Missing Impact of Second Storm, Dorian Survivors Struggle to Rebuild and Reunite

Currents News Staff

While tropical storm Humberto mostly missed the devastated islands of the Bahamas, it resurfaced feelings of terror for Hurricane Dorian survivors.

Just two weeks after the category 5 storm decimated much of Grand Bahamas and Abaco islands, the unexpected weather is adding new stress for evacuees in Nassau, who are navigating an uncertain future with an unknown timeline.

Tracking another storm heading to Abaco was too much for Sitha Silien to handle. “No, I don’t wanna hear nothing, even rain,” she said. Her home, along with almost everything else in the mostly-Haitian shantytown called “The Mudd,” is gone.

The everyday sounds of Nassau now trigger terrifying memories for Sitha.

“I jumped up, I thought it was a storm outside. When I came to the door, it was nothing. The officer was like, ‘what happened?’ I asked his if it was another hurricane, and he said no and he said ‘That’s the airplane!’” Sitha said of her experience as she waits to transfer to her third shelter in ten days.

In that time frame, her only focus is finding and burying the bodies of her mother and brother, who both died in her arms during the storm.

“I lift my brother..lift him, literally lift him with my hands, The other friends bring him by the road,” Sitha said. “They said… they found some bodies, they didn’t find some bodies..I know my mommy and my brother are there,”

The Bahamas official death toll has sat at 50 for nearly a week. According to Sitha, that number does not include her mother, brother or cousin, though she claims to have given the government identifying information about all three.

While she is grateful the way the shelters have treated her, Sitha does not want to stay in Nassau, a city that she- and many other evacuees of Haitian descent have described as “unwelcoming.”

Odiles and Agnes Pierre escaped from Abaco with their four children, and are now staying with a friend of his boss while trying to get out of Nassau.

“We don’t want to live in Nassau,” Agnes explained, “because we have been threatened in the house. a few people said that, in videos and other, ‘We should kill all Haitians,’ because we were the ones who caused the hurricane that destroyed Abaco.”

In the days after Dorian hit, posts slandering Haitians went viral in local WhatsApp groups, cheering the destruction of their communities, death threats and claims that the hurricane was punishment for a belief in voodoo.

“I don’t want to get killed. I’ve been through so much, we survived from it now… I don’t want to come here and just die, because they blame us for the hurricane that happened,” said Agnes.

When speaking with the media, many local Bahamians repeatedly referred to the Haitians as “illegal,” explaining there are deep-seeded tensions between them.

But government officials have said multiple times that all Dorian victims will be treated equally when it comes to disaster relief.

However, the Pierre family doesn’t trust that promise.

“I would like for us to get to the states for recovery, until the island comes back, so at least my kids can go to school and feel comfortable,” said Odiles.

But now with no job and important documents lost in the storm, the chances of getting a U.S. visa quickly are slim, leaving storm survivors to fear the worst may not be behind them.

Pope Gifts Reliquary Containing St. Peter’s Bones to Eastern Orthodox Church

By Melissa Butz

A reliquary containing nine fragments of St. Peter’s bones had long been kept in the pope’s private chapel, but Pope Francis has decided to give it to the main leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church in order improve ecumenical relations.

Pope Francis explained his reasoning for the gift in a letter sent to Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.

Knowing well the importance of relics to the Orthodox Church, the Holy Father clarified the fragments’ origins, recalling that in 1939, Pius XII authorized a dig under St. Peter’s Basilica to locate the original tomb of Peter.

Archaeologists found the tomb under the basilica’s main altar. A few years later, Pope Francis writes, they also identified a niche with some remains of bones that “can reasonably be considered Peter” in the same area.

In that niche, there are still other fragments of St. Peter’s bone relics.

“The relics have this importance, the possibility to show that we are talking about the real and historical faith. Faith has its roots in history. We don’t talk about mythological tales, but real historical events and the showing of the bones is the proof of this historical evidence,” explained Laura Donato, one of the archaeological guides that shows pilgrims the site every day.

As the Orthodox Patriarch already holds the relics of St. Andrew, Peter’s brother, Pope Francis wrote to him writing that “the joining of the relics of the two brother Apostles can also serve as a constant reminder and encouragement that, on this continuing journey, our divergences will no longer stand in the way of our common witness and our evangelizing mission.”

Thousands of Fetal Remains Found in Home of Deceased Abortion Doctor

Currents News Staff

A shocking discovery has been made at the Illinois home of former abortion doctor Ulrich Klopfer.

Klopfer died earlier this month, and just a few days ago his family found more than 2,000 fetal remains while cleaning out his home.

Klopfer formerly ran three abortion clinics in Fort Wayne, Gary and South Bend, and was known as one of Indiana’s most prolific abortion doctors. Now, local pro-life groups want all those clinics looked into out of fear that there could be more remains.

“We’re publicly calling for an investigation into all three of his facilities,” said Jackie Appleman, the Director of St. Joseph County Right to Life.

Property records show Klopfer still owned the South Bend clinic, and according to Appleman, he visited it weekly up until his death.

Her group is worried there could more fetal remains that have yet to be found.

“Klopfer was responsible for over 30,000 abortions so the fact that they have only found 2,000 remains makes us question: where are the other remains?” she said.

Klopfer’s south bend clinic opened in 1978, and closed in 2016 shortly after he stopped providing abortions.

His initial troubles started in 2012 when Indiana’s Attorney General opened an investigation into his practices and made several allegations, among them improper staffing and errors on state-mandated medical records.

Klopfer was later charged in 2014 for waiting months to report an abortion on a 13-year-old girl.

He faced additional consequences two years later when the Indiana Medical Licensing Board suspended his license for documentation errors and failing to exercise reasonable care.

Along with calling for further investigation, the Indiana county’s Right to Life said they are working with authorities to give the fetal remains what they call a proper burial.

“Klopfer and any abortionist leaves a horrific legacy of death and destruction,” Appleman said.

The South Bend abortion clinic Whole Woman’s Health sent a statement in response, saying in part that they are “shocked” by the news.

“We join the community seeking more information and awaiting the results of the investigation,” the statement reads.

Klopfer’s South Bend was his last. The clinic in Fort Wayne closed in 2013, and his Gary clinic shuttered in 2014.

Now the question for some is whether there remains more to be seen within these walls.

Comment on fetal remains find by Bishop Daniel Conlon of Diocese of Joliet, IL:

Like many others, I was horrified to learn about the discovery of the remains of over 2,000 unborn children at the home of a deceased abortionist in Crete, Illinois. Sadly, such an atrocious offense is an unavoidable consequence to treating life in the womb as non-human persons.

I have asked our staff in the Office of Human Dignity and Catholic Cemeteries to offer our assistance to authorities and other compassionate organizations in order to assure that these children are laid to rest with the peace and dignity that every human being deserves. I ask the people of the Diocese of Joliet to pray for these children, for their families, and for an end to abortion, once and for all.

Currents News for Friday, September 13, 2019

On the newscast: A new trip is now on Pope Francis’s schedule. He’s going to Asia. There’s a stop in Japan, something Francis always wanted to do; A teenage girl is speaking out to warn others about the dangers of vaping and how she landed in the hospital; Immigration and labor in America. Bishop DiMarzio will be here with a provocation look at the link; A World War II hero celebrates something special.

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.

Vatican Announces Upcoming Papal Trip to Thailand and Japan

By Melissa Butz

Just days after Pope Francis returned from Africa, on September 13 the Holy See Press Office confirmed an upcoming papal trip to East Asia, from Nov. 19-26.

Pope Francis will spend three days in Thailand, commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Vatican’s mission to Siam in 1669. His motto for the country is “Christs Disciples… Missionary Disciples.”

Afterward, he’ll be traveling to three Japanese cities: Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The theme for this trip is “Protect all Life.”

It’s been Pope Francis’s dream to go to Japan since he was a young Jesuit. However, sickness blocked him from leaving.

Pope Francis had hinted at the trip last year, when he met a group from Japan.

“And taking advantage of your visit, I would like to announce my willingness to visit Japan next year. I hope I can do so,” he told the group during their meeting.

As he has asked many times, he will likely call for peace, justice and nuclear disarmament within the country.

“Weapons of mass destruction, particularly atomic, create nothing more than a false sense of security and cannot constitute the basis of peaceful coexistence between members of the human Family, Pope Francis said.

As of 2018, there are 379,975 Catholics in Thailand, a figure that represents 0.46 percent of the total population of 69 million. Japan has similar numbers, with just under .5 percent of its population being Catholic, equaling around 500,000 people.

It will be the Holy Father’s fourth trip to Asia. He will be the second pope ever to step foot in these countries, after John Paul II visited Thailand in 1984 and Japan in 1981.

Still Reeling from Dorian, Bahamas Faces Potential Second Storm

Currents News Staff

The Bahamas is back on alert on September 13 as a potential tropical storm threatens to strike the very same areas already devastated by Dorian.

The death toll on the island stands at 50, and 1,300 people still remain missing.

Nearly two weeks now since the category 5 storm landed, and efforts on the island are largely turned to recovery.

Survivors describe a storm that seemed to want to wipe them out with vicious ferocity.

“Words can’t describe it, I don’t wish it on nobody,” said Sherrie Roberts, a survivor of Hurricane Dorian.

Still stunned at their own survival, the aftermath for residents has been crippling. Nearly one in five Bahamians are now homeless, and more than 2,100 are in shelters. Hundreds more have been taken in by family, friends and even strangers.

The storm left behind $8 billion worth of damage, with the number continuing to climb. While the winds have calmed, the sense of emergency hasn’t: the need to feed, shelter and clothe will continue many for months, if not years more.

While trying to cope with finding and identifying the hundreds still missing, many of those who survived are struggling with traumatic experiences.

During the storm, thousands scrambled from room to room, house to house, as buildings crumbled and flooding moved around them with alarming speed.

“This boat here was just as high as the roof, it started to come onto the roof with me as I was holding on for dear life,” explained storm survivor William Davis.

Hurricane Dorian was stronger than predicted and it lasted longer than predicted. It lingered and lashed out with gusts that resembled thousands of terrifying tornadoes, grinding across the islands as it ground to a halt.

“I was sitting in the living room, and all of a sudden the roof just came off,” said Nancy

Hundreds lost track of not just belongings, but each other. Some across the island are experiencing the overwhelmed reunions.

Still, days after the storm were desperate for proof of life. One woman is frantic to find her cousin.

“I hope they find him, I hope so. He just had a son, he doesn’t even know the baby’s face yet. I hope they find him, I hope so,” said Winis Louisdor, who still on the lookout. k

Others know exactly what happened to loved ones. Now they must wait through the grim search for bodies, knowing some victims were swept out to sea.

With evacuations near completion, rebuilding is on the minds of most people .

“We can’t do it alone, we need help, lots of help, monetary help, I mean, you don’t even know where to start,” said Tory Albury, Fire Chief of Great Guana Cay.

Dorian shattered lives in the Bahamas, but also expectations of how hurricanes behave and what survival looks like after the storms have passed.

Trump Postpones Tariff Increases, Signaling Possible End to U.S.-China Trade War

Currents News Staff

President Trump has extended a partial peace offering toward China as the country approaches its 70th anniversary.

“We’ll be doing the tariffs on October 15 instead of October 5 or 1,” Trump said, postponing trade tariff increases of 30 percent on $250 billion worth of goods that was set to begin on the anniversary date.

“This was done as a goodwill gesture to the Chinese,” explained Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

The Trump administration’s announcement also comes on the heels of Beijing waiving import tariffs on some U.S. items.

This could signal the beginning of the end of the trade war between the U.S. and China?

“To quote a Buffalo Springfield song: ‘There’s something happening here, but what it is ain’t exactly clear,'” said business analyst Paul R. La Monica.

U.S. and Chinese officials are expected to resume trade talks sometime next month in Washington, but a date has yet to be set.

Some analysts believe this stand-off is hitting both countries in the wallet. Chinese trade data showed how soft global demand has been affecting its economy and this summer, U.S. manufacturing fell for the first time in three years.

“I think both the U.S. and China are quickly realizing that this is a painful battle. No one is winning, it’s a matter of who loses less,” explained La Monica.

Sister Shirlee

Shop Sells Candles Depicting Celebrities, Politicians as Religious Figures

By Tim Harfmann

At ‘Awesome Brooklyn’ shop in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, you’ll find candles featuring everyone from Barack and Michelle Obama to Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

But the celebrities on these candles are depicted as religious figures, such as the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Some Catholics don’t find them funny.

A St. Patrick’s church in Bay Ridge, Currents News showed Catholics a candle of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“That is disgraceful! Woah!” said Deborah Nuzzo, a parishioner at St. Patrick’s.

“That’s not right at all. It’s against religion,” agreed fellow parishioner Rosemary Donnelly. “You’re mocking religion, really.”

The eight-inch candles are made by a Texas-based company and are shipped internationally.

Vanessa Raptopoulos, the owner of Awesome Brooklyn, sells these candles.

“I understand, and sometimes people come in and shake their heads and sort of get mad, but we’re a fun shop,” she said. “We’re just trying to honor these people because we love them. That’s what it’s about. It’s not about blasphemy or anything like that.”

“If you believe them and think they’re good people, well there are other ways to admire them and so on, rather than doing something like that,” said Rosemary.

Father Alessandro Linardi, who ministers to Catholics at St. Athanasius-St. Dominic parish in Bensonhurst, says lighting a candle is more than burning a wick.

There’s a symbolic meaning involved.

“We light candles, why? To pray, to ask for His help, for His mercy, His grace. We ask also for the intercession of the saints, of our Blessed Mother,” Fr. Linardi explained.

The former First Lady, as well as Justice Ginsburg are top sellers at the Brooklyn shop. But with the upcoming Presidential Election heating up, one candidate is becoming very popular.

“Most recently, Elizabeth Warren is my number-one seller, so I literally can’t keep her on the shelves,” Vanessa explained.

But these Catholics say the presidential candidate doesn’t belong on the shelves at all.

“They should be ashamed of themselves, because they’re making a mockery of the saints and of what we hold dear,” said Deborah.

Currents News for Thursday, September 12, 2019

On the newscast: The Supreme Court is allowing broad enforcement of Trump’s asylum rule, preventing most Central Americans from entering the country; Wind and rain like we’ve never seen before. Extreme weather displacing a record 7 million people in just 6 months; Controversial candles –worshipping political candidates. Would you buy them?; Plus… confessions on the go. And on the green.

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