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Trump and Biden Talk Catholic SCOTUS Pick, COVID, Racism at Contentious First Presidential Debate

By Emily Drooby

Contentious is the only way to describe Sept. 29’s debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.

The Tuesday night debate started off seemingly strong as the candidates discussed Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.

Biden argued that it’s too close to an election to choose, while Trump argued it’s that his right.

“I’m not opposing the justice, she seems like a very fine person,” said Biden of Barrett. “We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is,” he added.

“We won the election, and therefore we have the right to choose her,” Trump.

Barrett is a conservative, pro-life Catholic.

From there, the debate started to unravel. It became a series of name-calling and rude exchanges.

Biden called the President a “clown” and further called him “the worst president we have ever had.”

Then, Trump insulted Biden’s intelligence, saying, “He graduated either the lowest or almost the lowest in your class. Don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me, don’t ever use the word. Because you know what, there is nothing smart about you Joe.”

In addition to the Supreme Court pick, moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News attempted to steer the candidates through five additional topics; their records, COVID-19, the economy, election integrity, and race and violence.

Speaking during the race and violence section, Biden said, “This is a president who has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, racist division.”

Trump responded with, “We believe in Law and Order, but you don’t.”

Trump also disputed recent claims that he paid little to no income tax. He claimed he has paid “millions of dollars in taxes and millions of dollars in income taxes.”

Wallace had trouble keeping order in the debate —  the issues seemed overshadowed by the hostile and chaotic tone.

The next debate is scheduled for October 15 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

U.S. and Holy See Divided When It Comes to Protecting Religious Freedom in China

By Claudia Torres

The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See is holding a symposium in Rome on “Advancing and Defending International Religious Freedom Through Diplomacy,” highlighting the mutual commitment of the United States and the Vatican to fight for basic human rights around the globe.

To that end, controversy is mounting over the Holy See’s intention to renew a two-year provisional agreement with China regarding the nomination of bishops. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opposes the extension, and criticized China several times during the conference.

“Nowhere is religious freedom under assault more than it is inside of China today,” Pompeo said. “That’s because, as with all communist regimes, the Chinese Communist Party deems itself the ultimate moral authority.”

He added that, “an increasingly repressive CCP, frightened by its own lack of democratic legitimacy, works day and night to snuff out the lamp of freedom, especially religious freedom, on a horrifying scale.”

Following the symposium, Pompeo’s comments prompted Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to respond to questions regarding the Holy See’s agreement with China, saying the Vatican prefers a politics of “small steps.”

“We believe that every result — even if it isn’t striking, even if it isn’t eye-catching, even if, at first, perhaps it seems to not yield big results — is however, a step forward, toward the affirmation also of greater religious freedom,” Cardinal Pietro says.

The Vatican continues to defend its position on China, though many Catholics are concerned that the agreement could make things worse for the faithful in the communist country.

And though Pompeo did not meet with Pope Francis, the symposium underlines the United States and the Holy See’s common goal to defend religious freedom.

Good Shepherd Church

Host Anthony Mangano heads to Marine Park, Brooklyn to check out and interview owners from local landmarks such as Brennan and Carr to Michael’s Restaurant. Then after spending time with the owners, he heads down to Good Shepherd Church to get a history lesson from Fr. Thomas Doyle.

Cathedral Prep Becomes Only Brooklyn Diocese School to Have Full In-Person School Day

By Jessica Easthope

Last school year when Cathedral Prep was holding classes online, the students’ days started very differently than they do now. But there’s one thing that’s back to normal: every morning Principal Richie Diaz and President Father James Kuroly are outside to fist-bump and greet all 160 students. The personal touch is part of what makes the school so special.

“It’s very heartwarming in all honesty, it’s nice to see them every morning and hear, ‘How was your day?’ and ‘How was your weekend,” said Ronicio Cervantes, a freshman at Cathedral Prep.

With students, parents and teachers on board, Cathedral Prep began this school year together. It’s the only school in the Brooklyn Diocese that has an all in-person school day. They make it work with a big school, small classes and some chalk.

“Everything this place taught me — about not only academics but character development and formation — is what I hope to pass onto them as their principal, said Diaz, “and the fact that we can do in person instruction makes that possible.”

While taking every precaution possible to stay safe, the day starts like every other: with Mass. Cathedral Prep’s focus on an intense curriculum is clear, but the school is just as serious about faith.

“The brotherhood that exists and the spiritual program of challenging our young men to hero virtue, all of those things have to take place when they are in person inside this building,” said Father Kuroly.

For the students, faith is what’s getting them through these uncertain times.

“Showing how we’re all here together and making the best of this, it really shows that we are supposed to have faith,” said Joshua Lall, a junior at the school.

In-person learning at Cathedral Prep goes hand-in-hand with the sense of home the students feel when they walk through the halls. That feeling is what’s getting Ronicio Cervantes through his first weeks of high school.

“It just lets us feel human again, we get to be with people, talk with people,” said Ronicio.

So when it comes to this ambitious school model and living out Cathedral Prep’s mission of “Forming Men for Greatness,” it’s personal.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 9/29/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

The candidates are courting the all-important Catholic vote. A look at tonight’s Presidential debate is ahead.

Are Catholic school classrooms filling up?

New York is seeing positive cases of COVID-19 surge past three percent for the first time in months.

Has your parish gone above and beyond during the pandemic? Well, now it can win an award.

Can You Predict the Catholic Vote?

Currents News Staff

It seems that Catholic voters know how to pick a winner. Whether Republican or Democrat, they’ve gotten it right almost every time since Franklin D. Roosevelt, with Dwight D. Eisenhower being the only exception.

Brian Browne, a professor of political science at St. John’s University, says the Catholic vote has merit.

“They always seem to land on the winner when it comes to presidential elections,” Brian told Currents News.

This election, the Catholic vote is as important as ever, especially in pivotal swing states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, where Brian says the election is expected to be decided.

“When it comes to swing states especially states with significant Catholic populations like Pennsylvania or Ohio, they are always sought after voters when it comes to an election,” Brian explained.

Catholics make up 23 percent of the electorate – the largest religious denomination in the country – according to Gallup analysis, but Catholics do not vote as a cohesive group, making their votes critical and up for grabs.

David Gibson, the director from the Center for Religion and Culture at Fordham University, says the Catholic vote is hard to predict.

“The Catholic vote today is so diverse, wonderfully diverse, as is the Catholic Church,” he explained, “but also so polarized that it’s really hard to predict. There’s such diversity that Catholics have a range of different priorities.”

Gallup data shows that white Catholics who are active in the Church and lapsed Catholics tend to vote Republican, while Hispanic Catholics lean Democratic.

But as the Hispanic community continues to grow in key states like Florida, David says he’s now seeing that vote become more fractured.

“You can’t lump all Catholics together,” he says. “In Florida, you have Cuban exile emigres, you have more recent immigrants from other parts of Latin America. They have very different views. Also very divided, so they can provide the switch, the real momentum that’s either gonna carry the state for Donald Trump or for Joe Biden.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death is also a factor, leading the presidential candidates to retool their strategies on abortion.

Amy Swearer is a legal fellow with The Heritage Foundation, a Washington D.C. think tank that helped assemble the list of potential Supreme Court nominees.

“You will see the rhetoric get a little uglier, more extreme and intense, but I think when push comes to shove this has always been a policy issue that will continue to exist,” Amy said.

She thinks president Trump’s pick will resonate with Catholics. 

“There’s a personal connection to Catholic voters and to Christian voters generally, whether it’s religious liberty whether it’s Second Amendment, Fourth Amendment, it’s anything having to do with those individual liberties, I think is what’s going to appeal most broadly to the largest number of people,” she said. 

Both camps have fired up teams to go after the Catholic vote, but the candidates too are divided on a host of Catholic concerns. President Trump is solidly anti-abortion, which could attract single-issue Catholics, while Catholic candidate Joe Biden is not.

On social issues like immigration, climate change, health care and the death penalty, the Democrats’ platform is more appealing to multi-issue voters.

“There’s no perfect system, church ordained political system,” said David, “but our constitutional Democracy allows us to have these open and informed debates and elections in which we each take responsibility for the outcome. That’s very much at stake here.

The first debate is expected to be even more revealing as the candidates answer questions about their records, the Supreme Court, COVID-19, the economy and race relations in America.

 

Transfiguration-St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Up for ‘Parish Excellence Award’ for Pandemic Outreach

By Jessica Easthope

These days sending an email is as simple as it gets, but Transfiguration-St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Maspeth, Queens is an example of just how much of an impact emails can make.

“It’s hard to imagine how something that we’ve been doing so simply got national attention,” said Monsignor Joseph Calise, the pastor of the church.

During the pandemic Monsignor Calise sent out daily emails to parishioners. The gesture got him a nomination for a Parish Excellence Award.

“The message might simply be, ‘We’re thinking of you. We’re praying for you’…nothing extravagant, nothing fancy, just that simple concern,” Monsignor Calise said of his emails.

The national awards are for parishes that are going above and beyond during the pandemic. Scot Landry, the Founder of Parish Excellence, says the purpose of the awards is not only to highlight what some parishes have done, but to inspire Catholics everywhere.

“I thought now was the right time to try and identify what is really working in parishes that should be shared with everybody,” Scot explained.

For Michael Edmonds, a parishioner of the church, Monsignor Calise’s emails were a source of hope during a time of isolation.

“I got goosebumps, it was really what it’s all about,” he told Currents News. “It made me feel closer to this parish and the people in it, it gave us faith and confidence that it would get better, and it did.”

Knowing the daily emails made a difference and inspired parishioners to help each other, Monsignor Calise says he’s already won.

“When you see the Christ-like response people have to loving one another you realize the message of the Gospel is alive,” he explained.

Nominations are being accepted online at ParishExcellence.com until October 19. The awards summit will be held virtually starting the week of November 9.

NYC Students Leave Public Schools for Brooklyn Diocese Catholic Schools Amid Reopening Roadblocks

By Emily Drooby

Helene Nabuco de Moura’s son is thrilled to be at school.

“We love it, we are very happy,” she said.

The family transferred from a public school to Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn.

“It was very good for them to be in school every day one because he has a lot of energy and a lot of eagerness to learn,” explained Helene, “and the other one because he has a speech delay, so we thought it was good for him to be with his peers.”

Helene wanted her children to be in class and while Catholic schools have been in session for weeks, New York City’s public schools in-person learning was pushed back twice.

Principal Stephanie Germann said they’ve seen about 125 kids come to Saint Joseph the Worker from public schools this year.

“The hybrid model doesn’t work for many parents, especially if they have small kids in kindergarten, first grade and they don’t have access to child care,” she told Currents News.

Many parents felt their kids were struggling to keep up because of distance learning, like parent Molly Watman.

“My second grader is struggling to read because we spent six months struggling and even now to see her two weeks in school and she’s really back on track,” said Molly.

While Saint Joseph the Worker has seen perhaps one of the most significant enrollment jumps,  they’re not alone.

Just last week, the Diocese of Brooklyn registered 274 new students which is an abnormal number for this late in the year. School officials believe those kids came from public schools.

This uptick comes during a difficult time for Catholic education.

In 1970 there were 11,000 Catholic schools in the country, that number has dwindled to about 6,000. Low enrollment is one of the main contributing factors.

In the Diocese of Brooklyn this year, the population in 40 percent of their schools has grown or stabilized. Official believe this new public to catholic school trend is a main reason for the change.

The ‘Ed Wilkinson Era’: The Tablet’s Editor Emeritus Retires After 50 Years in Catholic News

Currents News Staff and Jorge I. Domínguez-López

This is the first time in a half-century The Tablet was published without having Ed Wilkinson as one of its employees. He retired Monday, September 21, 50 years to the day he was hired by The Tablet in 1970. For half a century — as a reporter, sports columnist, news editor, editor-in-chief, and editor emeritus — he has been a constant presence in the paper.

For 33 of those 50 years, from 1985 to 2018, he was the editor-in-chief. During those decades, turbulence abounded inside and outside the Church. But he made The Tablet a reflection of a diocese that went from being primarily composed of immigrants from Europe to a tapestry of representation from around the world.

In April 2020, The Tablet arrived at its 112th anniversary. There are many interesting facts about the paper’s history, but there is one that I find particularly fascinating. During the 103 years and four days between Sep. 17, 1917 and Sep. 21, 2020, you could find either the name of Patrick Scanlan or Ed Wilkinson in The Tablet with the exception of two years, three months and seven days between the last day of Scanlan’s tenure — June 14, 1968 — and the day Ed Wilkinson was hired — Sep. 21, 1970.

Patrick Scanlan had been a seminarian before coming to The Tablet — as was Ed Wilkinson. Scanlan came to the paper in 1917 as a temporary editor. Joseph Cummings, the editor at the time, had left to join the Army during World War I. Cummings died the following year as one of the 50 million victims of the Spanish Flu, and Scanlan became the permanent editor during that pandemic.

Ed Wilkinson retired in the middle of another pandemic more than one century later. Both Scanlan and Wilkinson wrote without fear about the most controversial issues of the day and in defense of the Church and Catholic community. And both were ready to pay a literal price for it.

In 1921, Scanlan was offered a position in the Hearst Corporation for $100 a week. He was making $25 at The Tablet but refused to leave. During the last half-century, Ed Wilkinson received many attractive propositions but stayed in Brooklyn at The Tablet.

You could say Wilkinson is a man from a different era, but there is a simpler and better explanation — he couldn’t imagine himself away from The Tablet, or Brooklyn, because he was always happy here.

He is not from a different era — he stayed at The Tablet to define an era.

And he did.

There are also marked differences between the two men. Scanlan was accused, not always without cause, of anti-Semitism. He was known as a fierce critic of our brothers and sisters from other Christian denominations. Wilkinson has been a builder of bridges (a pontifex!) at The Tablet — you could say that in both senses of the Latin word.

We all know his ecumenic spirit and the solidarity he has shown for the Jewish community.

What you could find most admirable about Ed is his rare combination of gifts. He is smart beyond reason and knows more about Brooklyn and the diocese than any person alive today, but you’d never know it until you asked him about things you couldn’t find through Google.

He is the most serious person you could find, but I don’t remember one conversation with him where he didn’t make me laugh with his fine sense of humor. And that sense of humor is there in the worst moments.

His smile — so often in his face — is a persistent reminder of his faith and his courage. Yes, faithful and courageous, I would say, if you asked me for two words to define him.