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ACCEPT
WINDSOR TERRACE — Parents from Good Shepherd Catholic Academy (Marine Park) will be meeting on the block of their school at noon on Oct. 6. In a socially distant manner, they will be expressing their frustration over Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that certain Catholic academies and schools are included in temporary school closures in nine hotspot ZIP codes.
On Oct. 5, Gov. Cuomo announced all New York City schools within nine hotspot ZIP codes will physically close and pivot to remote learning on Oct. 6. This comes after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a proposal on Oct. 4 to shut down schools and non-essential businesses within the areas with high positivity rates.
The neighborhoods/ZIP codes that have had above 3 percent coronavirus positivity rates for at least seven consecutive days include Edgemere/Far Rockaway (11691), Borough Park (11219), Gravesend/Homecrest (11223), Midwood (11230), Bensonhurst/Mapleton (11204), Flatlands/Midwood (11210), Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay (11229), Kew Gardens (11415), and Kew Gardens Hills/Pomonok (11367).
Five parish schools, Catholic academies, and high schools in the affected ZIP codes are Good Shepherd Catholic Academy (11229), Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy (11223), St. Athanasius Catholic Academy (11204), St. Edmund School (11229), and St. Edmund Preparatory High School (11229).
During the Mayor’s press conference on Oct. 5 — a few hours after Gov. Cuomo’s press conference — Mayor de Blasio said the physical closures of schools could last two weeks minimum (with positivity rates under three percent for seven consecutive days) or as many as four weeks (whereby the last day of the four weeks positivity rates are under three percent).
Reaction from the Diocese of Brooklyn
Catholic academies and parish schools in Brooklyn and Queens are asking Gov. Cuomo to immediately reverse his decision and allow four schools that have been operating safely for weeks, within the COVID-19 ‘hotspots’ ZIP codes, to continue in-person learning.
In the three Catholic academies and one parish school located in the affected areas (St. Athanasius Catholic Academy, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy, St. Edmund Elementary School, and Good Shepherd Catholic Academy), enrollment totals 1,070 students, and there has only been one confirmed COVID case. “These statistics prove that the Diocesan COVID-19 safety policies are effectively protecting our students and teachers,” read a statement from the Diocese of Brooklyn.
“This decision by the Governor clearly fails to take into account the positive progress our Diocesan school system has made so far this school year,” said Brooklyn Diocese Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Chadzutko.
“It is unconscionable to think that after the many sacrifices our staff, students, and parents have made, and in spite of our almost non-existent infection rate, the Governor has decided to force our four schools to close,” Chadzutko added. “The Governor should delay the order related to our schools and visit each one before holding firm to his decision.”
Mayor de Blasio has also said high-risk activities in 12 other ZIP codes — which have had climbing positivity rates for seven consecutive days — are being closely monitored. The areas could see closures of indoor dining, gyms, and indoor and outdoor pools beginning Oct. 7.
These 12 neighborhoods/ZIP codes include Bedford-Stuyvesant (West)/Clinton Hill/Fort Greene (11205), East Williamsburg/Williamsburg (11211 and 11249), Brighton Beach/Manhattan Beach/Sheepshead Bay (11235), Bergen Beach/Flatlands/Marine Park/Mill Basin (11234), Crown Heights (East) (11213), Kensington/Windsor Terrace (11218), Rego Park (11374), Fresh Meadows/Hillcrest (11366), Hillcrest/Jamaica Estates/Jamaica Hills (11432), Auburndale/Fresh Meadows/Pomonok/Utopia (11365), and Forest Hills (11375).
WINDSOR TERRACE — President Donald Trump departed the hospital shortly after 6:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, wearing a mask and giving a thumbs up, following a weekend of medical treatments for COVID-19 virus.
I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!
Trump’s departure aboard a Marine One helicopter was shown in live streaming on numerous media outlets broadcasting from outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.
Trump had tweeted earlier Monday that he’d be leaving the hospital at 6:30 p.m. He emerged at 6:39 pm., wearing a blue suit and blue-striped tie.
Camera shutters clicked away as a few reporters shouted questions. The president only said, “Thank you,” before stopping briefly alongside a Secret Service vehicle to give another thumbs up to the media.
The helicopter lifted off at 6:46 p.m. for the flight back to the White House.
Trump spent the weekend at the medical center after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.
“I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 p.m.,” Trump wrote on Twitter at 2:37 PM on Monday, Oct. 5. “Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
The Associated Press, meanwhile, reported that Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, said the president “may not entirely be out of the woods yet.”
Conley added, however, that members of the president’s medical team “agree that all our evaluations and, most importantly, his clinical status support the president’s safe return home, where he’ll be surrounded by world-class medical care.”
Doctors also said Trump would continue receiving treatments at the White House, according to the AP.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Bringing the Vatican official in charge of translations with him, Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship,” at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi, source of the document’s title and inspiration.
After celebrating Mass at St. Francis’ tomb Oct. 3, the eve of the saint’s feast day, Pope Francis called up Msgr. Paolo Braida and explained to the small congregation that the monsignor is in charge of “translations and the speeches of the pope” in the Vatican Secretariat of State.
“He watches over everything and that’s why I wanted him to be here today,” Pope Francis said. He also brought with him the Spanish official who oversaw the accuracy of the various translations and the official who translated the text from Spanish into Portuguese.
The Holy Father set the text on the altar under the tomb of St. Francis and signed it.
The encyclical was scheduled to be released to the public Oct. 4 just after midday.
Pope Francis arrived late for the Mass in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Francis after making a brief stop in Assisi at the Basilica of St. Clare, which houses the tomb of the close follower of St. Francis and founder of the Poor Clares.
Pope Francis did not give a homily during the Mass, simply praying silently for several minutes after the reading of the Gospel. The text was that prescribed for the feast of St. Francis, Matthew 11:25-30, which begins, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”
Because of measures designed to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the Mass was described as “private.” Only about two dozen people were in the small crypt chapel; they sat socially distanced, one person in each pew, and wore masks.
Several Franciscan sisters were present, as were the ministers general of the main Franciscan orders of men: Father Michael Perry, minister general of the Franciscans; Father Roberto Genuin, minister general of the Capuchins; and Father Amando Trujillo Cano, minister general of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis.
What could this positive coronavirus test result mean medically for President Trump and his campaign moving forward?
Doctor Robert Tiballi, infectious disease specialist and member of the Catholic Medical Association, joins Currents News with his opinion on how Trump’s diagnosis could impact the 2020 elections.
Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.
Some of the top stories on this newscast:
What’s next for President Trump? With four weeks to go until Election Day, questions are swirling about how his campaign will have to adjust to his COVID-19 diagnosis.
Infectious disease specialist Doctor Robert Taballi talks to Currents News about the president’s positive test.
Plus, before his diagnosis, President Trump and his opponent courted the Catholics at this year’s virtual Alfred Smith Memorial Foundation dinner.
Friday marks the “October Surprise” that was a surprise to everyone, even President Donald Trump. He and the first Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19, just 32 days away from the election.
Political expert Brian Browne from St. John’s University explains that this could be a big blow to President Trump’s campaign.
“An important part of the Trump brand is public rallies, outdoors, lots of people, and that has now been taken away so this really changes the dynamic,” he explained. “It changes how they’re going to message things.”
The week leading up to his diagnosis, the president was busy on the campaign trail. He has appearances in New Jersey, Minnesota and Ohio where the first presidential debate of 2020 was held.
The White House says he did travel to New Jersey after learning one of his top aides, Hope Hicks, had tested positive for COVID.
“It was deemed safe for the president to go. He socially distanced. It was an outdoor event and it was deemed safe by White House operations,” Explained White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany.
Since Trump’s positive test, he has removed himself from the campaign trail and his events have been cancelled or made virtual.
For now, his campaign strategy remains a mystery, as does what will happen to the second debate which is scheduled for October 15.
“I’ve already heard some conversation perhaps it could be moved remotely,” explained Brian, “If we don’t have the ability to judge these candidates on stage like we do during a normal campaign, it’s really a disservice, it’s a shortcoming of the campaign.”
There’s one question on everyone’s mind: What happens if the President is unable to continue on the campaign, especially now that many ballots have already been sent out with his name on them?
“That really would be unprecedented, any votes that have been cast for President Trump would go to the Republican nominee, who in this case would almost certainly be Vice President Mike Pence,” said Brian. “God willing, we don’t come to that point.”
Speaking with Sean Hannity on Fox New, President Trump suggested Hicks might have contracted the virus from meet and greets with the military and law enforcement.
Sandwich guru Mike Viola joins Msgr. Jamie in the season premiere to make 3 deluxe sandwiches unlike anything you’ve ever seen! Tune in to learn how to make Italian-style grilled ham and cheese, Moroccan roast beef, and more!
This upcoming weekend, Pope Francis is set to make his first visit outside of Rome since the pandemic put Italy on lockdown. It will mark a very important occasion, as he will sign his new encyclical.
The Holy Father is set to celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi. He will sign the encyclical right after.
Brother Joseph Bach of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn explained that the trip, which is scheduled for October 3, holds deep significance.
“He’s going on the day that we celebrate the Transitus, or the passing of St. Francis in our Franciscan family,” Brother Bach told Currents News
Francis is the first Pope to be named after St. Francis.
The encyclical is said to be on human fraternity, recognizing each other as brothers and sisters.
“For Francis, this whole concept of ‘fraternitas’ meant that we were all brothers and sisters. And without distinction we were all equal. So, I think it sends a very important message for the whole and for our Church right now,” explained Brother Bach.
Brother Bach added that it’s a message that’s especially important as the world deals with the fall out of the pandemic.
This will be the Holy Father’s third encyclical, named “Fratelli Tutti’ — words that come from St. Francis. This is also true of Pope Francis’ second encyclical, “Laudato Si.’”
The trip itself will look very different from a normal papal trip: it will be private and not open to the faithful. Pope Francis will return to the Vatican right after.
