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ACCEPT
As the fallout continues over the leaked Supreme Court document, tens of thousands of pro-abortion activists around the country protested the possible overturning of Roe v Wade over the weekend.
The more than 380 “Bans Off Our Bodies” demonstrations were organized by Planned Parenthood.
At the New York protest, there was a familiar face in the crowd, Mayor Eric Adams.
Adams proudly told a cheering crowd in front of Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza “we stand with everyone fighting to protect reproductive rights.”
Adams again tweeted his pro-abortion stance when he posted about the rally, saying:
“Abortion is health care. It’s that simple. And New York City won’t let a group of radical extremists take away health care or any human right without a fight.”
When he was later asked if he believed there should be any limits on abortions, including day of birth, he responded “no I do not.”
BUFFALO — Shock and grief gave way to outrage in the wake of a racially-motivated mass shooting at a supermarket here on Saturday, May 14, as leading Catholic prelates and the governor lamented the rise in deadly gun violence across the state and called for tougher measures to control it.
On Saturday, a gunman identified by law enforcement authorities as Payton Gendron, 18, of Conklin, New York, arrived at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo dressed in tactical gear and armed with an assault rifle at approximately 2:30 p.m. and began shooting people — first in the parking lot and then inside the supermarket, authorities said. For a short time, the gunman was live-streaming the incident on the website Twitch from a camera attached to the helmet he was wearing.
A total of 13 people were shot. Ten of whom died, while three others suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Eleven of the 13 victims were black, according to officials.
The suspect surrendered to police at the scene and was taken into custody. He was arraigned in court Saturday on first-degree murder charges. He pleaded not guilty.
Bishop Michael Fisher of the Diocese of Buffalo issued a statement decrying the level of gun violence in the country.
“What unfortunately has become an all too common occurrence in this country has now shown its abhorrently evil face in Buffalo as we have now learned that 10 innocent souls have lost their lives here,” Bishop Fisher stated. “On behalf of the Diocese of Buffalo, I, in the strongest of terms, condemn this utterly senseless act and pray for the victims and all those impacted by this act of cowardice.”
Bishop Robert Brennan called for prayers for the families of the victims.
“I am horrified by the senseless act of violence that took place in Buffalo yesterday, which has claimed the sacred lives of 10 individuals,” Bishop Brennan said in a statement on Sunday.
“Let us pray for an end to hate, violence, and racism in our country and in the world. Pray with me for the families of the victims of this terrible act, that they may feel the love of God and neighbor,” he added.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who hails from the Buffalo area, described the gunman as a “white supremacist” and announced plans to introduce a legislative package to address gun loopholes on Tuesday, May 17.
“I’ve seen violence from guns on a Brooklyn subway and now on the streets of Buffalo. It has to stop. It has to stop,” Hochul said at a press briefing on Saturday, referring to the April 12 incident in which a gunman shot 10 people on the N train at the 36th Street subway station. There were no fatalities in that shooting.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that our laws are tight, they’re ironclad, to ensure that our law enforcement have the resources they need,” the governor said.
The FBI is investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
Law enforcement officials are also examining a manifesto that appears to have been posted by Gendron containing racist statements directed toward black people. The shooting took place in a predominantly black neighborhood in Buffalo.
The manifesto included mentions of “replacement theory,” the belief promoted on some websites that elites in the U.S. are seeking to dilute the political and cultural power of white people by replacing them with immigrants and people of color.
Authorities said Gendron visited the supermarket the day before the shooting on what officials described as a reconnaissance mission.
Saturday’s mass shooting wasn’t the first time Gendron has come to the attention of law enforcement officials.
Back in June, police questioned him after he made disturbing remarks about committing murder and suicide when students at his high school were asked to discuss their post-graduation plans.
Gendron, who told police he was only joking, was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He was released after the evaluation.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will visit Buffalo on Tuesday to “grieve with the community that lost 10 lives in a senseless and horrific mass shooting,” the White House said in a statement.
Hochul has ordered flags at state office buildings to fly at half-staff in tribute to the victims.
It was announced Monday that Sweden is joining Finland in seeking NATO membership. The move signals an end to more than two centuries of military nonalignment. Finnish support for joining NATO has soared since Russia waged its war on Ukraine.
Ten people were shot and killed Saturday in what authorities are calling a racially motivated hate crime.
The air is certainly heavy with sorrow as this community continues to mourn the loss of many of their community members.
Yellow tape is still surrounding the grocery store this morning – it will likely be up for some time just given the broad nature of this investigation.
Just a few hours after a heavily armed suspect allegedly pulled up to the grocery store, federal authorities were very quick to say that he was fueled by hate. He got out of his vehicle and very methodically began to shoot people in the parking lot before he went inside.
At the end 13 people were shot, 10 of them killed – 11 of the victims were black.
“This was pure evil. It was straight up racially motivated hate crime from somebody outside of our community, outside of the city of good neighbors, as the mayor said, coming into our community and trying to inflict that evil upon us,” said Sheriff John C. Garcia of the Erie County Sheriff’s Department.
Bishop Robert Brennan issued the following statement via Facebook:
“I am horrified by the senseless act of violence that took place in Buffalo yesterday which has claimed the sacred lives of 10 individuals. In this Sunday’s gospel we hear Jesus’ command to his disciples to “love one another” as He has loved us.”
Brennan’s statement continued, “Let us pray for an end to hate, violence and racism in our country and world. Pray with me for the families of the victims of this terrible act that they may feel the love of God and neighbor.”
As the abortion debate rages, Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is urging Catholics to pray for human life during his message for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
The Vatican is expressing concern after the arrest of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Zen in Hong Kong.
The owner of a historic castle in Ireland opens it up to refugees from the war in Ukraine.
He’s a priest, the Vicar for Development, an FDNY chaplain and now he’s Maimonides’ newest nurse.
Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello of the Diocese of Brooklyn joined several prominent community leaders this week to serve as honorary “nurses for a day.”
After a brief orientation, each volunteer was paired with a registered nurse to work together to provide excellent care to patients throughout the Brooklyn Medical Center.
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — In a reminder to New York Catholics that abortion access will likely go unfettered in the state regardless of federal rulings, the state’s bishops are calling on the faithful to advocate with charity, sensitivity, and clarity, and to reaffirm the Church’s commitment to walking with pregnant mothers.
The call comes in a new statement, “Toward a Pro-Life Future in the Empire State” issued by the Catholic Bishops of New York State on May 12, where they assess the current situation and envision a path forward for a state, which is considered the abortion capital of the world.
In the statement, the bishops argue that the pro-abortion movement’s framing of abortion as an issue of “choice” and “reproductive freedom” ignores “the biological reality of what abortion is: The intentional killing of an innocent child in the womb.”
“Millions of our fellow Americans — even, it must be said, many of our fellow Catholics — have succumbed to this false notion, and we must respond to it in charity and with sensitivity, but with clarity,” they said.
The bishops also used the statementto reject notions that Church leaders are more concerned with the baby in the womb than with the mother and child after the baby is born. To do so, they reaffirmed a pledge made by the late Cardinal John O’Connor of New York, who was a staunch and outspoken leader of the pro-life movement.
“Any woman — regardless of age, religious belief or affiliation, marital status or immigration status — who is pregnant and in need, can come to the Catholic Church and we will give you the services and supports you need to carry your baby to term,” the New York bishops said.
“Furthermore, we will not abandon you and your baby after delivery, but, rather, we will see to it that you have the resources that you and your child both need and deserve,” they continued. “No one will be turned away from this life-affirming care.”
The statement was signed by New York’s eight ordinary bishops: Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany, Bishop Michael Fisher of Buffalo, Bishop Terry LaValley of Ogdensburg, Bishop Salvatore Matano of Rochester, Bishop John Barres of Rockville Centre, and Bishop Douglas Lucia of Syracuse.
“As we await a decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the recently argued Supreme Court case that could potentially overturn Roe, we pray for a positive outcome even as we acknowledge that abortion in New York would continue unfettered, and even be actively promoted as a social good by many elected officials,” the New York bishops said.
In the statement, the New York bishops lament the stream of pro-abortion legislation and funding the state has seen in recent years, as well as the lack of funding and promotion of programs to support women who choose to keep their babies.
The bishops also question why they can’t work together with New York lawmakers to reduce the rate of abortions given the reality that the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe won’t affect abortion laws in New York.
“There is common ground to be found, even in a state like New York,” they said, citing the recent state budget provision that expands postpartum Medicaid eligibility.
The bishops also presented a list of 12 aspirational statements of what they hope can be achieved. They envision a New York where:
a woman is never pressured into an abortion
there’s equal access to prenatal care
employers and educational institutions fully accommodate the needs of pregnant women
public policies promote adoption through tax credits and other incentives
tax policies reduce poverty
there’s quality healthcare for all
childcare is affordable and accessible for all
the responsibilities of fatherhood are promoted
post-abortive women have the services they need to heal
“religious organizations can provide needed services to pregnant women and moms while remaining true to the tenets of their faith.”
“All of these goals can come to pass, even in a state like New York, “ the statement added. “Let us not put out trust in mere judges, legislators, governors, or presidents. Rather, let us put our faith in God, for whom nothing is impossible. Politicians can change policies and laws, but only God can convert hearts and minds.”
“So, in this month of Mary, mother of Jesus and mother of us all, let us pray through her intercession for an end to abortion in our lifetime and let us work toward making New York a state where even if abortion is not illegal, it will one day be unthinkable.”
