Coronavirus Impels Vatican to Postpone Two Big Events

Currents News Staff

So far, the main impact of the coronavirus outbreak in Rome has been the three-day closing of an important church.

Now, even large Vatican events that have been in the works for months are being postponed. One of them is the long-anticipated “Economy of Francesco.”

“The idea was to call those attending to shape tomorrow’s economy and make a pact with them to change this world. The pope wanted to engage with young people because they still have the possibility of bringing about change,” said Luigino Bruni, professor, LUMSA University (Rome).

The event will take place in Assisi in November, 2020, instead of in March, as originally planned. The pope is expected to speak to the 2,000 participants representing 115 different countries, on Nov. 21.

That’s not all. The “Global Compact of Education,” originally set for May, has been postponed to Oct. 11-18. The Vatican invited religious, cultural and political leaders from around the world to fix what the pope called a broken global educational pact.

“The educational pact shouldn’t simply be a set of rules. It shouldn’t be a “reconstruction” of the positivism we have received from the Enlightenment. It needs to be revolutionary,” said Pope Francis.

The objective is to make education more equitable and relevant to the different needs of economies and societies around the world.

The event was to include an “educational village” built on the main street leading to St. Peter’s Square, to showcase experiences and spark debates and meetings with young people, students and families. The new pact will be signed on Oct. 15.

Currents News full broadcast for Tues, 3/3/20

On the newscast: Prayers for Tennessee – after a devastating and deadly tornado strikes in the middle of the night; New community-based case of coronavirus in New York and the plan now in place for schools in the Brooklyn Diocese; The healing pools at the Lourdes shrine are closed as a precaution against the virus; And details on the donation from Catholic Charities that is making a profound impact on students in need.

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These Are the Coronavirus Precautions Being Taken in Catholic Schools

By Tim Harfmann

Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens are on alert, taking action to make sure everyone — teachers and students alike — are better protected against coronavirus.

“We were receiving many calls and concerns from principals, of teachers, staff and students returning from traveling abroad; and parents were expressing concern,” said Joan McMaster of the Superintendent of Schools Office in the Brooklyn Diocese.

The Superintendent of Schools for the diocese, Dr. Tom Chadzutko, is now requiring everyone coming back to school from abroad to go to the doctor first.

Students and staff will need medical clearance before being allowed back into class.

At the same time, other precautions are happening full-time.

“The schools are cleaned every evening,” explained McMaster. “All schools are cleaned and sanitized. The children are reminded to cough into your elbow, use tissues and wash your hands as frequently as possible.”

The diocesan Catholic school system is not alone in taking on the virus outbreak.

The MTA is also taking precautions against the coronavirus, disinfecting buses and trains to make sure commuters are safe.

Subway workers are wiping down turnstiles, Metrocard machines and handrails daily.

The entire fleet of subway cars and all the city’s buses are being disinfected every three days.

Passengers are now hoping the next train is the only thing they’ll catch.

“I think it’s definitely good to be cautious,” said one commuter.

“I saw them,” said another. “They looked like they were scrubbing a white substance around the garbage.”

They hope it will help.

“All I can say is, I hope for humanity’s sake,” they added.

Catholic Charities Donates Washer/Dryer to Public School

By Emily Drooby

A washer and dryer are a miracle for many at P.S. 132 in Manhattan — ones that came from Catholic Charities.

At the Washington Heights grade school, almost a quarter of the students are homeless or housing insecure. They’re not alone, in New York City public schools, one in every ten students is homeless.

B”Many of us take for granted that we can wash our clothes, and we do it every day if we want to, go to the laundromat, go to our basement. But it was not something that could happen for many of the families here,” explained Beatriz Diaz Taveras, the executive director of Catholic Charities Community New York explained.

When a family is homeless or housing insecure, finding a way to do laundry can be impossible.

Soraya Rodriguez, a parent at P.S. 132, said that can be difficult for kids. “They don’t want to come to school because they feel like, ‘They’re clean, we’re not that clean. We’re kind of dirty,’ and emotionally it’s more important to make sure they’re excited to come to school.”

The school’s principal, Wendy Poveda, said it was affecting attendance.

“When I would ask students, ‘Why weren’t you at school? We missed you,’ [they would say] ‘My uniform was dirty.’”

In the past, to help students staff members would wash clothes at their homes, but Principal Poveda knew they needed a more permanent fix.

She reached out to Catholic Charities of New York’s Alianza Youth Services, who donated the machines.

The room comes fully stocked with laundry baskets detergent and even dryer sheets. The school is accepting detergent, dryer sheets and more.

Catholic Charities is now in talks with a few other yet-to-be-named schools to create similar programs.

Millions of Voters Head to Polls on Super Tuesday

Currents News Staff

Millions of Americans are headed to the polls in 14 states and one U.S. territory in the biggest cluster of presidential nominating contest to date, known as “Super Tuesday.”

A full third of the total Democratic delegates are up for grabs in a race that has completely changed overnight.

It has been a major boost for presidential candidate Joe Biden, who earned three endorsements on the eve of Super Tuesday.

“I’m encouraging everybody who was part of my campaign to join me because we have found that leader in vice president, soon-to-be president Joe Biden,” said Pete Buttigieg, who ended his campaign and threw his support behind the candidate.

Following suit was Beto O’Rourke, who said, “We need somebody who can beat Donald Trump, and in Joe Biden we have that man.”

As did Senator Amy Klobuchar, who said, “I am ending my campaign and endorsing Joe Biden for president.”

One time rivals, all three joined Biden in a show of force to consolidate the moderate lane behind the former vice president.

“Look folks, this time we’ve got to bring along everybody: Democrats, Republicans, Independents,” Biden said. “That’s why I’m so excited about Amy’s endorsement of our campaign and Mayor Pete who endorsed our campaign earlier, we’ll thank him as well.”

Biden borrowed the rallying cry of some of his former rivals to explain why he’s a better choice than frontrunner Bernie Sanders.

“I think what it’s going to all be about with me and Bernie, is that I don’t think people are looking for revolution. I think they’re looking for results.”

Meanwhile, Sanders made a call to unity, saying, “to all the millions of Amy and Pete’s supporters, the door is open, come on in.”

Sanders called out the political establishment endorsing Biden.

“From day one we have been taking on the establishment,” he said. “Let me be very clear, it is no surprise they do not want me to become president. There is a massive effort trying to stop Bernie Sanders. They are really getting nervous that working people are standing up.”

Elizabeth Warren is vowing to stay in the race until the convention this summer.

“This is about both beating Donald Trump and about delivering real change in January 2021. That’s why I laid out all of the plans in such detail, and showed how we can pay for it and build alliances and actually get it done. I’m in this fight to win and make real change.”

For the first time, billionaire Michael Bloomberg will be on the ballot. He has spent millions trying to emerge as a top contender in Super Tuesday states.

“I can beat Donald trump, and I don’t know that any of the other Democratic candidates can. And I am ready for the job, and I don’t think any of the others are,” he said.

The biggest prize of the day is California, with over 400 delegates at stake. Polls there close at 11 p.m. eastern time.

Pope Francis Tests Negative for the Coronavirus

By Melissa Butz

Eighty-three-year-old Pope Francis, who has been suffering from a cold for nearly a week now, has tested negative for the coronavirus.

The Vatican did not comment on the diagnosis, but last week said the Pope was feeling “slightly unwell.”

Even with his cold, Pope Francis prayed the Angelus on Sunday and greeted people during the few meetings he had last week, including at the General Audience.

However, for the first time, the Pope did not attend his spiritual exercises out of Rome. They were scheduled this week, from Sunday to Friday. Instead, he is participating from his home at Casa Santa Marta, inside the Vatican.

By resting in this way, he is hoping to make a full recovery and pick up his normal schedule next week.

In Italy, out of more than 2,000 infected, 52 have died from the disease, while 149 have been cured.

Vatican Unveils Secret Archives On War-Time Pope Pius XII

By Melissa Butz

Secrets surrounding the controversial papacy of Pius the XII are being revealed to the world from the Vatican’s archives.

Church historians are expecting a clear understanding of the pope’s work to protect the Jewish people against the Nazi Holocaust.

The 52 miles contained in the Vatican’s Apostolic Archives have opened, for scholars and researchers to study the documents on Pope Pius XII from March 1939 to October 1958.

The goal is to better understand the Holy Father’s role during World War II. Critics claim he didn’t do enough, but the record shows Pope Pius XII not only confronted the Nazis, but hid people of Jewish faith in Rome.

“The person itself of Pius XII will come out in a different way, of course, because there are answers to questions that are open today,” explained Dr. Johan Ickx, head of Vatican secretary of state archives.

The archives were scheduled to open in 2028, 70 years after his papacy, as is Vatican policy. But Pope Francis moved it up eight years, due to prejudice surrounding the persona of Pope Pius XII.

“With a serene and confident mind, sure that serious and objective historical research will be able to evaluate, in the proper light and with appropriate criticism, the praiseworthy moments of the Pontiff. Without any doubt, also moments of serious difficulties,” said Pope Francis.

For 14 years, 20 scholars have been classifying the documents, preparing for the opening. More than 3,000 boxes contain millions of documents on Pope Pius XII.

The researchers are eager to dive into the documents, including correspondences with ambassadors and letters informing him of Nazi concentration camps.

Pope Francis has said “the Church is not afraid of history” and hopes this glance into the past will display the Holy See’s humanitarian, religious and political efforts during World War II.

In 2009, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI declared Pope Pius XII venerable, advancing his cause for sainthood.

But the cause has not moved forward, since Pope Pius XII lacks the two miracles needed for beatification and canonization.

After these archives are examined, perhaps something could be found for his cause.

A Look at Archbishop Nelson Perez’s New Role in Philadelphia

Taking Philadelphia by storm is their new Archbishop, Nelson Perez.

The former Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and head of the Diocese of Cleveland was installed as Philadelphia’s archbishop almost two weeks ago.

He is Philadelphia’s first Hispanic archbishop. According to catholicphilly.com, there are an estimated 82,000 Catholics in the archdiocese who are of Latino or Hispanic origin.

Among the U.S. bishops, Archbishop Perez is also the Chairman of their Committee on Cultural Diversity, and was very involved with the V Encuentro, a process that looked to increase Hispanic ministry in the Church.

Archbishop Perez Currents News from Philadelphia to talk about his new role, the Church in Philadelphia today and how he plans to minister to the Pennsylvania community.

Currents News full broadcast for Monday, 3/2/20

On the newscast: A lingering cold is keeping the Holy Father from attending an annual Lenten retreat; Coronavirus hits New York City: A woman who just returned from Iran is diagnosed. Governor Cuomo and Mayor De Blasio react; Jack Welsh – a retired Catholic businessman who built General Electric into a powerhouse – has died; And the story behind a Rembrandt painting brought back to Rome after 200 years.

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Pope Francis to Name Nine Brooklyn Priests Monsignors

Currents News Staff

Pope Francis is granting big honors to nine priests in the Brooklyn Diocese.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio announced March 2 today that the Holy Father is conferring the title “Chaplain of His Holiness” upon the clergy, it’s an honor that carries the title of Reverend Monsignor.

The priests are:

Monsignor Richard Ahlemeyer

Monsignor Joseph Cunningham

Monsignor Edward Doran

Monsignor Casper Furnari

Monsignor John Gildea

Monsignor John Harrington

Monsignor William Hoppe

Monsignor Raymond Roden

Monsignor John Vesey

The date for when the honors are bestowed will be announced later.