Cardinal Timothy Dolan is poised to leave Rome and head east to spend time with refugees from the war in Ukraine.
Israel and the world is pausing to remember the 6-million Jews murdered during WWII.
Pope Francis reveals new details about his knee problem to his general audience.
A Diocese of Brooklyn student is crediting his career in Catholic schools for allowing him to aim high in the Air Force.
Currents News Staff
Cardinal Timothy Dolan is on a mission to help the people of Ukraine. The archbishop of New York is in Italy now, but on April 29, he’s headed to the Ukrainian border to meet with refugees and he may even cross the border into the war-torn country.
“Hey, buongiorno, good morning,” the cardinal said. “Cardinal Timothy Dolan coming to you from Rome, not New York, thanks for tuning in.”
Calling it the ‘antipasto’ of his overseas trip, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has been tweeting videos from the Vatican. The cardinal met with Pope Francis on Thursday. On Friday, he’s heading to Poland to meet with Ukrainian refugees at parishes, a railroad station and the border.
“I’m here on my way to those countries bordering Ukraine that have so generously taken over 4 million refugees from the suffering,” Cardinal Dolan said, “the anguish of that beloved Ukraine.”
Refugees like Iryna and her sons who came to Poland from Lviv to escape the war.
“I can’t say this without tears from my eyes because it’s just,” Iryna said, “I couldn’t imagine, you know, that it would be happening. It is just awful.”
In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Dolan, Chair of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, says he wants to bring over the gifts that Catholics have donated.
After Poland, his eminence will travel to Ukraine’s borders with Slovakia, Hungary and may even cross the border into Ukraine, he says, if they can do that.
“This is a moral issue of oppression of vulnerable people,” Cardinal Dolan said. “This is a moral issue of an abuse of power… is a moral issue of unprovoked and illicit use of violence and military force.”
Cardinal Dolan says he’s afraid that the war will expand into other countries and that there is raw evil in the world.
Currents News Staff
America’s economy is unexpectedly shrinking. The nation’s Gross Domestic Product – a key measure of economic activity – declined in the first quarter of 2022, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis released Thursday.
That means it’s the worst quarter for the American economy since the beginning of the global pandemic in 2020. The GDP declined at an annualized rate of 1.4 percent in the first three months of the year.
“So I think we’re, what you’re seeing is enormous growth in the country,” said President Joe Biden. “That was affected by everything from COVID and the COVID blockages that occurred along the way.”
So what’s driving the decline?
“The problem is I have to pay a lot more at the gas tank,” said Mark Zandi, the Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist, “and going to the grocery store, that’s what’s really bugging people with great reason.”
While consumer spending increased, inflation remained high with chart-topping gas prices in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine are also hitting Americans in their pockets.
“Most recently the global pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscore large economic shocks and disruptions that must be addressed,” said Janet Yellen, U.S. Treasury Secretary.
Two straight quarters of declining growth usually amount to recession, but experts say it’s no time to panic, at least for now.
“No one is predicting a recession now,” said the president. “They’re predicting, or some are predicting there may be a recession in 2023. I’m concerned about it.”
Another setback for the Biden Administration as the battle over Title 42 rages on.
New information on the house fire in Brooklyn that killed two – why we may never know how it started.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan is already in Rome and heading east.
High-tech glasses that can help blind people to see again.
Currents News Staff
American Trevor Reed is a free man once more as the U.S. and Russia agreed to a prisoner swap.
“It’s been almost 1,000 days,” said Paula Reed, the Mother of Trevor Reed, “so I’m just excited to see him.”
Reed’s parents are calling his release an answer to their prayers.
“Finally after waiting all this time,” said Paula, “I’m going to get to hug my kid, wrap my arms around him.”
The Texan had been detained for nearly three years on charges of fighting with Russian police.
“He looks terrible to us,” his mom said. “As his parents, we know he does not look well. He’s very thin. He was walking strange. It looked like he needed help getting on the plane.”
As part of the deal, the U.S. is releasing a Russian pilot sentenced for drug trafficking. But no answers yet for two other Americans who are still under Russian detention – WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan.
“Our work is not yet finished,” said Ned Price, U.S. State Dept Spokesman. “Of course, we’re going to continue at it.”
In a devastating move, Moscow cut off NATO countries Poland and Bulgaria from its gas supply after they refused to pay in Russian rubles. It’s a move that the EU is calling “blackmail.” Russia is reporting blasts on their territory of three regions bordering Ukraine.
New video evidence contradicts Russia’s repeated denials of responsibility for the mass killings.
“I don’t think Putin cares about being a pariah,” said Garry Kasparov, the Chairman of Renew Democracy Initiative. “It’s about staying in power.”
Currents News Staff
Pope Francis sent a video message to the participants of this year’s Raíces y Alas conference in Washington, D.C., the 6th National Catholic Congress on Hispanic Ministry in the United States.
“I invite you to reflect on the need to be Christian that transforms structures and that can build bridges across all sectors of society,” said Pope Francis.
The pontiff observed that in this time of war and pandemic, humanity needs to change its mentality away from “schemes of war,” to focus on projects of peace.
“I need peace,” said the pontiff, “you need peace, the world needs peace, breathing peace is healthy. We need tangible signs of peace. Christians must set the example.
Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Brennan’s Homily from Wednesday’s Mass on 4/27/22
Currents News Staff
A Catholic institution of higher learning is moving up a grade. St. Joseph’s College is now St. Joseph’s University, New York, thanks to a new state designation.
The university’s president, Donald Boomgaarden, says the new designation is part of the mission of the school’s founders – the Sisters of St. Joseph.
For those wondering about the difference, a college is often a smaller institution that emphasizes undergraduate education, while universities are typically larger institutions that have both undergrad and graduate programs.
The change will not impact the curriculum or the tuition at the school. So how does a college even become a university? St. Joseph’s had to submit a charter amendment to the New York State Department of Education and the Board of Regents.
The school has to reach these requirements: One, offer a range of registered undergrad and graduate curriculums in the liberal arts and sciences. Two, allow students to get degrees in two or more professional fields and three, have doctoral programs in at least three academic fields.
The only Hispanic woman on death row has been granted a stay of execution.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the White House from lifting Title 42.
Millions of refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded. Many have gone to neighboring Poland.
Currents News Staff
The Biden White House is temporarily blocked from ending “Title 42” by a federal judge in Louisiana.
“If President Biden lifts Title 42, what we see today will be much worse. A country without a secure border is not a country,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
“Title 42” allows U.S. border officials to turn migrants away due to public health concerns. Namely, the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is not an immigration policy. This title 42 is a health authority that’s determined by the CDC and we need to have a conversation about immigration reform that’s vital, maybe this is a reminder of that,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
Critics of removing the order say it is likely to cause a greater surge of migrants at an already stressed border.
“Title 42 is a band aid on a gunshot wound. It’s not actual border security. It’s important but it represents the ability to turn people away and actually secure the border,” said Rep. Chip Roy of Texas.
President Joe Biden wants to end the policy, which was invoked during the Trump administration, on May 23. A White House source says the federal judge’s block may not disrupt those plans.
“I would note that there are a range of views on Title 42 there are some you noted who are very vocal about how they would like to see an extended. There are some who are very vocal about how they would not like to see that happen. So that’s an important discussion that will be happening over the coming days and weeks,” said Psaki.