20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

The Big Apple is slowly awakening from its lockdown, but for some, it’s too late. Small businesses are desperate to reopen but are being left in the dark. One owner came up with a plan of his own.

The city is recording new virus numbers that the Mayor is calling extraordinary.

George Floyd’s brother goes before Congress. He’s asking lawmakers how much a black man’s life is worth.

The top police officer in Minneapolis is promising reform, and he’s taking action to get there.

Meet a college valedictorian who worked three times harder than others for the honor.

After Losing Dad and Mentor to COVID, Here’s How This Brooklyn Priest Is Ministering During Hardship

Currents News Staff

Coronavirus has touched all of our lives in one way or another, but for Father Joseph Dutan, this pandemic hits especially hard: he lost both his father and his mentor to this virus.

Not only did his biological father pass away from coronavirus, but his spiritual father as well: Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay was his mentor in the priesthood, and the first U.S. priest to pass away because of COVID-19.

As a young priest ordained just two years ago, in that timespan he’s faced much loss. Meanwhile he is ministering during a pandemic to a parish also facing the loss of loved ones, being jobless, and, in some cases, being undocumented.

Fr. Dutan has seen the toughest parts of this pandemic up close, and at a time where New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has made the decision to allow protests but keep religious services restricted, many Catholics around the Brooklyn Diocese want to receive communion now

He joins Currents News from his parish of St. Brigid in Bushwick, Brooklyn, to talk more about how he is coping with this loss, and how his parishioners feel about returning to church during this time.

St. Charles Borromeo Church Works to Combat Racism Through Open Dialogue on Race in America

By Jessica Easthope

The Catholic Church is sending a strong message against racism, in the Diocese of Brooklyn, the sin is being fought off with love.

“If the church loves and encourages people to love each other then we deal with the basic issue,” said Father Bill Smith the pastor of St. Charles Borromeo in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn.

Fr. Bill is leading by example, encouraging his parishioners to address racism by talking about their experiences.

“We become human by community and building up and strengthening relationships, who else can do that but the Church,” he asked.

Recently, following a Zoom prayer service, parishioners listened to the experiences of one of their own.

“I respect police but I’d be lying to you if I had interactions with police where I knew if my skin color was different it would not have happened,” said Tevin Williams a parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo.

Tevin is a new Catholic and a new New Yorker — he was confirmed last year, and recently put down roots in the city after leaving the south.

“The loving piece of me being a Catholic and having these conversations with my brothers and sisters in Christ is not something I can say I have seen in the south,” Tevin said.

He says that thanks to his parish community, he’s better able to cope with the racial unrest sweeping the nation.

“I’m thankful that I am a Catholic right now, it is God’s will that I’m here in this parish and enlightening some people and telling them my experience,” said Tevin.

Tevin said Fr. Bill is the kind of leader every parish needs, allowing for a safe space to discuss hard truths about race and overcome each other’s differences.

“I hope that we can come together as Catholics and understand that we may be different in skin tone but we are all bound by one heart,” said Tevin. “But, we also understand the reality.”

Fontbonne Hall Academy Valedictorian, Salutatorian Credit Successes to All-Girls Catholic Education

By Emily Drooby

Fontbonne Hall Academy teaches high school students and Visitation Academy educates students through eighth grade. However, the two institutions have a lot in common.

They’re both in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, they’re both Catholic and they’re both all-girls schools. They’re also both responsible for the education of two bright young women: Fontbonne’s salutatorian Jenna Polis and their valedictorian, Alyssa DeAngelis.

“You see this young girl, who there she was, I had her in 5th grade, and to see what she has accomplished, it’s very touching to have been part of that,” explained Loretta DeLorenzo, who taught both of the girls while they attended Visitation Academy.

What’s behind the accomplishments of these young women? There are a lot of reasons.

“They definitely helped me develop my study habits,” Jenna told Currents News. “They keep class interesting, and they actually make me want to learn about the topic.”

Jenna and Alyssa also credit the school’s class sizes, their strong curriculums and supportive staff. All of these things blend together to create an environment that empowers the women who attend their schools.

“We try to build confidence in the girls, our girls are very used to public speaking,” Loretta said. “We have a student council, and the girls completely run things.”

“I’ve been to an all-girls school all my life too,” added Alyssa, “so I think that’s really important as well.”

She said that at both schools, the message was always there are no limits to what women can do.

Both girls are now heading off to college on a pre-med track.

The product of two schools that provided them with the tools they needed to be successful in education, and in life.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 6/09/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

An emotional day as George Floyd is laid to rest. Family and friends say goodbye in a Houston Church.

The Catholic Church is on a mission to stamp out the evil of racism. A parish in the Diocese of Brooklyn is working hard toward racial justice.

A New York City police officer is under arrest, charged with assaulting a protester near Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

President Trump is getting back on the campaign trail. He hasn’t staged a rally since March but will relaunch them soon.

The story of two brilliant high school graduates. Why they say single-sex education contributed to their success.

How Can Faithful Participate in Conversations About Race?

Currents News Staff

The protests around the country over the tragic death of George Floyd have started a conversation about race in our society. We have seen protests about racial injustice before, following the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Freddie Gray.

Talking about the injustices facing black people every day has also brought up the topic of white privilege. What have we learned about how it has shaped our society, and how can white people help stand against racial inequality?

Joining Currents News to discuss is Father Bryan Massingale, a professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University.

Everyone Has an Opinion, But Can You Print It?

Currents News Staff

It’s been a rough week for the Gray Lady: the New York Times has lost a top editor after the paper received backlash over an opinion piece on the George Floyd protests.

Republican Senator Tom Cotton wrote calling for the military to be used to deal with protests, and the opinion column drew a lot of criticism. First, editor James Bennet defended the opinion piece, then said it was wrong to run it and admitted that he didn’t even read it before it ran online.

It’s not the first time the New York Times has run a controversial opinion piece. In 2014 a column ran titled “Pedophilia: A disorder, Not a Crime.” No one resigned after that column was published.

Should Bennet have resigned because of this column, and what does this mean for journalism? Did the New York Times fail in their publishing standards?

An editor also resigned from the Philadelphia Inquirer after a headline read “Buildings Matter Too.”

Another paper, the Pittsburg Gazette, has been accused of not sending black reporters to protests because of possible biases.

What are the consequences of these instances, if any?

Discussion on publishing both sides of the story and keeping journalism unbiased is ongoing,

but considering the pushback, is that possible, and where do papers draw the line in keeping coverage neutral?

St. John’s University professor and journalism expert Mike Rizzo joins Currents News to share his experience and insight with these issues.

George Floyd Laid to Rest as Lawmakers Debate Police Reform

Currents News Staff

Today in Houston, the final goodbye to George Floyd. An emotional funeral for the man whose death began a national movement.

“America, it is time for a change. Even if it should begin with more protests. No Justice, No Peace,” said Brooke Williams, George Floyd’s Niece.

The 46 year old was killed more than two weeks ago – igniting nationwide outrage over police brutality.

“We speak, and we decree, and we declaim, that right now, lord, God, there shall be justice,” said Rev. Mary White.

At the funeral, a sign of hope for a silver lining amidst the tragedy.

“He changed the world. George Floyd changed the world. And we’re gonna make the world know that he made a difference,” said Rep. Al Green.

Around the country the has been a push for sweeping police reform measures.

Some – including the Minneapolis city council – believe defunding the police and re-modeling the force, while reallocating funds to other areas is the answer-

“We need to make deeper change than we have in the past,” said Lisa Bender, the Minneapolis City Council President.

Both President Trump and his democratic opponent, Joe Biden, have spoken out against defunding the police.

Congresswoman Karen Bass – who helped craft a sweeping democratic proposal for police reform – agrees.

“I don’t think that that’s the appropriate thing to do,” said Bass.

But those who have been protesting for days want change.

Whether Floyd’s death can bridge the gap between both sides will become apparent soon enough.

Currents News full broadcast for Mon, 6/08/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Backlash against the blue – some are calling for police departments in America to be dismantled or defunded.

And kicked out of a protest – the Mayor of Minneapolis is told to ‘go home’ because he won’t back shutting down the city’s police force.

Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio with a powerful homily against the sin of racism.

Plus, New York City is declaring victory of the coronavirus.

Mayor de Blasio Announces Plans to Cut NYPD Budget as Police Warn of Potential Dangers

By Emily Drooby

Mayor Bill de Blasio is planning on cutting the NYPD’s budget in response to demands from protesters for change.

During a press conference on June 7, he said, “People did not protest for the sake of protest. They protest to achieve change, and now we must deliver that change,”

The mayor said he would move money from the NYPD and use it for social and youth services.

“We are committed to shifting resources to ensure that the focus is on our young people,” he said.

Calls to defund or even abolish the police have become top demands among protesters throughout the country, including in New York City.

“When more funding is put into policing than it is education, than housing, social services, it’s an issue, it shows that there is an imbalance and a bias in the priorities,” explained Anthony Beckford, the President of Black Lives Matter Brooklyn.

Paul DiGiacomo, the president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, Inc, warned that

slashing the police budget will have consequences.

“The bottom line is this,” he said,”if you cut the funding from the New York City Police Department, the only people who will suffer is the people of the city.”

The detective is also calling out politicians he accuses of not supporting the police.

“It’s not fair to the members of the NYPD and my detectives who are out there putting their lives on the lines I have said it many times,” DiGiacomo further explained. “If you assault one of my detectives, we will go after you with civil litigation. That is a promise. We are done being abused.”

Former police officer and current professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Peter Moskos, added that any funding cuts will almost definitely mean less police.

“If you start talking about major cuts you’re talking about laying off police officers, you can easily cut an organization where 80% plus of the funding goes to labor costs,” he explained. “So at least, we should be honest about what is being proposed.”

Some are talking about stripping a billion dollars out the NYPD’s six-billion-dollar budget. While de Blasio has yet to release a number, he insists it won’t be a billion.

In Albany this week, the Democrat-led legislature is being expected to pass a slew of bills that address police practices. One hot-button measure would end secrecy surrounding the discipline records of police. It’s known as “50-A,” and abolishing it is something else that protesters have repeatedly demanded.