What Will the Economy Look Like Post-COVID-19? Fox Business’ Elizabeth MacDonald Says Expect a Shift

Currents News Staff

With all U.S. states now partially reopened, the big question now is how to get the American economy running at full-steam once again, and how to do it safely.

The Federal Reserve is sounding the alarm over permanent damage to the U.S. economy because of coronavirus-related lockdowns.

More than 38 million American jobs have disappeared in just a matter of weeks. Will they come back, or are many gone forever?

This crisis may have pointed out a glaring weakness in the United States: the lack of an American manufacturing base.

Joining Currents News to talk more about what she calls the “Great Suppression” is Elizabeth MacDonald, host of Fox Business Network’s “The Evening Edit,” seen weeknights at 6 p.m.

Elizabeth has been looking to entrepreneurs as the *key group* to lead the country out of this financial crisis. She offers her insight on what they’ll be able to accomplish during these times.

Maryknoll Religious Community Works Towards Healing After Losing Nuns and Priests to COVID-19

Currents News Staff

Religious communities have been hard hit by the coronavirus, especially the Maryknoll community in Westchester County, New York, where three nuns and ten priests have died.

The Maryknoll community lives incredible lives of faith as missionaries who have done so much good in the world, and every night they join Americans in honoring those now on the frontline by ringing their church bells at 7 p.m.

Father Raymond Finch, the Superior General of Fathers and Brothers at Maryknoll, shares what it’s been like to see religious nuns and priests who survived so much in their lives, only to pass from the coronavirus.

Archdiocese of New York Announces ‘Faith Forward’ Plan to Reopen Area Churches

By Christopher White, National Correspondent

NEW YORK — Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn are making plans for Catholics to return to Mass and the sacraments in a way that cares for both the “souls and bodies of our people.”

During a joint press conference on May 21, held at the Church of Our Savior in Manhattan, the leaders of the two dioceses said that religious gatherings are “essential services for the wellbeing of people.”

The New York cardinal applauded area Catholics for their “constant allegiance to the very wise restrictions of our respected healthcare professionals and elected officials,” but said it was time to make plans for a gradual return to an adjusted normal.

The current “NY Forward” program managed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, which outlines the necessary steps for re-opening the state, does not outline a process for how houses of worship can reopen their doors. In response, the archdiocese has proposed a five-phased plan, titled “Faith Forward,” which outlines various stages to precede the eventual full resumption of Masses and sacraments.

Bishop DiMarzio said that the Diocese of Brooklyn will be releasing a similar plan in coming days, which is being overseen by Joe Esposito, the former Emergency Management commissioner for the City of New York and a parishioner in the diocese.

Phase One of the Archdiocese of New York’s plan begins with the opening of churches for private prayer and confessions, followed by a phase allowing for baptisms and marriages limited to 10 attendees. Phase Three will allow for the distribution of communion outside of Mass, followed by a phase allowing for daily masses and funeral masses with limited attendance, and the eventual final phase will include the celebration of Sunday Mass with supervised protocols.

Cardinal Dolan said that he anticipates a one- to two-week period of time in between each stage.

Among the specific plans outlined for returning to services are the regular sanitation and disinfecting of churches, a ban on physical contact, spaced seating for individuals, couples, and families, the emptying of Holy Water and baptismal fonts, the installation of hand sanitizers at church entrances, and the temporary cessation of all non-essential gatherings, such as coffee hours or children’s groups.

Attendance at each individual Mass will be limited to no more than 25 percent of a church’s capacity. The archdiocese noted that the proposed plan follows the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), while “at the same time, respects our traditions.”

Meanwhile, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is suspended until further notice and those who are feeling sick are asked not to attend services.

During the May 21 press conference, Bishop DiMarzio said that Church leaders have been “prudent and careful not to begin services when it would be imprudent” and could negatively affect the health of those who attended the services.

Both Cardinal Dolan and Bishop DiMarzio said that the re-opening will look different “region by region, parish by parish,” noting that parishes in upstate New York counties of the Archdiocese of New York will be better suited to re-open at a faster pace than many of the urban parishes.

“Our people have been remarkably accommodating,” said Cardinal Dolan, of the ban on public Masses and sacraments since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of in-person Masses in mid-March.

“Since the outset of the COVID-19 crisis in the New York region, our churches have been closed to public worship,” states the official guidelines for the “Faith Forward” plan. “This was, indeed, a sad but necessary step to take for the health and safety of our parishioners and local communities. And it has worked.”

Although he would not commit to an exact start date for a return to Sunday Mass, the cardinal said that six weeks “would be good.”

“We will not preempt things,” Bishop DiMarzio added. “We will be cautious, but at the same time we will try to push as much as possible.”

Catholic Headlines for Wednesday, 5/20/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

With money being tight for some families, a Catholic education can be costly. One school is going the extra mile to make sure kids can still attend while their parents are out of work.

The March of Dimes is fighting for babies and moms so they can have the right care in the midst of this crushing pandemic.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is clearing the way for people to worship God together again. Churches will be open, but where?

A dramatic test-run shows how quickly the coronavirus can be spread while breaking bread. It may be awhile until you sit down at a restaurant, but you’ll want to watch the test results.

New Jersey Bishop David O’Connell is leading the charge against Congress’ move to cut aid to Catholic schools, and he’s speaking out about it.

Julie Chen Among Alumni From St. Francis Prep Stepping in to Help Students Make Tuition During COVID

By Jessica Easthope

From the outside St. Francis Prep looks like an ordinary high school, the people who have walked its halls are anything but.

“I am so proud of our alumni and what they are doing for the current population,” said Brother Leonard Conway, the President of St. Francis Prep.

Brother Conway’s job has changed dramatically over the last few months.

“The idea came about because of a number of phone calls we were receiving from parents saying they were already experiencing financial difficulty because of Coronavirus, several have lost jobs,” said Brother Leonard.

That’s when he made decision that would change lives, it did for Allison, a parent with two children at the school.

“It’s a blessing we never thought would happen,” Allison said.

After Allison’s husband contracted coronavirus in March, she found herself not knowing how she would pay the $10,000 tuition to keep her kids in the school they love so much.

“I reached out to Brother Leonard to say we might need a little time, my husband now is out of work, I have a business of 20 years that’s closed down and here we were in 5 weeks our whole world just fell apart,” Allison said.

Brother Leonard didn’t give her time, he gave her something more: he told her don’t worry about it.

“I said to Brother Leonard this phone call you made to me is life-changing and there’s no way to even thank someone for that,” Allison said.

Borne out of the need of so many Prep families came the TerrierSTAR Fund, a way to collect donations from alumni to keep children in the school, even if their parents have lost jobs or are suffering financially. Some donations came in and then one Prep graduate stepped up in a big way.

“I don’t want any kid not being able to return to Prep in the fall because of a lack of funds, that’s just not going to happen,” said Julie Chen, CBS anchor and host of Big Brother.

Julie made an offer that showed she’s never let go of the Franciscan values she learned at Prep.

“I will match every single donation, there’s no cap on this,” Julie said.

Julie said the inspiration to help started back in her Prep days.

“That Good Samaritan story that I first read about and studied when I was a sophomore at St Francis Prep has come full circle now,” Julie said. “And that will always stay with me.”

Trenton, New Jersey’s Bishop David O’Connell Says The Heroes Act Will Put Catholic Schools at Risk

Currents News Staff

A new aid package passed by the House is getting pushback from Catholic leaders. The “Heroes Act” would cut most benefits to Catholic schools.

Trenton, New Jersey’s Bishop David O’Connell has been speaking out against the bill. He wrote Catholics in his diocese about it, saying it has a lot of good things, but also some problematic areas.

Fifty-two hundred Catholics from his diocese also wrote in, state Catholic conferences mobilized around it, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops even helped write to Congress.

This bill isn’t expected to be passed through the Senate. Bishop O’Connell shares his insight on the bill’s pros and cons, and his thoughts on what an emergency relief fund bill might look like.

March of Dimes Restructures Fundraising Walk During Pandemic to Support Research on Premature Birth

By Emily Drooby

The Quaglione Family went out for a walk, not just for the fresh air or exercise, but for babies.

“I like knowing that people are actually raising money and walking around their house for the kids who are born in the NICU like me,” explained their oldest daughter, Natalie.

Back in 2011, Kerry Quaglione was 32-weeks into her pregnancy when she realized something was wrong.

“I picked her up from work, she wasn’t feeling well,” her husband John explained.

The family eventually made their way to the hospital, where Natalie was born later that night. She was eight weeks early.

“Everybody has a baby and two or three days later, now it’s even faster, they go home, so he said she will probably be there for 6 weeks in the NICU,” explained John.

Natalie was in the hospital for 13 terrifying days, but she made it home safely. Soon after John – who’s the deputy press secretary for the Diocese of Brooklyn, came across a commercial for March of Dimes.

John explained, “And I said to my wife that morning, next year I want to do it.”

The march was started by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the late 1930’s. Funds the nonprofit raised led to the creation of the polio vaccine. They eventually shifted their focus to helping women have healthy pregnancies and babies.

The Quaglione family got involved back in 2013. They have raised thousands of dollars through their yearly walk. Eventually, trouble struck again when their second daughter, Olivia, was also born prematurely.

“At first we saw signs that it could have been around 25, 26, 27 weeks which it would have been very dangerous,” said John.

She was born at 36 weeks, only one week early. John credits medicine funded by March of Dimes research for helping save his baby.

This makes the March of Dimes even more important to the family. Despite the pandemic this year, they wanted to continue to support the cause. So, they took part in a virtual walk, where they raised funds online and walked on their own.

Amy Bishop’s family has also been involved with the nonprofit for years. Her twins were born 10 weeks early.

Amy and her family also participated in the virtual walk this year. She says parents of premature babies need more support than ever these days.

“It’s also just letting these women and their families know that they’re not alone and that people have been through it and there’s people there for you,” said Amy.

Both the Bishop and the Quaglione families proving that even a pandemic can’t stop people from supporting a cause close to their heart.

Catholic Headlines for Tuesday, 5/19/20 (Currents News full broadcast)

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

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

A Catholic educator is taking action and taking to the supermarkets during the pandemic, delivering groceries in one of New York’s hardest hit neighborhoods.

Millions of Americans are worried about keeping their homes. Tempers were flaring at a virtual hearing on saving the economy.

Should President Trump be taking hydroxychloroquine? He thinks so. We ask the doctor if it’s a good idea.

One man was given another chance at life. His strong Catholic faith helped him though COVID-19, and now he’s on a mission to repay God’s good graces.

Maryknoll Missionaries have survived some of the most dangerous places in the world, only for some to fall to the virus back in New York.

President Trump Is Taking Hydroxychloroquine. Should We? Let’s Ask the Doctor.

Currents News Staff

Social media blew up after President Trump announced he was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure against the coronavirus.

The drug has a multitude of uses, but the FDA has warned of serious, negative side effects.

The president is in the age group which would be considered high risk for the virus, but his doctor noted that Trump is in very good health, and wrote a letter saying the potential benefit from treatment outweighed the relative risks.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went on the attack, and so did many others.

Dr. Robert Tiballi from the Catholic Medical Association joins Currents News to offer his insight on use of this medication during the pandemic.

Former Professional Baseball Player ‘Put It All in God’s Hands’ to Survive COVID-19

By Jessica Easthope

Dan Venezia is not what you picture when you think of someone who could fall victim to coronavirus.

He’s strong, in shape and a former professional athlete, but none of that mattered when Dan contracted COVID-19 last month and was being wheeled into the emergency room, gasping for air.

“After three days of aches and pains I had a 103 fever, a dry cough, shortness of breath, I had just about every symptom you read and hear about,” said Dan.

Pleading with God, Dan made a promise in his darkest hour.

“I want to be able to help more, I want to be able to give more and shine your light on the darkness,” Dan said.

It would be his mission to spread a message of hope and faith, if he made it out.

“I’m very grateful to be able to share this story in an effort to help others who are not only struggling with the disease,” Dan said,” but to inspire others to be closer to God.”

Dan’s faith has always been strong. Having grown up in a Catholic family in Brooklyn and attended Our Lady of Angels, he credits his mother with building his religious foundation. That foundation carried him to see his dreams come true, playing three seasons with the Minnesota Twins.

Now Dan’s getting back to his roots during recovery. Though he says his background as a personal trainer and former pro-athlete, as well as hydroxychloroquine played a role in overcoming the virus, it was his faith and the power of prayer that pulled him through.

“When you put it all in God’s hands you give him every victory and every defeat,” Dan said.

Now he’s living his promise to God. Dan has done countless TV and radio interviews, promoted his message on Instagram and is even writing a book about his experience with COVID-19 and his faith.

He’s calling people to be proud of their belief in Christ and most importantly, come back to the Church.

“I am out there shining a light that the church is a beacon of hope, especially during a pandemic like this,” Dan said.

He told God he wasn’t done shining his light in the darkness, now his work is just beginning.