Amy Coney Barrett, a Catholic Federal Judge, Tops Trump’s List of Possible Supreme Court Nominees

By Jessica Easthope

The passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is setting the scene for a new politically-charged battle in what has already been a divisive campaign. Now, with just weeks to go before the election a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court is also at stake.

“They always refer to the ‘October Surprise,’ and we’re not even in October yet but this does change the dynamic,” said Brian Browne, the Assistant Vice President of Government Relations and an adjunct professor of political science at St. John’s University.

Browne says the country is waiting to see if history will repeat itself as Justice Ginsburg leaves a vacant seat on the Supreme Court.

“Republicans when they were faced with the same situation in 2016 after Justice Scalia died. They did not consider then President Obama’s nomination, so now there’s a call that that same practice be put into place,” Browne said.

As for the nomination, President Trump has one thing decided.

“I will be putting forth a nominee next week, it will be a woman,” he said at a campaign rally in North Carolina Sept. 19.

Topping the list of candidates is Amy Coney Barrett, a conservative and a Catholic who was a finalist for the last vacancy, which was ultimately filled by Brett Kavanaugh.

“She’s a conservative, member of the Federalist Society, mother of seven, two of them adopted from Haiti, young,” said Browne. “At 48-years-old she would be the youngest seated justice, so she would have a long influence on the court,” said Browne.

Barrett’s political and religious beliefs have been cause for controversy in the past.

“She is someone who has faced some tough and frankly unfair questioning. Senator Feinstein from California questioned some of her dogma and deeply held Catholic beliefs, we do not have a religious test for public officials, that’s unconstitutional,” Browne said.

Historically, the Catholic vote is split evenly down the party line, but if a nominee is confirmed ahead of Election Day, Browne says the Catholic vote could hold more power.

“For Catholics who are concerned with the issue of life, they will be energized by the idea of another justice appointed by President Trump,” Browne said.

Former Vice President Joe Biden says he will not release his list of potential nominees, and has called on Republicans to hold off until after Election Day.

San Francisco Catholics Protest, Call Out City Hall Over COVID Restrictions on Indoor Worship

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) — San Francisco’s archbishop told hundreds of Catholics gathered near City Hall Sept. 20 that “it is because of our Catholic faith that we are being put at the end of the line” by city officials in enacting what could be the country’s harshest pandemic restrictions on religious worship.

“The city continues to place unrealistic and suffocating restrictions on our natural and constitutional right to worship. This willful discrimination is affecting us all,” said Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. “Yes, discrimination, because there is no other word for it.”

He made the comments in a homily at a Mass that followed eucharistic processions to a plaza near San Francisco’s City Hall.

On Sept. 13, in a memo to all priests of the archdiocese, Archbishop Cordileone announced that three parishes were organizing eucharistic processions starting at different points and ending up next to City Hall, to be followed by Masses outside the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. He urged all parishes to participate.

More than 1,000 Catholics participated in the archdiocesan “Free the Mass” demonstration.

In his memo, in an op-ed in The Washington Post Sept. 16 and in his homily, the archbishop said Catholics are asking to be treated like anyone else in being able to exercise their right to worship in public at a “level consistent with other activities” in the city, like shopping, protesting and gathering in a public park.

Church leaders have no issue with the faithful being asked to following safety protocols amid the pandemic, he said, and he has reiterated that being asked to adhere to these measures is within the purview of city and health officials, but keeping people from worship is not.

“Months ago, we submitted a safety plan to the city including masks and social distancing, just like indoor retail stores did,” explained in his homily. “The city said yes to indoor retail, but we Catholics are still waiting to hear back.”

Right now, he said, people can shop at Nordstrom’s at 25% capacity “but only one of you at a time is allowed to pray inside of this great cathedral, your cathedral? Is this equality? No, there is no reason for this new rule except a desire to put Catholics — to put you — at the back of the line.”

The archbishop made several references to the “back of the line” and “end of the line” in his homily, titled “Going to the End of the Line for the Glory of God.”

He said that Sunday’s Gospel reading from Matthew reminded him of the time he spent as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Calexico, California, at the U.S.-Mexico border and his morning jog along the border fence.

“There I would see the exact scene Our Lord describes: men standing in the streets, waiting to be hired to work in fields so they could make a day’s wage,” he said. “Like the workers at the Eleventh Hour, these men were at the end of the line: the ones left out and ignored by society, the people barely able to survive.”

One time he gave a ride to the bus station to a man who had entered the country illegally and was trying to get to the next stop to start his new life in the United States. He bought the man a ticket so he could continue on his journey.

“I was aware that I was breaking the law, since it is against the law to provide transportation to an undocumented immigrant,” he continued. “But the highest law is love of God and love of neighbor, and that law has to take precedence over the human-made law of the state when government would ask us to turn our backs on God or our neighbor in need.

“Now in San Francisco, all of us here are being put at the end of the line,” he said. “No matter how rich or poor, no matter whether newly arrived or from families that have been here for many generations, it is our Catholic faith that unites us, and it is because of our Catholic faith that we are being put at the end of the line.”

Archbishop Cordileone noted that amid the pandemic, the work of the Catholic Church of San Francisco has been ongoing, such as Catholic Charities’ outreach to the homeless or and the efforts of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul assisting the needy at the parish level.

He thanked the priests, religious and “the sacrificing lay faithful, for what you are doing to keep the love of Christ alive and visible in these distressing times. This is what it means to go to the end of the line.”

He urged Catholics to remain spiritually grounded during this time by spending at least one hour a week in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and, fasting on Fridays and going to confession frequently.

Papal Honors Bestowed Upon 57 Members of the Diocese of Brooklyn

By Emily Drooby

For over 35 years, Dr. Elizabeth Lutas has cared for the homeless as a physician.

Of why she does it, she said, “I try to spend as much time as I can with them because I want to show them that I do love them and God is with us all.”

On Saturday, her dedication was recognized at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.

Dr. Lutas was one of 57 people from the Diocese of Brooklyn to have a Papal Honor bestowed upon them.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is proud of those who were selected.

“We are really blessed in our diocese with people who are really extraordinary and give so much time and devotion to the life of the church. So that’s what the Holy Father has honored,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

A huge honor, given by Pope Francis and the Vatican, based off suggestions made by Bishop DiMarzio.

The honorees are people who give much of their time and self to others. Delores Casey is one of them. For over a decade she has been working hard to make Monsignor Bernard Quinn a saint.

“But nothing good happens right away. You know, you have to work for it, pray for it,” Casey said. adding, “I was not aware that I would be selected for this because whatever I did, I did out of the love of my heart.”

Helping others out of love is also how honoree Mother Celine Vadukkoot, of the Little Sisters of the Poor, lives her life. As the Mother Superior of the Queen of Peace Residence, she is deeply dedicated to caring for the elderly.

Mother Vadukkoot said, “It’s a great privilege. We ask the Diocese of Brooklyn, all people of God to pray for us, that we will always remain faithful to the charism of our mother founder, God bless you all.”

Some honorees have also given so much of themselves to serve the dioceses. Deacon Jorge Gonzalez is one of them. He oversees every detail of each permanent deacon’s five-year journey.

Deacon Gonzalez said, “It’s a feeling that I cannot express, it’s an honor, it’s a blessing.”

Ed Wilkinson was also honored. He spent almost five decades as a crucial member of The Tablet team. He explained, this award came at the perfect time.

“I’m retiring on Monday and receiving this award today, so it’s kind of just like a nice ending to my career. So I’m really excited about it and very grateful to the Bishop for nominating me,” said Wilkinson.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Died

By Currents News Staff

The 87-year-old Ginsburg was the senior member of the Supreme Court’s liberal wing.

She was well-known for delivering progressive votes on divisive social issues, and authoring fiery dissents.

In recent years, Ginsburg cultivated a rock star status and was dubbed the “Notorious RBG.”

She began her tenure on the supreme court in 1993, when she was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

Before that, she had a celebrated career as an attorney fighting for equal rights for women.

Ginsburg suffered from five bouts of cancer before dying.

***This story is breaking and will be updated***

Brooklyn Diocese’s Haitian Apostolate Takes Creole Bible Studies Class Virtual

Currents News Staff

A Catholic Bible studies program that’s been going strong for 30 years had to make some changes this year because of the pandemic. The normally in-person class is going virtual, and organizers say that’s a good thing.

The leader of the Haitian Apostolate, retired Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq joins Currents News to share about what the program teaches.

Currents News full broadcast for Fri, 9/18/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

A humanitarian tragedy unfolding on the Greek island of Lesbos – we’ll show you the dire situation and what’s being done to help the suffering migrants.

Why the vicar for Catholic schools is urging the parents of public-school kids to enroll in diocesan schools.

Some angels are answering the prayers of a Brooklyn church whose statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was desecrated.

And in the wake of Hurricane Maria – four dioceses in Puerto Rico are now getting tens of millions of dollars from the federal government.

Following Fire at Lesbos Refugees Camp, Thousands Are Still Without Shelter

By Emily Drooby

After the fire in Moria, Lesbos, refugees were left with practically nothing. Many are sleeping on the streets. There are thousands of families who have been waiting for a new camp for days.

This, after a fire ravaged the largest refugee camp in Greece called, Moria, located on the island of Lesbos.

One refugee, who is unnamed, said, “You can see our situation. We don’t have any place to – there isn’t any toilet. There is not enough water, no food.”

Pope Francis does not forget his 2016 visit to the now vanished Moria camp. That is why when the fire broke out, he recalled that those who flee from war or hunger deserve a dignified hospitality.

“That a humane and dignified hospitality be assured to migrant women and men, refugees, and those who seek asylum in Europe,” he said. “I express my solidarity and closeness to all the victims of these dramatic experiences.”

Long before the fire, the camp has been plagued with reports of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions

About 12,000 people were living there before the fire, at least 4,000 of them children. Many were there after risking everything to leave countries like Afghanistan and Syria.

“We put our lives in danger to come here. We didn’t know if we were going to live or die when we went into the sea. We thought we were going to die. We crossed the border. We had heard that there was respect for human rights here, but since we arrived, nobody has helped us,” explained another unnamed refugee.

Six people have been arrested for starting the fires including two minors, all are Afghan nationals.

It has been over a week, and still thousands are left without shelter.

Footage shows hundreds of temporary tents set up by the United Nations Human Rights Council in an effort to help.

“What is needed? Access to water, sanitation, hygiene. Access to medical assistance, and all the immediate relief items,” explained Astrid Castelein, High Commissioner for Refugees for the United Nations.

Police are moving refugees into a new camp, but many are afraid to go, allegedly fearing more bad conditions.

Medical attention is also essential especially as the area continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

A group from Doctors Without Borders, on the ground in Moria, say the fire made conditions much worse for their patients. They’re warning that people shouldn’t be put in another camp.

Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the president of Greece, acknowledges the overcrowding and is calling for help.

Germany has vowed to take in 1,500 refugees, while 400 unaccompanied children have been flown to shelters in northern Greece.

Early Voting Begins as Biden, Trump Hit the Campaign Trail

Currents News Staff

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden were both on the campaign trail Thursday, Sept. 18.

“This is the most important election in the history of our country,” said Trump.

“I’m going to be America’s president, not a Democratic president,” Biden said. “I’m a Democrat, proud of it, but America’s president.”

The race for the White House escalates as early in-person voting and absentee voting begin in several states.

Most mail-in ballot application deadlines are in October. It’s a process the Trump administration has repeatedly blasted, making unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.

“Everyone knows mail-in ballots are a disaster,” said Trump.

Attorney General Bill Barr spoke about the mail-in ballots.

“‘Oh wait a minute, we just discovered 100,000 ballots. Every vote must be counted.’ You know, we don’t know where these freaking votes came from,” Barr said.

Biden calls such comments an attempt to delegitimize the election.

“Look, if the president had even remote confidence that he was likely to win the election, he wouldn’t be doing this,” he said.

But there’s greater interest in absentee and mail-in ballots nationwide this year, due to COVID-19.

Some fear the fraud claims could lead to problems. The president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Kristen Clarke says the pandemic is playing a part.

“We started 2020 seeing intense levels of voter suppression and voting discrimination, and that picture has been compounded by the pandemic,” Clarke said.

Currents News full broadcast for Thurs, 9/17/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

President Trump is not seeing eye to eye with his top health officials over face masks and the timing of a vaccine.

We check in with Catholic churches in the hurricane zone after Sally ravaged so many communities down south.

We’ll show you how Catholic Charities is working to boost the census in New York neighborhoods where it is vital that everyone is counted.

Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces Another Delay to In-Person Learning for NYC Public Schools

By Jessica Easthope

September 21 was the day many students, parents and teachers had been waiting for. After six months, New York City’s public schools would have their first day of in person learning. But, it was once again delayed.

“Real concerns have been raised by my colleagues. They reached out to me and said they had specific concerns about things that had to be done to make sure our schools could start effectively and safely,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

This is the second delay for in-school learning for the Department of Education. This time it was safety and efficiency issues raised by the teachers’ union and Schools Chancellor, Richard Carranza.

“We’re giving schools more time, more staff and more support and this helps us to have the strongest possible start to the most unconventional school year any one of us have experienced,” Carranza said.

The re-opening will now happen in phases. Pre-K and special needs students will start on Monday as planned, elementary school students start on September 29, and middle and high school students on October 1.

“We need to step back and figure out some things. We now have seen after a 10 day period that there are some blanks we need to fill in, and we’re going to do that,” said Michael Mulgrew, the President of the United Federation of Teachers.

Though 42 percent of all public school students opted for an all-virtual school year, the DOE needs 10,000 teachers to successfully manage a hybrid model. The city is still 5,500 short.

Catholic schools throughout the city also recognized the need for more staff immediately. At Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Academy in Corona, Queens they’ve added teachers to every classroom.

“We have a teacher assistant in the overflow room, so when she’s teaching a lesson on any given day, the teacher assistant is actually walking around ensuring the kids are learning exactly what she’s teaching,” said Cristina Tancredi-Cruz, Principal of Our Lady of Sorrows.

This delay comes as the DOE announces that at least 56 schools have had one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 among staff.