Craig Syracusa sits down with Chris and Emily Norton, who have captivated the hearts of the American people one step at a time. After an injury that left him paralyzed and only a 3 percent chance to move anything below his neck again, Chris worked tirelessly to regain enough function in his legs to be able to not only walk to receive his business degree but also to be able to walk down the aisle with Emily on their wedding day. Both videos have garnered millions of views online. Now their story is featured in the new book “The Seven Longest Yards”. The couple talk not only about the injury and those famous walks, but also how they met and fell in love, and how they are now working to raise awareness of spinal injuries and how Chris works to inspire others to overcome their own hardships and seemingly unbeatable odds. They also speak on how Emily’s depression almost ended their love story. Tune in for all this and more on Walk in Faith!
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Chris and Emily Norton “The Seven Longest Yards” Part 1
Craig Syracusa sits down with Chris and Emily Norton, who have captivated the hearts of the American people one step at a time. After an injury that left him paralyzed and only a 3 percent chance to move anything below his neck again, Chris worked tirelessly to regain enough function in his legs to be able to not only walk to receive his business degree but also to be able to walk down the aisle with Emily on their wedding day. Both videos have garnered millions of views online. Now their story is featured in the new book “The Seven Longest Yards”. The couple talk not only about the injury and those famous walks, but also how they met and fell in love, and how they are now working to raise awareness of spinal injuries and how Chris works to inspire others to overcome their own hardships and seemingly unbeatable odds. They also speak on how Emily’s depression almost ended their love story. Tune in for all this and more on Walk in Faith!
Currents News for Tuesday, August 27, 2019
On the newscast: Puerto Rico is getting ready for a hurricane as a new storm that is growing in strength heads their way. Residents are stocking up on supplies; Missouri’s strong law to protect the unborn has hit a roadblock; In the midst of Hong Kong’s unrest, we’ll have an exclusive interview with the leader of the city’s catholic students; And we’ll tell you about U.S. Catholic students who are tackling a big problem facing veterans.
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.
Defending Religious Freedom: How Chinese Christians Can Remain Engaged in Hong Kong Protests
Currents News Staff
In the latest update on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, on August 27 the territory’s leader Carrie Lam said she is doing her “utmost to restore law and order” after another weekend of demonstrations turned violent once again.
Since June 2018, millions of people have taken to the city’s streets in a growing movement of opposition to the Chinese government. The protests started months ago in opposition to a proposed law that would permit the arrest and extradition of dissidents back to China. Local authorities would be able to exercise Chinese jurisdiction over individuals wanted in territories outside of Hong Kong.
At the start of the protests Catholics were out on the front lines, but as demonstrations grew more aggressive, their participation began to lessen.
Edwin Chow, the acting president of the Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students, joins us to discuss how Catholics and other Christians can still use their faith to take a larger role in the protests.
Puerto Rico, Caribbean Brace for Impact of Tropical Storm Dorian
Currents News Staff
Puerto Ricans are scrambling to stock up on supplies before tropical storm Dorian churns closer and closer by the hour, with the potential to hurricane strength.
The storm system intensified as it raged across the Atlantic on August 27. Puerto Rico’s governor has declared a state of emergency, and now other parts of the Caribbean are following suit and making preparations.
“When a storm comes, we are much worried about what is going to become after,” said Kamil Matos who is preparing for the storm.
Residents are bracing for impact while many are still reeling from Hurricane Maria’s devastation in 2017, when thousands were killed and power was knocked out for nearly the entire U.S. territory.
“The whole island has been traumatized, so you have to take that into consideration,” explained Dr. Jesus Vega, a resident of the island.
In Barbados, anxiety over the storm had motorists lined up bumper to bumper to fill up on gas.
And in Florida, the Federal Emergency Management Agency activated two Miami-based federal task forces — one headed to Puerto Rico and another to Saint Croix.
“We prepare, we train year round and our guys are elite. They’re the best of the best. The 28 teams around the country are the elite. They are trained to the technician level across the board and where their expertise might be,” said Scott Dean, Assistant Chief of Miami’s Fire Rescue.
Measles Outbreak Leads to Mandatory Vaccinations for Returning Students
By Tim Harfmann
As parents prepare to send their children back to school, New York remains at the forefront of the measles outbreak.
Of the 1,200 confirmed cases across the U.S. in 2019, more than 75 percent are linked to New York State, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the five boroughs alone, there have been 654 confirmed cases since September of 2018, according to the city’s health department.
Opposition to the vaccination of children has played a key role in the outbreak.
Doctors like Joseph Kaplovitz, a pediatrics specialist at NYU Langone, are still urging people to get the vaccine and watch out for symptoms.
“The anti-vaccine movement, in general, has this belief that by giving the vaccine, I’m going to danger my own child. That becomes a very hard thing to try and fight,” said Dr. Kaplovitz.
“It starts off as fever, usually a high fever like 104 or 105; cough, congestion, runny nose; red eyes, what’s called conjunctivitis; and it also comes with a head-to-toe rash,” he explained.
While many cases have been found in predominantly Jewish communities, now all students throughout the state must get vaccinated.
The New York Supreme Court recently upheld a new law eliminating any religious exemptions from required vaccinations.
Yoel Binyomin, a father living in Brooklyn, also believes children should be vaccinated.
“You have to obey the doctors. If the doctors say you got get vaccinated, then you have to take the vaccine,” Yoel said.
If the city’s health department identifies any child without the necessary vaccinations, that family could face a $1,000 fine.
Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $572 Million in Oklahoma Opioid Trial
Currents News Staff
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson will appeal a judge’s landmark decision that is holding the company financially responsible for its role in the opioid crisis in the state of Oklahoma.
This marks the first time ever that a drug maker is being held responsible for one of the worst man-made epidemics in history.
Johnson and Johnson has now been ordered to pay the state of Oklahoma $572 million in the result of a case which spanned two years and a seven-week long trial.
In his decision, Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman cited what he called the drug giant’s false and misleading marketing of opioids.
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter called Johnson & Johnson the “kingpin” behind the nation’s opioid crisis. “We have proven that Johnson & Johnson built its billion dollar brand out of greed and on the backs of pain and suffering of innocent people,” he said.
Hunter’s team of 13 attorneys described the trial as “taking on the lion.” The ruling also marks the first case in the nation to reach trial out of dozens others by states suing opioid drug makers. He hopes it’ll help other states be successful.
But an attorney for Johnson & Johnson described the judge’s decision as “flawed.”
“Johnson & Johnson did not cause opioid abuse crisis in Oklahoma, or anywhere in this country,” said company attorney Sabrina Strong.
Johnson & Johnson attorneys say the company has strong grounds for appeal and intend to pursue those vigorously.
Catholic Students ‘March’ Forward to Support Veterans
Currents News Staff
Four Catholic school students — Kellen Witty, Quinn Schoenenberger, Karsen Sherrick and Devon Johnson — aren’t just talking the talk. They’ve walked the walk, all 140 miles of it.
All four are members of St. Norbert Catholic College’s ROTC program.
With rucksacks on their back, they spent six days trekking from Green Bay to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as part of the fourth annual ‘For Them 140-Mile Ruck March.’ By walking, they raised money and awareness for the fourth H.O.O.A.H Wisconsin, an organization that supports deployed and returning military members and their families.
For these students it was a difficult undertaking, but one they said was a worthy challenge once they saw the positive publicity that came from it.
“We got a ton. People say like, ‘Hey, we saw you on the news. We heard you on the radio.’ And that really is the point of what we’re doing here is to raise awareness and get the cause out,” said Karsen.
“140 miles is like almost like an attention grabber. When they ask about it, that’s when we come in and say, ‘You know, we’re actually walking to raise awareness and money for people who are suffering from combat,’” he explained.
“I would say it just pays tribute to everyone that is going through the issues after deployments after serving in the military,” said Devon.
“Doing this raises awareness and lets them know that there is a community out there and there are people that care,” added Kellen.
Currents News for Monday, August 26, 2019
On the newscast: The Amazon fires are raging – and the global crisis is capturing the attention of Pope Francis and other world leaders; A Catholic parish is suffering a big loss after a record-setting ICE raid. Half the congregation is gone; A 99-year old fan who wanted to be taken out to the ball game; And a car heads straight for a wheelchair-bound woman. She was certain it was her time to see the Lord.
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.
Jesuit Women Attacked While Volunteering in the Philippines
By Tim Harfmann
Two women volunteering with Jesuits in the Philippines were stabbed.
Twenty-four-year-old Genifer Buckly is dead. Her 30-year-old colleague, Anne Kathleen Gatdula, is hospitalized with serious wounds.
Violence ensued when the women surprised their attacker, who had been ransacking their lodgings in the southern Philippines province of Bukidnon.
“I feel incredibly sad, especially for the family of the young woman that was killed. It was extremely unfortunate, said Father Mario Powell, president of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep in Crown Heights.
To him, Genifer is a martyr.
“I think, absolutely, in my mind qualifies it, as this young woman was living out her faith and she was killed for it,” Fr. Powell said.
He added that volunteers are usually lay men and women who recently graduated from Jesuit schools and want to help others in need. There is a Jesuit volunteer presence right in the Brooklyn Diocese, where two service members are helping immigrant families receive health benefits and housing.
“They’re young, they’re impressionable, they’re excited; and they have a spirituality that they understand that they’re volunteering and going to be living in community because of their faith in God,” Fr. Powell said of the volunteers, who are always thinking of the needy and marginalized before themselves.
“Jesuit volunteers, throughout the world, sacrifice a lot. they live very simply,” he said.
“They live in community with one another, which is not easy. They work in communities that are difficult, and they give, and enough times don’t count the cost.”