Pro-Life Laws Struck Down at State Levels Could Reach Supreme Court

By Emily Drooby

The fight for life is heating up across the U.S. as pro-life laws in several states have run into roadblocks in lower courts that could propell them to the Supreme Court.

The latest state facing the roadblock is Alabama, where a federal judge blocked a law that would end nearly all abortions in the state.

Christian Rada, the director of Respect Life Education for the Brooklyn Diocese, said that the judge’s action is actually encouraging to many pro-life advocates.

“I feel encouraged i feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

“My counterparts in Alabama have been saying that they’re encouraged by this block. They look at is as this is a way for not just the Alabama community to address the abortion issue, but more of the nation to address it,” he explained.

The decision to halt Alabama’s pro-life law could wind up before the Supreme Court, which some of the state’s politicians have made clear is the ultimate goal.

It’s also believed to be the goal of other state lawmakers in places like Georgia, Ohio and Kentucky. They’ve all passed pro-life laws against abortion that have been overturned. As appeals move forward, they hope the cases will get to the Justices on the high court. With a new conservative majority on the bench, Roe v. Wade might be reversed.

Kathleen Gallagher of the New York State Catholic Conference said that what the states are doing have helped to educate the country on the horrors of abortion, and that the fight to protect life is crucial. But, she worries that going to the Supreme Court could backfire.

“It’s risky and dangerous, because it could actually move us away from toppling row where they could further embed it into our abortion juris prudence in this country,” she explained, and that no one knows how the Justices will vote on abortion matters.

As the fight for life continues, advocates like Alice Lemos — a board member for the Queens crisis pregnancy center The Bridge To Life — remind others why the fight is important:

“Babies are the most defenseless members of our community, and if we can’t defend babies than who can we defend?”

Pope Francis Mourns Deaths from Protests in Iraq, Asks They Be Heard

Currents News Staff

Pope Francis rode around St. Peter’s Square on the Popemobile to see as many pilgrims as possible.

Before concluding the General Audience, he asked for calmness in Iraq to help resolve their problems.

Since the beginning of October, 250 people have been killed during protests against government corruption. The protesters also ask for potable water, health care and access to education.

“As I express my condolences for the victims and closeness to their families and wounded, I urge authorities to listen to the cry of the population that asks for a dignified and peaceful life. I urge all Iraqis, with the support of the international community, to pursue the path of dialogue and reconciliation and to seek the right solutions to challenges and problems of their country,” said Francis.

In his weekly catechesis, the Pope recalled that the book of the Acts of the Apostles tells the arrival of Christianity in Philippi, the first city in Europe.

The first convert was a woman named Lydia. Then, it was the jailer who watched over Paul and Silas. Both opened their homes to the apostles.

“Let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to God and welcoming to others, with a bold faith capable of breaking the chains that oppress us and others,” added the Holy Father.

While the Pope was talking, it began raining, prompting him to shorten his speech and finish early. Minutes later, the sun came back out. The storm did not ruin the party.

Officials Issue Evacuation Orders and Warnings as California Fires Continue

Currents News Staff

As California officials work to fight the wildfires burning in the state, more than 26 million are people under red flag warnings, from California to Arizona.

The Kincade and Getty fires in northern and southern California are both unpredictable, both terrifying and both forcing people to flee. They’re leaving once populated neighborhoods free from signs of life.

What’s still to come? Wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour in the north, and as high as 80 miles per hour in the south.

“Those can pick up and transfer the fire miles away sometimes,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

“The danger has not passed yet and we continue to monitor the situation,” said Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick.

Windy, dry conditions are fueling the flames, but threatening lives in a much different ways.

Up north in wine country, the Kincade fire’s flames have firefighters feeling surrounded.

Down south, highly-populated Los Angeles county has already seen homes turned to ashes.

Evacuation orders are continuing, with officials across the state sending out even stronger warnings.

“Be prepared to go at a moment’s notice,” warned Essick.

Currents News for Tuesday, October 29, 2019

On the newscast: History is made at the Vatican. Pope Francis bringing together leaders of great religions to protect life from deliberate death; The strictest Pro-Life law in the United States is being blocked tonight by a federal judge in Alabama. The case could go to the Supreme Court; An update one year after the worst massacre of Jewish people in U.S. history; And important information to know about breast cancer.

Watch weeknights at 7:00 pm EST on NET-TV in the New York City area on Spectrum, Optimum, and Fios. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications about new content.

Inspired by Faith, Catholic Girl Scout Advocates for Breast Cancer Awareness

By Tim Harfmann

Students and parents from Saint Agnes High School in College Point, Queens came together to raise awareness about breast cancer.

Amanda Bradley, a Girl Scout and a senior at St. Agnes, put a school dance together in order to earn the Gold Award: the highest honor in scouting.

The 17-year-old is an honor student and active at her parish in Elmhurst, where she’s a Eucharist minister, an altar server and a religious education teacher.

At the awareness event, Amanda shared her family’s emotional journey. “Both my grandmothers had breast cancer, so it was a topic close to my heart,” Amanda explained. One of them lost the fight against the disease before Amanda was born, but her other grandma — Marie Bradley — beat the disease.

“I’m so proud of her that she could do this, but I’m not surprised,” said Marie.

While there was a lot of fun: pink desserts, balloons and a photo booth, Amanda’s mom, Irene, pointed out that a lot of important information on breast cancer was also available.

“Everybody needs support, one way or another,” said Irene. “Whether it’s by means of resources, by means of information or just by leading an ear, it’s our Christian value.”

But the Bradley family is fighting the disease again: Amanda’s grandmother has lung cancer.

“We want to hang out more, we want to just talk more; and every moment is more special,” said Amanda.

“Right now I’m going through that, and a day at a time,” added Marie. “I’m here today, I have a lot of good people praying for me, and prayer works.”

It’s the power of prayer in the fight against cancer.

One Year Later, Jewish Faithful Remember Lives Lost at Tree of Life Synagogue

By Emily Drooby

Every day for the past year, the names of the 11 Jewish people shot to death in their Pittsburgh synagogue have been recited before the mourner’s Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead.

Joe Charny, who now attends services five days a week, often leads the prayer.

Charny is only a visitor at the Beth Shalom congregation in Pittsburg. His home synagogue – Tree of Life – remains closed.

The 91-year-old was inside when a gunman slaughtered 11 people, including seven of his friends.

“We heard a noise and I didn’t pay much attention initially. He didn’t shoot me. he started with the people who were seated,” Joe explained.

It was the deadliest anti-semitic attack on American soil.

The suspect recently offered to plead guilty in exchange for spending life in prison, but federal prosecutors rejected the offer and are seeking the death penalty.

365 days later, the building hasn’t reopened yet. In some ways, it’s become a memorial: a way to remember the victims, much like the reciting of their names.

“It feels good to recite those names, because I know I’m doing the right thing and I know that I’m doing something for me and for them at the same time,” he added.

“I’m glad we do it. I like to hear the names. I think they make a difference. And I don’t want them forgotten.”

Joe’s friend of 50 years, Judah Samet, also recites the names each day. He narrowly escaped the massacre by being stopped from walking inside by another man.

“I would be right in the middle of the shooting. So he’s the one who really saved my life,” said Judah.

It isn’t the first time he escaped death. As a child Judah was at a nazi death camp in Germany.

“In Bergen Belson, when we see somebody dead, you walked around him, out of respect. But eventually we were weakening. We stepped on them. You could hear their bones cracking. It didn’t mean anything. By the age of seven, I had seen more death than life,” he recalled.

The targeting of people of Jewish faith, yet again, changed the way he looked at his synagogue for a while.

“And I looked at that and I said, ‘This looks like a tombstone. There’s no holiness emanating from this building and the 11 bodies in it. It’s a cemetery,’” Judah said.

But a year later, all he and survivor Joe Charny want is to go back to their sanctuary.

“Why?,” asked Joe. “‘Cause it’s the right thing to do because, if you don’t, the other side wins.”

But until that day they will be here, honoring the friends they lost.

Jewish, Muslim and Christian Representatives Sign Joint Declaration Against Euthanasia

By Melissa Butz

The Pope met with representatives of the three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They showed him the document they had just signed against euthanasia.

“From the three monotheistic religions. The signature to combat euthanasia for the sick at the end of their lives. This is the text also signed by the cardinal, and here are the signatures of Jews, Christians and Muslims,” said one of the representatives.

Among the representatives were Sheikh Bin Bayah, a renowned intellectual in the Sunni world. There was also Rabbi David Rosen and a representative of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

They gave the Pope the “Position paper of the Abrahamic monotheistic religions on matters concerning the end of life.” It is an initiative of Rabbi Abraham Steinberg, an expert in bioethics and a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Currents News for Monday, October 28, 2019

On the newscast: History is being made at the end of the Pope’s highly-anticipated Amazon Summit. Married men could be ordained priests; He faced off against the Ku Klux Klan. Now, the sainthood cause of Brooklyn’s Monsignor Bernard Quinn is going to the Vatican; We’ll show the scene after U.S. special forces raided the hideout of the top terrorist in ISIS; The shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes is facing a crimewave.

Watch weeknights at 7:00 pm EST on NET-TV in the New York City area on Spectrum, Optimum, and Fios. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications about new content.

Catholic High School Remembers Loved Ones, Saints With All Souls Day ‘Ofrendas’

By Tim Harfmann

Students at the Mary Louis Academy are celebrating All Souls Day early and in a unique way – they’re decorating makeshift altars known as ofrendas.

“The tradition is to honor your loved ones who have passed away. So, the idea is you put a memory of them on the ofrenda, or you write a little description about them,” said Juliana Morsello.

Ofrendas, or ‘offering’ in Spanish, are known as a Mexican custom celebrating the day of the dead and recognizing loved ones are in heaven.

“They celebrate the whole day. They go to the grave, they clean it, they have picnics, they talk to their loved one, they eat together. It’s a whole ceremony, it’s a whole day ordeal,” said Emma Gilvary.

The all-girls Catholic high school in Queens also created ofrendas honoring the patrons of their four academic honor societies: Mother Mary Louis, Mother Saint John Fontbonne, Saint Teresa of Avila and Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini.

“Mother Cabrini is definitely a woman of strength, faith and dignity. She assisted Italian immigrants, she created 67 different institutions, whereas they were hospitals and different schools. So, I definitely think she’s very important to us,” said Morsello.

Each student had the opportunity to create her own ofrenda necklace. It’s a tag with photos and decorations of people they admire.

One-person Vincenza Julian is honoring is her uncle, Vinny, a first responder on 9/11.

“He was killed on 9/11, which was also his birthday. He was also a captain in the FDNY. He was promoted posthumously,” said Julian.

Some students made personal ofrendas in shoe boxes while others attended a Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico through virtual reality.

It was all an effort to have a better understanding of cultural traditions while honoring those who have gone before us.

Catholic Students Celebrate Clerics of the Brooklyn Diocese on World Priest Day

By Emily Drooby

Saint Athanasius Catholic Academy students spread the message of “we love our priests” through song and gifts to celebrate World Priest Day, a day when parishioners worldwide have a chance to show gratitude to those who have committed their lives to the Lord through the priesthood.

Father Edwin Ortiz who was ordained back in June, this gesture is extra special.

“This parish has done so much to help me feel at home, and so today was completely amazing,” he said. Fr. Ortiz has been serving the faithful at St. Athanasius – including the students – who have become a beloved part of his ministry.

“A lot of times the mentality is, ‘Oh, the youth aren’t interested.’ And it’s quite the opposite – they are actually very interested. There’s a lot of questions that they have and they want answered. I’m just happy I am able to be there to guide them, to grow them closer towards God,” he added.

The feeling is mutual: the kids light up when Fr. Ortiz walks into the classroom.

For students, their priests are central to the school community.

“They’ve always been there for us,” said one student. “If we need something they’re always going to be there for us, and they always listen.”

“We think that it’s very important for everyone to know how much we love our priests,” said another.

“Religion is an important way of life, and they teach us and guide us to do the right things in life instead of lead us to the wrong,” agreed one.

“Priests are very, very important to us. So I think that is why we did it today: to show them that we love them and care for them no matter what,” one student said.

As people in the Brooklyn Diocese and across the country take important steps to protect children from abuse, a top priority for the clergy is to ensure that kids are safe, happy and connected with God.

Under the guidance of Monsignor David Cassato‏, Fr. Ortiz has been enjoying his first few months as a priest, ministering and teaching both in the church and in the classroom.

“We as priests in this parish spend a lot of time in the school with the kids. And it’s so touching to see their reflections and their love for the priests in the parishes,” said Msgr. Cassato. “The priests teach religion every week in all the classrooms.”

“Every day is very different, but it makes it exciting because you don’t know what to expect,” added Fr. Ortiz, who looks forward to continuing to help his students strengthen their faith.