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Social Media Post Sparks Controversy: Erie Nuns Dispute Viral Claim That No One Lives at Their Monastery

The Benedictine Sisters of Erie are refuting a viral social media post that falsely claimed no one resides at their monastery, where they have lived for decades.

The post, made Tuesday by an X account allegedly affiliated with a Pennsylvania canvassing operation, asserted that a canvasser found 53 registered voters at the monastery address who “don’t live there.”

Sister Stephanie Schmidt, prioress of the Benedictine Sisters, expressed shock at the claim. “Where is this coming from? What planet are you living on?” she said. “When you make your vows here, you’re committed to the monastery in Erie for the rest of your life.”

Many of the sisters, like Sister Theresa Zoky and Sister Diane Rabe, have lived in the community for over 50 years.

The post, viewed more than 2.7 million times and shared by Elon Musk’s America PAC, included names of the nuns, implying they were not real voters.

“We’re used to being accused of being too active… but I’ve never heard us accused of fraud or not existing,” said Sister Annette Marshall.

The sisters have denied the incident ever occurred, stating that no interaction happened with a canvasser.

The account that shared the claim has not responded to requests for comment.

Following the nuns’ public response, the original poster added that they are “continuing to analyze the situation” and will be “content” once they find proof.

The Benedictine Sisters say they plan to vote in the upcoming election.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday 10/28/2024

During the close of the Synod this weekend, Pope Francis announced he would not change the final document. All 155 points were approved by two thirds of the assembly.

Also unveiled at the end of the Synod was Bernini’s Baldacchino. The iconic canopy inside St. Peter’s Basilica was undergoing renovations for Rome’s jubilee.

The Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania, found themselves at the center of an election controversy after a social media post suggested no one lived in their 150-year-old monastery and that fraudulent voters registered there. As it turns out, these religious women are real and plan to vote.

Mozart Concert Brings Hundreds to Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Diocese of Brooklyn

By Currents News

Music brought hundreds of people to Brooklyn, New York on Thursday, Oct. 24 as the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph was crowded with faith-filled music lovers.

A performance of Mozart’s requiem  was performed by the church’s group, “Music at Co-Cath,” in collaboration with the Fort Greene Orchestra in Brooklyn. 

More than 900 people were expected that evening, with lines wrapped around the block more than 3 hours before the performance.

If you missed out on performances on October 24 and 26, there is one more opportunity to see the show on Oct. 31 at 8 pm. 

To get tickets, go to maccbrooklyn.org. 

St. Adalbert Celebrates 10 Years of Traditions With Queens Filipino Community

By Currents News

Filipino culture and faith were front and center at a special Mass celebration at St. Adalbert’s Church in Elmhurst, Queens, marking 10 years since the parish first started integrating Filipino traditions into its community activities. 

It all began in 2014, when the pastor appointed a Filipino parishioner as a member of the parish council.

That member went on to form a leadership group that looked to mainstream the Filipino community into the parish’s life, adding traditions and celebrations like the Simbang Gabi, a nine-day novena leading up to Christmas. 

St. Adalbert’s Filipino community still continues to grow, showing off their faith and culture in the Queens pews.

Bishop Brennan Celebrates Mass of Hope and Healing at St. Pancras Church in Glendale

By Katie Vasquez

A procession of priests and bishops walk into St. Pancras church in Glendale, offering hope to victim-survivors of sexual abuse, and the people who support them. 

“Religious are playing an important part in that healing and vigilance and, to see so many parishioners, people, standing up to be together with each other,” said Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan.

Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated the annual mass of hope and healing, the liturgy a request from survivors to help them heal from the scourge of abuse, and possibly gain back trust in the church.  

With readings in both English and Spanish, everything about this mass is planned by victim survivors, for victim-survivors. Anthony Hughes was comforted by the sight of all the clergy here to show their support. 

“A lot more God related. It’s like God was here with us this evening. I actually felt that, and I appreciate it,” said Anthony Hughes, a victim-survivor. 

When he was 13, Anthony was abused by a priest.

“When I was growing up, we were extremely poor, and he came into our life like he was our lord and savior, but he had other intentions, obviously. So here I am today, and I’m a much better person, and I forgive him,” said Hughes. 

The abuse he faced, led Anthony to question his beliefs. 

“I did lose faith. I lost faith last year. I have not gone to mass a lot in the last year,” said Hughes. 

But with the support of the church, Anthony holds on hope that recovery is possible

“I believe people can get that. you have to believe, you have to put yourself with good people. I think that’s the real big benefit of being around great people and having a strong support team,” said Hughes. 

Bishop Brennan assures all victim-survivors, the Diocese of Brooklyn is committed to ending abuse.

“We need always to be vigilant, and you see it in many areas in life where when people get removed from an experience, the guard starts to go down and we become complacent and we can never be complacent, never,” said Bishop Robert Brennan.

The Mass of Hope and Healing is just one way the Diocese of Brooklyn is trying to combat abuse and help victim-survivors. Some other ways include creating the Office of Victim Assistance to help individuals who come forward with allegations of abuse. The office provides supportive initial counseling, therapy referrals and pastoral resources for victim-survivors.

Every employee of the Brooklyn Diocese, including students, undergoes mandatory background checks and training, designed to spot the signs of abuse and how to stop it. And of course, as we’ve mentioned, the yearly Mass of Hope and Healing, where the faithful come together and pray.

There’s also a confidential diocesan line to report abuse. Reports are automatically sent to law enforcement and there isn’t any church involvement to ensure compliance. That number is 888- 634-4499. If you know anything, please give it a call.

Thanks to Cochlear Implants, Deaf Performers Put Musical Talents on Display for Pope Francis

by Currents News

Pope Francis’ general audience on October 23 came with a soundtrack as a unique orchestra played Queen’s “We are the Champions” towards the end of the pontiff’s talk in St. Peter’s Square. 

The catch to this tune? The young musicians, members of the Graeme Clark Orchestra, are actually deaf but able to play with the help of cochlear implants.

The small electronic device that is surgically implanted inside the ear to assist users with their hearing capabilities.

The music group was named in honor of the inventor of the cochlear implant, professor Graeme Clark.

The Spanish group of 12 performers was established in 2019 to provide musical development opportunities to young people with severe or profound deafness.

They say meeting and playing for the pope has been a highlight of their visit to Rome.

“It has been a very special experience and quite unique above all,” one musician told Currents News. “I am very excited about it.”

“We want to show people that a deaf person with a cochlear implant can do whatever he wants in his life if he doesn’t put up those barriers that people put in front of the public,” explained another member of the group. 

Catholics of Brooklyn and Queens Pray Novena As They Prepare to Hit the Polls on Election Day

by Currents News

Currents News is continuing its nine-day novena leading up to Election Day. Different priests from around the Diocese of Brooklyn are joining us in prayer and helping Catholics get better prepared to vote their conscience on November 5. 

On Day 3, Monsignor Steven Aguggia, the pastor of St. Pancras Church in Glendale, Queens, leads us in prayer:

“God of light,

give us the freedom to walk in

the footprints of your son, Jesus.

Let our light shine out for all to see

by turning to those who call for our help.

heal our wounds, heal our community.

Amen.”

New York, Los Angeles Archbishops Set World Series Wager As Yankees Take on the Dodgers

By Currents News

Baseball fans across New York City are closely watching the Yankees take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the baseball World Series. 

Now, the archbishops of both cities have a friendly wager on the game: New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan and L.A’s Archbishop José Gómez have a bet going.

If the Yankees win the World Series, L.A. will send some famous Randy’s Donuts to the Big Apple. But if the Yankees lose, New York will send bagels to the City of Angels. 

Both bishops will also donate to charities as part of the wager–New York is playing for John Cardinal O’Connor School, which brings a Catholic education to kids with learning differences.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles is playing for the Catholic Education Foundation of L.A. 

If you want to join in on the fun, go to baseballunites.com, where you can read about the charities and even put your own two cents into the pot.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 10/25/2024

The Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated the annual Mass of Hope and Healing Thursday night at St Pancras Church in Glendale. The liturgy is meant to help those who have suffered from clergy sexual abuse.
Music plays through St Peter’s Square on Wednesday as the Graeme Clark Orchestra performs for the Pope. The group of young musicians are all deaf, performing with the help of cochlear implants.
A line wraps around the block at the Co-Cathedral of St Joseph in Brooklyn, as hundreds of people wait to see a special concert of Mozart’s Requiem.
Currents News is praying our way to the ballot box! Join us for Day Three of our Election Novena.