Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.
Some of the top stories on this newscast:
Three Catholic women are taking Bay Ridge by storm raising money to help beat cancer and support those still fighting.
The Diocese of Rockville Centre files for bankruptcy protection because of sexual abuse lawsuits.
Pope Francis is about to take his first trip outside of Rome since the pandemic began – he’s going to Assisi to sign his new encyclical.
By Emily Drooby
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.
Currents News Staff
One-hundred-and-fifty million rapid COVID-19 tests are now set to be deployed to all 50 states.
Scott Atlas, White House COVID-19 adviser and doctor says the tests won’t require any kind of machine.
“It’s very rapid,” Scott said. “This is not one of those deep swab things that people are reluctant to use.”
Brett Giroir from the White House Coronavirus Task Force says it will require drops of liquid and shares the process.
“It almost could not be easier,” says Brett. “It starts with six drops of liquid onto a piece of paper … ‘One, two, three, four, five … One, two, three, four, five … into the test, twist it three times. The adhesive is pulled off and you wait 15 minutes and that is the test.”
President Trump said 50 million tests will be sent to communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
“18 million for nursing homes, 15 million for assisted living facilities, 10 million for home health and hospice care agencies,” Trump says, “and nearly 1 million for historically black colleges and universities and also tribal nation colleges.”
Critics say this is only a small step forward.
“It’s probably not enough,” says Ashish Jha, doctor and dean of Brown University School of Public Health. “We need a lot more.”
“I would rather see 150 million a day not a month,” says William Haseltine, president of ACCESS Health International. “We need to be close to a time where everybody in America can have a rapid test for free from the government to test their family.”
By Jessica Easthope
For Jeanine Condon, her battle with cancer feels like a lifetime ago.
“I was 27 at the time and it was hard, I had stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma I was in the hospital for a month,” she told Currents News. “I did eight months of chemo, lost my hair and it was a hard time,” Jeanine, a co-owner of Charmed by J L M in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, added.
But she’s never stopped fighting for survivors and those still battling cancer.
“I believe God gives you things you can handle,” Jeanine said.
On Saturday, 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, will be a sea of pink for “3rd on 3rd,” a breast cancer fundraiser with businesses donating proceeds and giving back. Jeanine and her store will be participating.
Chrisie Canny is the event’s organizer. She also has a line of bracelets that help cancer patients in a unique way. Her company is called “Vented” and the bracelets she makes hold essential oils like peppermint and lavender. The scents come through small vents in the front of the bracelets and help cancer patients with the nausea they commonly feel while undergoing treatment.
Her mission is not only to support those affected by cancer but also the local businesses who have struggled during the pandemic.
“What this weekend usually is the 3rd Avenue Festival, it’s a big money weekend,” she explained. “But unfortunately, because of COVID we can’t have that. So this is a way to bring everybody safely and make up for some losses.”
One of the participating businesses is The Green Spa & Wellness Center. Co-owner Maureen Brody just celebrated one year cancer-free. During her cancer journey, Maureen created a product that made her treatment easier and has since helped countless others.
“I created a cream for myself while going through radiation to help prevent burns, and afterwards people came to me and asked if I could give them some for others they knew who were going through it as well,” Maureen said.
Maureen says that since her diagnosis, her faith has only gotten stronger.
“It actually brought me closer to God,” she said. “You need all the support you can get, and it very much strengthened my faith during that time.”
The three women are all about giving back. It’s what keeps their Brooklyn roots rooted in faith.
Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.
Some of the top stories on this newscast:
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Rome meeting with church leaders over the renewal of an agreement between the Vatican and China.
The first presidential debate devolves into a chaotic shouting match between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
Saint Michael’s Church in Flushing welcomes dozens of people of faith into the Catholic Church.
Currents News Staff
Insults and interruptions seemed to be the theme of the Sept. 29 Presidential Election debate.
Political expert Brian Browne from St. John’s University joins Currents News to give his take on the debate debacle.
By Emily Drooby
Contentious is the only way to describe Sept. 29’s debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
The Tuesday night debate started off seemingly strong as the candidates discussed Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.
Biden argued that it’s too close to an election to choose, while Trump argued it’s that his right.
“I’m not opposing the justice, she seems like a very fine person,” said Biden of Barrett. “We should wait and see what the outcome of this election is,” he added.
“We won the election, and therefore we have the right to choose her,” Trump.
Barrett is a conservative, pro-life Catholic.
From there, the debate started to unravel. It became a series of name-calling and rude exchanges.
Biden called the President a “clown” and further called him “the worst president we have ever had.”
Then, Trump insulted Biden’s intelligence, saying, “He graduated either the lowest or almost the lowest in your class. Don’t ever use the word ‘smart’ with me, don’t ever use the word. Because you know what, there is nothing smart about you Joe.”
In addition to the Supreme Court pick, moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News attempted to steer the candidates through five additional topics; their records, COVID-19, the economy, election integrity, and race and violence.
Speaking during the race and violence section, Biden said, “This is a president who has used everything as a dog whistle to try to generate racist hatred, racist division.”
Trump responded with, “We believe in Law and Order, but you don’t.”
Trump also disputed recent claims that he paid little to no income tax. He claimed he has paid “millions of dollars in taxes and millions of dollars in income taxes.”
Wallace had trouble keeping order in the debate — the issues seemed overshadowed by the hostile and chaotic tone.
The next debate is scheduled for October 15 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
By Claudia Torres
The U.S. Embassy to the Holy See is holding a symposium in Rome on “Advancing and Defending International Religious Freedom Through Diplomacy,” highlighting the mutual commitment of the United States and the Vatican to fight for basic human rights around the globe.
To that end, controversy is mounting over the Holy See’s intention to renew a two-year provisional agreement with China regarding the nomination of bishops. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opposes the extension, and criticized China several times during the conference.
“Nowhere is religious freedom under assault more than it is inside of China today,” Pompeo said. “That’s because, as with all communist regimes, the Chinese Communist Party deems itself the ultimate moral authority.”
He added that, “an increasingly repressive CCP, frightened by its own lack of democratic legitimacy, works day and night to snuff out the lamp of freedom, especially religious freedom, on a horrifying scale.”
Following the symposium, Pompeo’s comments prompted Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to respond to questions regarding the Holy See’s agreement with China, saying the Vatican prefers a politics of “small steps.”
“We believe that every result — even if it isn’t striking, even if it isn’t eye-catching, even if, at first, perhaps it seems to not yield big results — is however, a step forward, toward the affirmation also of greater religious freedom,” Cardinal Pietro says.
The Vatican continues to defend its position on China, though many Catholics are concerned that the agreement could make things worse for the faithful in the communist country.
And though Pompeo did not meet with Pope Francis, the symposium underlines the United States and the Holy See’s common goal to defend religious freedom.
Host Anthony Mangano heads to Marine Park, Brooklyn to check out and interview owners from local landmarks such as Brennan and Carr to Michael’s Restaurant. Then after spending time with the owners, he heads down to Good Shepherd Church to get a history lesson from Fr. Thomas Doyle.
By Jessica Easthope
Last school year when Cathedral Prep was holding classes online, the students’ days started very differently than they do now. But there’s one thing that’s back to normal: every morning Principal Richie Diaz and President Father James Kuroly are outside to fist-bump and greet all 160 students. The personal touch is part of what makes the school so special.
“It’s very heartwarming in all honesty, it’s nice to see them every morning and hear, ‘How was your day?’ and ‘How was your weekend,” said Ronicio Cervantes, a freshman at Cathedral Prep.
With students, parents and teachers on board, Cathedral Prep began this school year together. It’s the only school in the Brooklyn Diocese that has an all in-person school day. They make it work with a big school, small classes and some chalk.
“Everything this place taught me — about not only academics but character development and formation — is what I hope to pass onto them as their principal, said Diaz, “and the fact that we can do in person instruction makes that possible.”
While taking every precaution possible to stay safe, the day starts like every other: with Mass. Cathedral Prep’s focus on an intense curriculum is clear, but the school is just as serious about faith.
“The brotherhood that exists and the spiritual program of challenging our young men to hero virtue, all of those things have to take place when they are in person inside this building,” said Father Kuroly.
For the students, faith is what’s getting them through these uncertain times.
“Showing how we’re all here together and making the best of this, it really shows that we are supposed to have faith,” said Joshua Lall, a junior at the school.
In-person learning at Cathedral Prep goes hand-in-hand with the sense of home the students feel when they walk through the halls. That feeling is what’s getting Ronicio Cervantes through his first weeks of high school.
“It just lets us feel human again, we get to be with people, talk with people,” said Ronicio.
So when it comes to this ambitious school model and living out Cathedral Prep’s mission of “Forming Men for Greatness,” it’s personal.