who is determined to be credibly accused of sexual misconduct with a minor.

“Before the establishment of the charter … we did not have a Diocesan Review Board so we did not have full investigations for situations like this one,” said Diocese of Brooklyn Press Secretary Adriana Rodriguez. “Now, we have a clearer understanding of all the various ways sexual misconduct can occur, we have former law enforcement officers doing our investigations, and an independent review board, so any kind of complaint like this would be investigated.”

The diocese conducts ongoing background checks of all its employees and volunteers and provides age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness training for children and adults. 

The Office of Victim Assistance Ministry provides supportive services to victims, including counseling and referrals for therapy. The diocese also holds an annual Mass of Hope and Healing for survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

The diocese also operates a toll-free reporting line for accusers to report allegations. The number is 1-888-634-4499.

All reports that come into the line are forwarded to law enforcement authorities.

The claims from the August 2020 CVA lawsuit against Father John O’Connor are still under investigation. The CVA, which was enacted in 2019 and expired in 2021, temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for alleged victims of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits in New York.

“The CVA lawsuits are sparking many investigations,” Rodriguez added, “and if other situations like this are found, they will be handled just like this one.”

Survivor of Human Smuggling Boat Speaks About the Journey’s Fight for Survival

Currents News Staff

Juan Esteban Montoya is out of the hospital after being dehydrated and disoriented. The 22-year-old was clinging to a capsized boat after setting off from the Bahamas last Saturday hoping to reach Florida.

For the first time, Juan detailed the journey and his fight to survive. Thirty-nine others, including his younger sister, Maria, were onboard the migrant voyage.

He says three hours in, the boat’s engine stopped.

“We ended up in high seas floating,” Juan said. “Those waves started to come over the boat and we started to sink.”

Juan says everyone tried to hold on to the boat, but it was impossible.

“In that case, my sister,” he said. “It hurts me a lot. because I tried to find the strength to help her, ever since the boat turned over.”

Juan and his 18-year-old sister Maria were trying to reunite with their mother in Texas, but Maria didn’t make it. Juan says everyone was grabbing onto everyone and that’s why she went under and eventually, he was the only one left.

“When I ended up alone, it was more difficult. much harder because my health was bad at that point. Mentally, i was bad. and being alone it was another hit,” Juan said.

His attorney Naimeh Salem says he will now ask the U.S. government for asylum.

Juan didn’t get the names of the good samaritans who found him floating in the water three days later, but he calls them angels.

“Imagine what happened to me was something disastrous, and it is something that i do not wish upon anyone,” Juan said. “Do not do the journey this way especially with family members or loved ones because you may lose them, just like I did with my sister. It is something very heartbreaking.”

Juan’s lawyer says the fight for him to seek asylum could take years– especially with the backlog of immigration cases. She is now seeking humanitarian parole so he can be released to his mother.

Postal Service Worker Credited With Saving Woman’s Life After Mail Goes Unclaimed

Currents News Staff

A mail carrier in a small New Hampshire town is being called a hero for paying attention to the little things – and thankfully, it led to saving a woman’s life.

Kayla Berridge noticed one of her elderly customers hadn’t picked up her mail in days. So, the postmaster requested a welfare check.      

The police found the woman on the floor, trapped under items that had fallen on her and took her to a nearby hospital for treatment. The authorities say Kayla’s actions probably saved the woman’s life, but this humble mail carrier says it’s her job.

 “I like this job because I love my customers and getting to know them, and I feel like if people cared more and just paid attention, something we should all do,” she said.

The elderly woman had hypothermia and was dehydrated but is expected to make a full recovery.

 

Unvaccinated NYPD Officers Face Termination

Currents News Staff

New York City police officers who don’t get vaccinated by the end of next week — are now facing termination. That’s according to a new letter from the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

New hires who haven’t shown proof of a second dose and those placed on unpaid leave for not initially complying with the October mandate, have until Feb. 11 to get vaccinated.

The NYPD is expected to notify those officers in jeopardy of losing their jobs on Monday.

While it’s unclear how many cops could be affected, about 5,000 officers have formally requested religious and medical exemptions to the vaccine.

 

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 1/31/22

It’s Catholic Schools Week here in the Diocese of Brooklyn and around the country.

The NYPD is giving officers an ultimatum: get vaccinated or face termination.

Peace activists are asking Pope Francis to help prevent a war in Ukraine.

Catholic Schools Week: St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy Students Zoom in on STEM

By Jessica Easthope

Bishop Robert Brennan was seated front and center in class as students took him to school on STEM.

The St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy Sharp Blades were Bishop Brennan’s first introduction into Catholic Schools Week. The robotics team is on a mission to win an upcoming competition and break boundaries in Catholic education.

“It helps out a lot in academics, in robotics we don’t just learn about the robots and lego, we learn about science, cells and reproduction and it’s enlightening,” said eighth grader Nicholas Borja.

St. Bartholomew considers itself a small school with big pride, with just 160 students. Close to 70 percent of the school is undocumented, St. Bartholomew pastor Father Rick Beuther says that comes with a big sacrifice.

“We want to show that sacrifice really pays off and this is a new generation of young Catholics showing greatness,” he said.

Bishop Brennan says the sacrifice extends beyond money – as parents enter a partnership with the school to give their children the best education possible.

“They work away and sacrifice and make the commitment and do what they can to make it happen for their children,” said Bishop Brennan.

Nearly half the school receives scholarships and as more students get involved in STEM and other science programs, Principal Denise Gonzalez says they’re empowered and prepared to practice their craft – and their faith outside the classroom.

“They acquire this confidence so our families, they sacrifice, especially after the pandemic,” she said.

For students, attending St. Bartholomew has driven them toward a new passion – one that’s allowing them to see how science and faith collide.

“Here it’s a science driven school you would think that science and religion don’t correlate with each other but they do, in the Bible at the start of the world there is light and in science there’s something similar there’s an explosion that started the universe,” said eighth grader Danielle Tuble.

The Sharp Blades will compete virtually in February in a First Lego League competition against 30 other schools.