21 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this special edition:

The pressure is on. With cases and deaths still surging, COVID vaccinations are more urgent than ever.

There’s a problem across the country: U.S. vaccine rollout has been too slow, with warnings that it could get worse before it gets better.

Could the new coronavirus variants undermine shots in the arm? Plus, there’s a new vaccination front runner.

You’ll hear from the bishop who got the COVID vaccine before everyone else. But, will Pope Francis get in line?

COVID Dangers ‘Not to be Taken for Granted,’ Says First American to Receive Vaccine

Currents News Staff

Critical care nurse Sandra Lindsay became the first person in the U.S. to get the shot, and is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sandra, Director of Critical Care at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York, joins Currents News to share what the experience was like after getting both shots of the Pfizer vaccine.

Currents News full broadcast for Thurs, 1/7/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

A nation shaken to the core – the aftermath and the fallout as the chaos that erupted at the Capitol still lingers.

Catholic leaders united in their calls for peace – and a peaceful transition of power.

As the Christmas season ends, Bishop DiMarzio reminds us of the importance of Three Kings Day.

Will Current Vaccines Stop New Coronavirus Strains?

Currents News Staff

Two new variants of the coronavirus seem to make the virus more easily spread.

One, first identified in Britain, has already been discovered in the U.S.

While doctors worried it might have mutated enough to evade vaccine protection, the evidence now suggests it has not.

However, the jury’s still out on the second new variant first seen in South Africa.

“This strain is not any more severe to our knowledge than the other strains of coronavirus,” Dr. Robert Tiballi, an infectious disease expert with the Catholic Medical Association, told Currents News.

He says the spike protein is the structure the virus uses to attach to human cells, “which does have a bit of a change on the spike protein,” he added. “If viruses spontaneously mutate even further and change that spike protein further, it’s possible it may become non-infectious to humans.”

Over the next few weeks virologists will be studying to see how much of a match there is between this new variant found in South Africa and current vaccines which target the spike protein.

Dr. Tiballi says there’s also a new vaccine — Novavax — which is starting trials in the U.S.

“This one is very exciting because it doesn’t have any of the Catholic ethical dilemmas of association with aborted fetal cells and so this may become available in the next couple of months here in the United States,” he said.

Catholic Leaders Condemn Violence, Request Peace Following Violent Riots at U.S. Capitol

By Emily Drooby

The peaceful transition of power is a foundation of American Democracy. Wednesday’s events at the U.S. Capitol made this clear to Catholics from coast to coast: the country has to rediscover its values as one nation, under God.

Bishops across the country are speaking out, hoping to bring some kind of peace to the turmoil and a deeply divided nation.

“Please join me in praying for our Nation on this unprecedented day of national chaos, so that we can return to the rule of law,” wrote Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

As windows were broken and barricades busted, other bishops took to Twitter calling for unity, which may be hard to find.

“I join people of good will in condemning the violence today at the United States Capitol. This is not who we are as Americans,” wrote Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Other religious criticized those who took part in the chaos while carrying “Jesus saves” flags.

President-Elect Joe Biden, a practicing Catholic, spoke out for the second time on Jan. 7. While speaking, he called the rioters domestic terrorists and acknowledged his administration must do more to bring the country together.

“Yesterday in my view, one of the darkest days in the history of our nation,” he said, calling it “an unprecedented assault on our democracy.”

In the heart of Washington D.C., Cardinal Wilton Gregory called from a moment of silence in the midst of all the noise.

“Together, we must intentionally pause and pray for peace in this critical moment,” he wrote. “The divisive tone that has recently so dominated our national conversations must change.”

Neither a Vatican spokesperson nor Pope Francis has spoken out directly yet about the unrest. However, the Vatican newspaper ran a large headline of their front page, titled “Washington: Democracy Wounded.” They described what occurred as an “assault on Congress.”

Three Kings Day — A Look at Latino Christmas Traditions

Currents News Staff

January 6 marks the “twelfth day of Christmas,” following the end of the Advent season. Around the world, faithful celebrate the arrival of the Magi to the baby Jesus with offerings of frankincense, myrrh and gold.

For one of our own, digital producer Wandy Ortiz, “Dia de los Reyes” is more than faith — it’s family.

What You Need to Know About the New COVID-19 Variants

Currents News Staff

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the highly contagious strain of the coronavirus is highly problematic, and a game changer.

To find out more about it, Currents News spoke with Robert Tiballi, a doctor with the Catholic Medical Association.

Biden Win Certified By Congress Following Breach of U.S. Capitol

Currents News Staff

After a violent scene at the U.S. Capitol that left at least one woman shot dead, Congress got back to work Wednesday night. But there are still serious questions surrounding the pro-Trump riots at the Capitol, especially about the final days of the Trump White House.

Following weeks of refusing to concede, President Donald Trump released a statement early Jan. 7, agreeing to an orderly transfer of power, reading in part, “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.”

The statement comes after Congress’s certification of Joe Biden’s win over Trump in November’s election.

The proceedings, which began Wednesday afternoon, were halted by the first breach of the U.S. Capitol since the British attacked it during the War of 1812.

The ugly scenes carried on for hours: smashed windows, smoke grenades, an armed standoff at the front door of the House and protesters on the Senate floor.

“We will not be kept out of this chamber by thugs, mobs or threats,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

A short video released by Trump during the violence told rioters to go home, but mostly repeated lies about his November loss.

“When it’s over, it is over, it is over,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are lawfully elected.”

Biden, now less than two weeks away from inauguration, condemned the violence.

“It’s no protest. It’s insurrection. The world’s watching,” he said.

Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 1/6/20 (Catholic news)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

Washington D.C. in chaos – protesters breaking through barriers and storming the Capitol.

Hours before, President Trump spoke to thousands of his supporters – now he’s asking them to remain peaceful.

New York is ramping up its vaccine distribution plan, but will Catholic schools be included in the rollout?

As NYC Fight Over School Closing Reignites, Mom Speaks on Daughter’s Year of Public School Learning

By Emily Drooby

Remote learning has become a big part of life for 1st grader, Celine and her mother, Judith Herrera.

After three years in Catholic school, Judith wanted to try out the New York City public school system after hearing a lot of positive things from her friends.

“We just kind of wanted to see the difference,” said Currents News.

However, due to COVID-19 restrictions and space limitations, Celine only attended in-person classes about ten times during the fall semester.

Judith said it was hard on Celine. “She never really formed the bonds that she had at St. Stephens,” she said referring to Celine’s former school.

This fall, many of the city’s public-school families have had to deal with constant uncertainty.

First their first day was pushed back twice, then just weeks after kids finally got into the buildings, they were shut down again.

In late December, it seemed to be settling down. However, now the city’s positivity rate is creeping back up.

As of Wednesday Ja. 5, over 130 public school buildings were closed because of cases or exposure.

At the same time, the fight over closing schools has reignited. Both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio recently said they don’t believe they will automatically shut down schools if the city positivity rate tops 9%. Originally this was thought to be the plan.

The United Federation of Teachers is taking the opposite side, calling for a total shut down if the rate gets that high, no matter what individual school’s infection rates are. This means a school with a low infection rate would shut down, just like a school with a high infection rate.

The new fight has added more uncertainty into the lives of parents across the city.

“You can’t plan when you need a sitter, how you arrange your work days,” Judith explained. “On a dime it changes, and everything that you just set up for two weeks has gone. Because now school’s on a different day. Now school is at home.”

Judith had to take a leave of absence from work. She feels grateful to her employers for not only letting her, but for being so understanding and supportive.

She also praises her daughter’s public-school staff for keeping parents well-informed and dealing with sudden changes.

However, back in October her and her husband decided to move Celine back to her old Catholic school, Saint Stephen of Hungary in Manhattan. Right now, the school is open five days a week for in-person learning. A remote option is also available if necessary.

She’s set to start in February, the busy school’s first opening.

“This has been so difficult for her and for her to be going back to an environment that she already knows, already loves,” said Judith.

She is excited for the stability, but also to have the chance to bring faith back into her daughter’s school experience.

“It’ll be great to just get back to just that faith and value system that we so believed in and thrived in for the year she was there before,” she said.