Who Is Going To Be the Next New York City Mayor? The Race Isn’t Over on Primary Day

Currents News Staff

Voting for the New York City Democratic primary for mayor started early. Even so, the end’s not near.

“This is not only a race for the mayor of New York, this is a race to save our city,” mayoral candidate Eric Adams said.

But the race could be a slow one. The results may not be known until July. If you’re wondering why, well, for one thing, election officials have to wait for thousands of absentee ballots and then count them. The absentee ballots are not due until a week after Primary Day.

Secondly, the city is using ranked-choice voting for the first time which complicates things.

“I believe in the promise of New York,” said mayoral candidate Andrew Yang.

One promise from election officials is that you will get information throughout the process. This is how it will go: only New Yorker’s first choice votes will be counted right away. If one candidate wins 50-percent of the first-choice votes, you have a winner. But with a pool of 13 Democrats, that’s unlikely.

So we go to the rankings. The last place candidate will be eliminated. If your first-choice candidate does not win and they’re eliminated, then your second-choice vote will be counted and added to that candidate’s total. That cycle continues until there is a winner.

The city’s Board of Elections plans to reveal the first round of ranked choice results a week after the primary, on June 29, on its website – and will continue to update the results once a week.

Therefore, it is possible that we may not know who New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate will be…until the week of July 12!

“New York, we’ve got a big choice to make,” said mayoral candidate Maya Wiley.

Catholic News Headlines for Monday, 6/21/21

Shocking video shows children caught in the middle of a shooting in New York City – as gun violence grows nationwide

Violence is a top agenda for mayoral candidates as we inch closer to the New York City primary.

Concerns are growing the U.S. will not reach President Biden’s vaccine goal.

Venders are overwhelmed with demand as couples rush to say “I do.”

Gun Violence and Shootings Continue to Grow Across the Country

By Currents News Staff

Warning: The video is hard to watch. A man running from a gunman in the Bronx suddenly falls and knocks down two children. But that doesn’t seem to faze the shooter who unleashes a barrage of bullets. Fortunately, the five and 10-year-old kids weren’t hit.

Unfortunately, it seems this is becoming the sound of the summer across America. Incidents took place in Oakland, California to Chicago to Minneapolis.

Just this weekend, more than 30 were killed in gun violence, according to the gun violence archive. Disturbingly, children continue to be caught in the crossfire.

In Dallas, Texas a gunfight between partygoers left eight people injured, including a 10-year-old and a 15-year-old. In Detroit June 17, police are still investigating a shooting that killed a two year-old.

“You know, I don’t wish this on my worst enemy,” said Brian Christian, father of the two-year-old child who was shot.

Here in New York City, there have been more than 630 shootings so far this year. That’s compared to nearly 390 at this time last year, making it a 64-percent increase according to the NYPD.

Some gun reform advocates are discouraged by what they feel is a lack of action at the federal level in the wake of this uptick in violence.

“The fact that we have not seen very much substantial gun reform from the Biden administration – which is especially disappointing considering the fact that Joe and Kamala both campaigned on this,” said Cameron Kasky, a Parkland shooting survivor and gun reform advocate. “People are very frustrated.”

The Summer of Nuptials: Wedding Vendors See Big Boom in Business as New York Reopens

By Emily Drooby

New York makeup artist Sharon Becker was traveling all weekend for a wedding gig. Once she got home, instead of a break, she had to prepare for another job.

“The last month since weddings picked up again has been totally bonkers, completely insane,” Sharon said. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt something like this before and I’ve been doing this for 10 years now.”

After the pandemic, the busy schedule is welcomed. She owns her own company, SB Beauty.

“It feels great,” Sharon added. “I’m so excited to be working again!”

Sharon is not alone. Wedding vendors across the city have seen a boom in business.

According to The Wedding Report, 42 percent of weddings originally scheduled in 2020 were moved to a date this year.

On top of that, with COVID restrictions lifted in New York, people can finally throw bigger weddings.

“Our phones have been ringing off the hook,” said Benjamin Gold. He’s the co-founder and president of the NY Food Truck Association.

They have 75 members with over 125 trucks.

“And they’re booked pretty much every weekend,” Ben explained.

Food trucks have become a popular option for wedding food.

In 2019, the association had anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of their trucks booked on the weekend. In 2020, during the pandemic, that number dropped down to below five percent. Now, that number is close to 95 percent.

“I mean there’s still going to be a lot of scars for a long time to come,” Ben said, “but this definitely helps get over that pretty quickly.”

Christian Rada is the Director of Marriage, Family Formation, and Respect Life Education for the Diocese of Brooklyn. Even he has seen an increase in pending marriages too.

“I’m seeing an increase in couples going to Pre-Cana.”

Couples are heading back to the church altar.

“Couples now want to get married inside the church. They want to have family and friends gather together to celebrate this wonderful occasion of two people coming together and asking for God’s blessing,” said Christian.

The summer of nuptials. That means more marriages, more families and more business for wedding vendors: all bright spots coming ahead after a difficult year.

Sacred Heart Catholic Academy Students Win Scholarship for Their Inspiring Bond

By Jessica Easthope

Izzy and Grace are inseparable – but they’re nothing like other best friends.

Izzy leans on Grace, when they’re walking down the stairs or down the hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Bayside, Queens. That’s because for Izzy, Grace is her caretaker.

“I usually walk with her and hold on to her, or if I can’t see something, she’ll read it to me and sometimes people aren’t always willing to do that,” said Izzy Gamarra, who is considered legally blind.

For the girls, there’s nothing special about their friendship – navigating the world together is all they’ve ever known. Izzy was only seven years old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor that took her sight. That was when Grace took on a new role in her life.

“I can kind of see when she’s struggling most of the time and when I can’t, you always tell me, which I really like,” Grace said.

Arm in arm, Grace and Izzy are leaving the place where their friendship began and starting a new chapter together: attending high school at Holy Cross in Flushing, Queens.

Jeanine Rana, a faculty member and alumna of Sacred Heart Catholic Academy spoke about the importance of Catholic education.

“That’s what I grew up with, in this building and after all these years,” Jeanine said. “Catholic school is still instilling good and love in children.”

Over the last year, Jeanine was inspired by Grace and Izzy’s bond. Still in touch with her Sacred Heart classmates from more than 30 years ago, Jeanine reached out to tell them about the girls and within hours, they raised more than $2,000 dollars. The alumna decided to give the funds to the girls as a surprise scholarship at graduation.

“We wanted them to feel what we feel and hope and pray that 30-something years later, they can do the same for others,” she said.

The girls were blown away, but for their moms, it was a moment of pride.

“Grace had really took on that role very young, I think without realizing it, and I know when Izzy is out of the house with Grace, I know she’s safe,” said Izzy’s mom, Danielle Chase. “You can’t fake what Grace does.”

“She was given this gift of Izzy earlier than some people get it,” said Peggy McKenna, Grace’s mom. “That’s really how we look at it and treat this situation – it really is a gift.”

The girls began living in the same two-family home a few years ago, but getting sick of each other was never an option.

“I tell her everything, she’s my go-to person,” Grace said. “She understands what I’m trying to say because sometimes I don’t want to say it, but she still gets everything.”

You might think Izzy needs Grace, but if you look closer – you realize – just like any other best friend, they need each other.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday, 6/18/21

Mother Cabrini is back home in Brooklyn. The statue is inspiring others to be more like her in the “Diocese of Immigrants.”

U.S. Bishops get the go-ahead to draft a document on the Eucharist.

A major win for religious freedom — the Supreme Court sides with a Catholic organization over who it can adopt children to.

A Catholic family turns its loss into hope for the next generation.

U.S. Bishops Debate Communion Doc, Vote To Be Revealed Today

By John Lavenburg and Currents News Staff

NEW YORK — In a spirited two-hour debate Thursday, both critics and champions of a U.S. bishops’ doctrinal committee proposal to draft a document on the Eucharist cited timing and potential disunity as reasons why they were for, or against, the project.

More than 40 bishops offered opinions on the proposal at Day Two of their annual spring assembly. Afterward, each bishop submitted their vote to approve or deny the proposal. The final tally will be revealed this afternoon.

On Thursday, some of the nation’s top prelates were among the proposal’s biggest critics.

“In my nearly 38 years as a member of this episcopal conference, I cannot recall a similar moment,” said Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington. “The choice before us at this moment is either we pursue a path of strengthening unity amongst ourselves, or settle for creating a document that will not bring unity, but may very well further damage it.”

The cardinal added that the bishops need to spend time “in candid, straightforward conversation together to strengthen that unity within our conference” before taking the next steps towards a statement or plan of action.

If the proposal is approved, the doctrinal committee will begin developing the document with input from a number of other USCCB committees and bishops. The final document will then be discussed and voted on for approval at November’s fall assembly, where it needs a two-thirds majority.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, like Cardinal Gregory, made the case it’s too soon.

“Voting in the affirmative will produce a document, not unity,” Cardinal Tobin said. “Voting against it will allow us to work together in dialogue to forge a broad agreement on the serious questions embedded in the issue of Eucharistic worthiness.”

In a pre-recorded address to open the discussion on the proposal, Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort-Wayne South Bend, the doctrinal committee chair, explained the committee’s reasoning behind the document, its focus, and proposed contents.

Bishop Rhoades identified the faithful’s absence from the pews through the pandemic and a “pluralistic environment” where the truth about the Eucharist can get lost as two reasons why the committee finds it important to reaffirm the meaning of the Eucharist. He also cited national surveys that indicate Catholics believe the Eucharist to be only a symbol.

The USCCB chairman also made it clear that the document was never considered by the committee to be about any one individual or category of sinful behavior. He said the committee ultimately decided against formulating a national policy on the worthiness to receive communion.

There would be, however, a proposed subsection of Eucharistic consistency in the document, Bishop Rhoades said, which addresses actions “that inflict damage to the honor due the sacrament, or cause scandal to the faithful.”

Despite his claims otherwise, the combination of that subsection and previous statements from other bishops about barring pro-choice Catholic politicians from communion — particularly President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi — has led a number of bishops to maintain a belief that the document is politically motivated.

“Those who are insisting that we need to do this immediately really reveal what this is about,” Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago said. “They want us to make statements and do something about politicians who hold positions that are contrary to our teaching.”

Bishop Robert Coerver of Lubbock questioned if the timing is politically motivated.

“There seems to be a rush to this,” Bishop Coerver said. “I can’t help but wonder if the years 2022 and 2024 might be part of the rush, and I think we need to be really careful not to get embroiled in the political situation.”

Cardinal Tobin warned political motivations are a grave mistake.

“Any efforts by this conference to move forward with a categorical exclusion of Catholic political leaders from Eucharist based on their public policy positions will thrust the bishops of our nation into the very heart of the toxic partisan strife, which has distorted our own political culture and crippled meaningful dialogue.”

On the other side of the debate Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, chairman of the USCCB pro-life activities committee, said it’s not the bishops but certain politicians that have created this controversy, noting Biden’s commitment to expanding abortion rights.

Bishop Liam Cary of Baker called it an “unprecedented situation” that there’s a Catholic president who opposes the teaching of the church. Bishop Donald Hying of Madison said he speaks with Catholics daily confused about Biden’s Catholicism.

Other perspectives from bishops on both sides of the debate weren’t political. There was also widespread agreement that if this proposal is approved, in-person regional meetings should take place for bishops to further discuss the document.

In support of the draft, Cardinal Nicholas DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and others made the point that there will be “further ways to have serene dialogue and conversation” with a draft to reference, which is why it should be developed.

Bishop James Wall of Gallup made what he called a “plea on behalf of a poorer diocese.”

“A diocese such as mine we don’t have the resources or maybe send away people to get advanced degrees in different things like that,” Bishop Wall said. “So, a lot of things we do we rely on the work of the conference and committees and documents and statements that come from the conference.”

Others opposed, such as Cardinals Gregory, Tobin, and Cupich wanted to wait until November so the discussion can be in person. Many also said they would support the proposal if the subsection on Eucharistic consistency was removed.

Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe presented an alternative pastoral reflection called “Welcome Home” built on positivity and unity.

“It would be an invitation back to the Eucharist,” Wester said. “It could be an invitation to rediscover what unites us, to give us strength and sends us forward to proclaim the good news.”

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Debate Document on the Meaning of the Eucharist

By Jessica Easthope and Currents News Staff

On Thursday, the big question was finally discussed at the U.S. Bishop’s spring assembly: whether or not to draft an official document about the Eucharist.

“We are all concerned that the faithful’s absence from parish life may have resulted in a loss of what it means to be a Eucharistic people. We worry that many of our faithful may not return to the Eucharistic celebration,” said Bishop Kevin Rhoades, who presented the issue before the conference.

The issue took center stage and hours of conversation. It arose in the wake of recent polling that showed many Catholics don’t understand and or don’t believe that the consecrated bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Opinions among the bishops varied drastically. Those in favor of drafting the document said it would serve as a unifying document meant to teach about enhancing the love and centrality of the Eucharist – they underscored that it’s not meant to be political.

“A document like this, a pastoral teaching document would be something we would want to come together and issue,” said Archbishop William Lori who was in favor of the document.

But those not in favor of drafting a document argued the debate surrounding the issue was vague. They also worry it could potentially exclude Catholics at a time when the Church is working to bring people back to Mass after the pandemic.

“The bishops now want to talk about excluding people at a time when the real challenge before them is welcoming people back to the regular practice of the faith and rebuilding their communities,” said Cardinal Blase Cupich, who spoke out against the document.

The tally on whether or not to draft the document is expected Friday, June 18. The document will not ban anyone from receiving the sacrament, ultimately that decision will be up to an individual bishop and not the conference. If the document is developed it will most likely take several months to be published.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday, 6/17/21

Day two of the United States Bishops meeting – calls for unity as they debate that communion document.

In a major ruling the Supreme Court sides with a Catholic agency over same-sex foster care.

Juneteenth is officially a federal holiday – President Joe Biden signing the measure honoring when the last slaves in the U.S. learned about their freedom.

A solemn anniversary for three FDNY widows who lost their husbands 20 years ago today.

Three Fallen Firefighters Remembered During Mass After Fatal “Father’s Day Fire” 20 Years Ago

By Emily Drooby

Remembering three of New York’s bravest: Harry Ford, Brian Fahey and John Downing. They were heroes and all killed fighting a fire on June 17, 2001.

Their three widows, families, friends, and fellow firefighters gathered at St. Sebastian’s in Woodside, Queens on the 20th anniversary of their deaths to remember the three Catholic men.

The men’s lives were taken while fighting what has now been dubbed, the “Father’s Day Fire.” Lieutenant Nicholas D’Alessandro was there.

“Well, it was a beautiful day, Sunday, Father’s Day,” Lt. Nicholas said. “We were all anxious to go home obviously.”

Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. Instead, Lt. Nicholas and many other firefighters were called to an Astoria, Queens hardware store where a five-alarm fire was blazing. Harry, Brian and John were killed in an explosion.

On Thursday morning, wreaths were laid in remembrance.

Of the loss, Lt. Nicholas said, “The fire department is one big family, all five boroughs, and you feel the loss sincerely in your heart, and it never goes away.”

Following the wreath-laying, members of the fire department filled the pews of St. Sebastian’s, where John Downing was a parishioner for a Mass. A place for both family and friends to reflect.

“Brian was a cheerful, jolly guy, very knowledgeable,” explained Lt. George Torres “He was a natural born teacher.” Lt. George is from Rescue Four – just like Harry and Brian.

“It’s really heartwarming,” said Father Patrick West. As the administrator of St Sebastian Church, he celebrated the Mass and explained why the event was touching.

“To see how many people from the parish came out to remember in thanksgiving for the sacrifice they made in protecting us,” Father West added.

All in all, they remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect New Yorkers.