Man Arrested for Making Death Threats Against U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh

By Currents News Staff and Carol Zimmermann

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A man threatening to kill Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was arrested near the justice’s Maryland home June 8, carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties.

The threat against the 57-year-old justice, who has been on the court since 2018, was first reported by The Washington Post and confirmed by a Supreme Court spokesperson.

Officers with the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland arrested Nicholas John Roske, a 26-year-old from California who is said to have arrived by taxi just after 1 a.m. outside Kavanaugh’s home in Chevy Chase, a Washington suburb.

A criminal complaint and affidavit filed in federal court in Maryland said Roske had a Glock 17 pistol, ammunition, a knife, zip ties, pepper spray, duct tape and other items and told police he planned to break into Kavanaugh’s house and kill him and then planned to kill himself.

The Associated Press reported that Roske was upset by a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade, the court’s 1973 decision which legalized abortion nationwide, in its highly anticipated ruling in an abortion case from Mississippi.

He also said he was upset about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and thought Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws. The gun control comment is likely in reference to a current challenge awaiting a Supreme Court decision over New York’s permit requirement for carrying concealed guns.

Two U.S. Marshals — part of the security provided to the justices since the leak of the draft opinion in May — spotted Roske, but he was not apprehended until he called 911 saying he was having suicidal thoughts and planned to kill Kavanaugh, AP reported.

“This kind of behavior is obviously behavior we will not tolerate,” Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters June 8. “Threats of violence and actual violence against the justices of course strike at the heart of our democracy and we will do everything we can to prevent them and to hold people who do them accountable.”

Protests at the Supreme Court and near homes at some of the court’s conservative justices started taking place after the May 2 leak of the opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case about Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with the potential to also overturn Roe.

The draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, said Roe “was egregiously wrong from the start” and that “Roe and Casey must be overruled.” Casey v. Planned Parenthood is the 1992 decision that affirmed Roe.

Following initial protests about the draft, Garland announced May 18 that he was increasing security at the homes of all of the justices. A security fence also surrounds the Supreme Court building and nearby streets have been closed.

Alito’s draft opinion said the court’s 1973 Roe decision had exceptionally weak reasoning “and the decision has had damaging consequences.”

“Far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division,” he added.

Politico’s report on the draft said Alito’s opinion was supported by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett and that Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were working on dissents. It was not clear how Chief Justice John Roberts planned to vote.

A Homeland Security Department report said the draft opinion has unleashed a wave of threats against officials and others and increased the likelihood of extremist violence.

When President Donald Trump nominated Kavanaugh in July 2018 to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, many praised the judge’s qualifications and were pleased that the president had fulfilled his campaign promise to nominate a pro-life judge to the Supreme Court.

But the choice angered many Americans who felt Kavanaugh’s vote as a justice could potentially reverse Roe v. Wade.

Kavanaugh, who is Catholic, spoke about putting his faith in action during Senate confirmation hearings. He said he regularly served meals with Catholic Charities’ St. Maria’s Meals program in Washington and that talking to the people there helped him to understand their situation.

He also spoke about coaching his daughter’s CYO basketball team, and the players came in uniform to one of the hearings to show their support.

Protests about his nomination began the night he was announced as a potential replacement for Kennedy and continued until his October swearing in, intensifying during Senate confirmation hearings, particularly the hearing concerning Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations of a sexual assault by Kavanaugh when they were in high school, which he denied.

The Jesuits’ America magazine published an online editorial that fall saying that although it “previously endorsed the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh on the basis of his legal credentials,” it said his nomination should be withdrawn “in the best interests of the country.”

Other Catholic organizations urged support for Kavanaugh, including the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus and CatholicVote.

Aid to the Church in Need Director: ‘Nigeria’s Government Has Failed’; Says No One is Safe

Currents News Staff

Since the Catholic Church massacre in Nigeria on Pentecost Sunday, no group has claimed responsibility.

Gunmen stormed into St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Nigeria and opened fire on parishioners during Mass. At least 38 people were killed in the attack, including children. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) sent a letter of solidarity to the president of the Nigerian Conference of Bishops.

“In addition to the horrible loss of life, this attack is a disturbing development as it occurred in the far south of Nigeria where such bloodshed heretofore has been largely unknown.

Ed Clancy, Outreach Director from Aid to the Church In Need, joined Currents News to discuss the horrific event and how to help.

If you would like to donate to Aid to the Church In Need’s efforts for the victims, just go to churchinneed.org – right on their homepage they give you the option to either donate or light a virtual candle and give a prayer intention.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday, 6/8/22

Victims and their families from the Uvalde school shooting are giving video testimony for Congress as the nation grapples with the losses from gun violence.

A supreme threat against Brett Kavanaugh after an armed man was arrested accused of threatening to kill the Supreme Court Justice.

Help for a Nigerian town torn apart by an attack on a Catholic Church.

Charitable groups team up to help the homeless ahead of the World Games in a major city of the south.

Lawmakers Debate Gun Control As Mass Shooting Survivors and Families Give Testimony in Washington

Currents News Staff

Kimberly and Felix Rubio lost their daughter, Lexi, in Uvalde who was murdered – only 15 days ago. Fourth-grader Miah Cerillo survived the slaughter in her Robb Elementary Classroom playing dead by smearing blood on her body.

“Somewhere out there is a mom, who is listening to our testimony, thinking, ‘I can’t even imagine their pain,’ not knowing that our reality will one day be hers,” said Kimberly and Felix Rubio, “unless we act now.”

Miah Cerillo survived the Uvalde shooting.

“I thought he was gonna come back to the room,” Miah said. “So I grabbed the blood and I put it all over me.”

In the middle of this national horror, there was anguish on Capitol Hill as victims desperately pleaded with lawmakers to take action. Zeneta Everhart’s son Zaire survived the Buffalo massacre. She told members of the House that her son will have shrapnel in his body for the rest of his life.

“You are elected because you have been chosen and are trusted to protect us but let me say here, to you, today, I do not feel protected,” said Zeneta.

A pediatrician who responded in Uvalde told Congress that children’s bodies were pulverized and decapitated by the bullets.

“We are lying on the operating table, riddled with bullets like the children of Robb Elementary and so many schools,” said Dr. Roy Guerrero.

Miguel Cerillo followed his daughter’s video testimony saying, although she survived, she will never be the same.

“She is not the same little girl that I used to play with, and run with,” said Miguel. “She was daddy’s little girl.”

AR-15 Enthusiasts Say Firing the Rifle Builds Confidence

Currents News Staff

Anna Thomasson learned how to shoot an AR-15 style rifle back in 2015 after a battle with breast cancer sidelined her from running marathons.

“Being a girl in my family, that was what the boys did,” Anna said. “So I had never learned how to do that before.”

It energized her so much she became an instructor, and along with her husband, Bryan Wertz, is now teaching others how to use it.

“It’s softer shooting than most,” said Bryan. “It doesn’t have a lot of recoil. And it almost feels like shooting, like an air gun as opposed to something that’s really heavy.”

Bryan also likes the AR-15 style because he says they’re easier and safer to handle than handguns, so you don’t need to spend as much time and money on training.

“The thing about easy that matters is that when you defend yourself, it’s more accurate,”

Bryan said. “So if you’re in a home and your family is all there, you’ll be more accurate with that.”

Bryan and Anna use their AR-15 style rifles for target practice, but mainly for their own protection.

St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy Holds First Student Art Showcase Since COVID

Currents News Staff

Some young Picassos had their first showcase since COVID began. The annual art show at St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy in Flushing, Queens returned to the school’s cafeteria.

It featured beautiful displays of paintings and life size and three-dimensional pieces.

You can see the art showed some of your favorite characters from the Little Mermaid, Ratatouille and Alice in Wonderland.

Celebrating Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan’s 60th Birthday

Currents News Staff

Bishop Robert Brennan marked his 60th birthday on June 7. Employees of the Chancery attended Mass celebrated by the bishop, where he told them, “I’m happy to be moving into my sixties with you.”

Afterwards, they gathered to sing happy birthday and presented him with a cake and other sweets. The bishop received dozens of greetings and well wishes on social media to mark this milestone.

St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy Throws Dance-A-Thon for Classmate Battling Brain Cancer

The students at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy in Maspeth busted out their dance moves Monday for their fellow classmate.

Auggie Vinti is 4-years-old and was recently diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer that can affect your breathing, walking, balance and swallowing.

All the funds raised from the Disney dance-a-thon will go to Auggie’s family to support medical expenses.

Little Auggie is currently receiving radiation treatment and he will be re-evaluated in 6 weeks and potentially start a clinical trial after that.

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy Raises More Than $3,000 for Uvalde Students

The Uvalde community is getting a major boost from the Diocese of Brooklyn and an entire school of student activists.

The kids of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy wore orange on national anti-gun violence day, in response to the recent school shooting in Uvalde.

The kids themselves raised more than $1,300, but the schools Chairman of the Board also pledged to donate $10 for every student who took part, bringing their overall total to more than $3,000.

On top of the money, the students in every classroom also prayed for the victims and the Uvalde community.