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Currents News for Monday, August 5, 2019

On the newscast: President Donald Trump is condemning racism and white supremacy as two young men opened fire in both Texas and Ohio; Now, the nation is mourning thirty lives lost. We’re learning about the victims from those who loved them most; Priests around the world are reading a letter from their Holy Father today. One that addresses the sex abuse crisis; Plus the American slave that could be the world’s next saint.

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American Crisis: At Least 31 Killed in U.S. Mass Shootings

By Emily Drooby

Devastation hit the city of Dayton, Ohio when a gunman opened fire on a crowd outside a popular bar.

This occurred just 13 hours after a shooter fired into a crowd of shoppers in El Paso, Texas.

Between the two shootings, at least 31 are dead and over 50 people have been injured.

From an El Paso church to the Vatican, prayers for the victims being said all over the world.

Pope Francis has also spoken out, inviting others to pray for the victims with him.

“I am spiritually close to the victims of the violent attacks. that led to bloodshed of defenseless people in Texas, California and Ohio in the United States,” he said while speaking to a crowd at the Vatican.

President Trump has also leaned on God.

While addressing the nation on August 5, Trump offered his ideas on how to end the shooting epidemic. He asked for officials and social media companies to work on ways to better identify and act on early warning signs.

Trump also called for mental health law reform in the form of ‘red flag laws,’ to keep guns away from people who have been deemed a potential threat. He also proposed that those who commit mass murders and hate crimes face the death penalty.

Trump also placed heavy blame on the internet and the glorification of violence, adding that hate has no place in America.

“In one voice our nation must condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy,” he said.

The El Paso shooting suspect, Patrick Crusius, is believed to have authored a manifesto filled with racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

He is now facing the death penalty.

Connor Betts, who killed his own sister during the attack, has been identified as the Dayton shooter. He was fatally shot by police in less than a minute.

A former classmate said that in high school he had a hit list filled of people he wanted to kill and or rape.

“I saw him get pulled off the bus after school one day. And apparently, he had made a kill list, and I happened to be on it. I don’t know why,” said former classmate Spencer Brickler.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is now calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring lawmakers back to Washington for an emergency session on gun control.

El Paso Community Mourns Lives Lost in Mass Shooting

Currents News Staff

The suspected shooter who killed 22 people inside an El Paso, Texas Wal-Mart on August 3, is in custody and reportedly volunteering information.

According to police, the suspect, Patrick Crusius, is showing no remorse while families, loved ones and the Texas community are suffering.

Residents have been filling vigils and memorials honoring the 20 lives tragically cut short during this weekend’s massacre.

“In El Paso we are one big family. We know that the country is mourning with us,” said Democratic Texas Representative Veronica Escobar. 

The attack which injured at least 26 others has created an elevated sense of fear for many residents. 

Survivors are now struggling to comprehend why they made it out alive when many did not.

“Everything that happened was just terrible, but we’re blessed. We’re blessed because we’re alive, and I pray for all those people that died, it was so many,” said witness Erika Contreras. 

Two of those murdered were Andre and Jordan Anchondo, who were inside the Wal-Mart with their two-month-old son when the shooting began.

“She was just a wonderful person. She’d give anything for those kids, anything. Even her life,” said Jordan’s sister Leta Jamrowski. 

That’s apparently what Jordan did that day by protecting her baby and using her body as a shield. The baby was injured, but survived.

“I want to just find my mom. Somebody needs to tell me where she is. I just want to know if she’s dead or alive,” was the emotional plea from one daughter that ended in heartbreak.

Among the victims are 86-year-old Angie Englisbee and 60-year-old Arturo Benavides, an army veteran and bus driver described by his niece as a “caring and strong-willed man,” with plenty of love left to share.

Police and federal authorities are still piecing together why the 21-year-old suspect allegedly went on a rampage.

Local police have said that the suspect is “cooperating” with investigators, and that he is unrepentant.

According to U.S. attorney John Bash, authorities are “treating it as a domestic terrorism case.”

Law enforcement sources have also stated that the suspect posted a four-page ‘manifesto’ online, filled with white nationalist and racist language, targeting immigrants and hispanics. 

“We have a manifesto from this individual that to some degree has a nexus to a potential hate crime,” confirmed El Paso Police Department Chief Greg Allen. 

Meanwhile, state officials are seeking the ultimate punishment.

“We will seek the death penalty,” said Jaime Esparza, a district attorney. 

As of August 5, the death toll has continued to rise as an elderly woman died overnight, and another victim passed away a few hours later.

Survivors of Dayton Shooting: ‘People Just Started Running’

Currents News Staff

A flurry of shots showed the brief but deadly moments during which a gunman opened fire on crowds in downtown Dayton, Ohio on Sunday, August 4.

Police say the gunman parked his car and walked through Dayton’s Oregon district, a neighborhood known for its nightlife, and started firing shots just after 1 a.m.

Witnesses say officers stopped the shooter just before he entered the packed nightclub. 

A surveillance video showed crowds running from the shots. Dayton police routinely patrol the area on Saturday nights, and were able to respond in seconds. 

“A suspect opened fire along the Oregon district, was wearing body armor, used a 223 caliber high capacity magazine. He had additional magazines,” said Dayton’s Mayor Nan Whaley.

“The threat was neutralized in approximately 30 seconds from the suspect firing his first shots,” said Chief of Dayton Police, Richard Biehl. 

Two women say they were out with girlfriends at the time of the incident.

“People just started running, they started pushing us out the back door,” said one witness. 

A second witness remembered chatting with another woman about their outfits, but the next time she saw her, “she was laying on the concrete dead outside of the club that we was at,” the witness explained. 

Robert Woodruff was standing several feet away from the gunman as he fired shots. 

“I thought I was about to die until the officer, he was standing over top of me, and he started shooting at the guy. So he saved everybody that was out here,” Robert explained. 

Despite the quick response at least nine were killed, and more than a dozen were injured. 

One of those killed was the shooter’s own 22-year-old sister. 

“The officers who were involved in ending this tragedy – their professionalism, their quickness, their amazing courage, their response – undoubtedly saved many, many, many lives. We will never know how many lives were saved. The assailant was obviously very, very close to being able to kill dozens and dozens more people,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Authorities say they’ve found writings indicating the gunman had an interest in killing people. 

A preliminary assessment of the writings did not indicate any racial or political motive.

Teen Accused of Fatally Stabbing Undercover Officer in Italy Could Face Life in Prison

Currents News Staff

19-year-old Finnegan Elder and his 18-year-old friend Gabriel Natale Hjorth were taken into custody in Italy last month. Italian authorities say they killed an undercover police officer during a botched drug deal.

Finnegan, who has been accused of fatally stabbing the Italian police officer, is currently in police custody.

Thousands of miles away in San Francisco, his family and friends are fighting for his freedom.

But last week Finnegan’s father visited his son in prison with family friend and attorney, Craig Peters.

“He has our full support and we stand by his side,” said Craig, who is acting as Finnegan’s defense attorney. 

“He was okay, but tired, remorseful and scared,” Craig added. 

In video surveillance footage, one of the teens can be seen carrying a backpack that was allegedly stolen during the encounter.

The victim, Mario Cerciello, had gotten married less than two months before his death.

“Officer Rega who, we understand, at the time of his death was acting as an undercover plainclothes paramilitary officer, is gone too soon,” said Craig. 

Italian police say both teens confessed to taking part in the assault, and the Populist Interior Minister is calling for life in prison.

“The truth will set you free. we look forward to the truth coming out and to our son coming home,” said Craig, as Finnegan’s family says there’s more to the story that has yet to come out.

Honoring the Blessed Mother on Dedication Day of Saint Saint Mary Major Basilica

Currents News Staff

On August 5, 358, legend has it snow fell on Esquiline Hill in Rome. It was after a dream Pope Liberius had the night of August 4, in which the Blessed Mother told him to build a church where snow would be the following day. 

When he woke up, it would be known as the site of St. Mary Major.

This medieval legend is still remembered today, but now takes the form of white rose petals falling from the dome of the basilica. 

Thousands of pilgrims brave the intense summer heat to come watch, pray and honor the Blessed Mother during the annual Mass celebrated at the beginning of each August.

“I didn’t really know that it wasn’t the actual snow. I learned about those flowers there,” said one pilgrim.

“It’s a moving experience which you must participate in to really know the emotion,” another faithful visitor said.  

“I think this tradition, this place is so beautiful. I went to this place from Poland. Because when I see this, I think yes, it’s a nice tradition, nice people and a nice place,” concluded another.

While Pope Francis did not celebrate the Mass himself, he has a place in his heart for this Basilica and the patroness of Rome. 

He visited the church at the beginning of his pontificate to pray for her protection, and continues to do so before and after each trip he takes.

Likewise, over the centuries, countless other popes have visited the basilica to do homage to the Blessed Mother, who personally indicated where she wanted this church constructed.

As one of the four major basilicas in Rome and the first church in the Western world dedicated to Mary, this tradition today that we are celebrating also gives way to the church’s other name, St. Mary of the Snow.

American Slave Known as ‘Angel of Charity’ Considered for Sainthood

Currents News Staff

The exhumed body of Julia Greely, a former slave and enthusiastic promoter of the Sacred Heart, has been moved to the cathedral of Denver for possible canonization.

Born between 1833 and 1848 in Hannibal, Missouri, Greely is known as the angel of charity. She is also well-known for her evangelism.

“She was an American slave, who was freed, who then chose in her life to help other people, and to help the underprivileged,” said Father Ron Cattany of the Archdiocese of Denver. “It’s not a native Coloradan. It’s a slave, who learned the justices and injustices of life from a very early age. But she didn’t let that stop her from living a life of holiness.”

After gaining her freedom, Greely worked at white homes and to avoid embarrassment for the poor, did charitable works at night. She would give them wood, coal, and other supplies.

Each month she would go to the Denver fire station to tell them about the Sacred Heart and would give them rosaries, despite receiving no training. 

The Jesuits from the Sacred Heart parish in Denver considered her the most enthusiastic promoter of the Sacred Heart. Undeterred with having rheumatoid arthritis in every bone in her body, she did all her work on foot. She also had six teeth and couldn’t read or write. 

In 1910, Greely joined the Franciscan Order as a lay person and was active until her death, 1918.  

“When she died, she collapsed in church, because she went to Mass every day. She received communion every day. She collapsed in Sacred Heart church, and was brought to a nearby house where she died the next day,” said Fr. Cantony. “Her body, after her death, stayed at the church for about five hours. Hundreds of people in Denver came to view her, the rich and the poor.” 

Raising Children Within the Vatican: Life of a Swiss Guard Family

Currents News Staff

While Swiss Guards are constantly on-call to protect Pope Francis and have very rigorous working hours, they also have personal lives.

Around 20 of the guards have wives and families. 

Brenda, Janik and Veronika are three such wives living within the Vatican walls. They each have three children, making up nearly half of the 20 children of Swiss Guards living at the Vatican.

“Living here with the family is, is a great opportunity, not only for us as parents, but for the children as well,“ said Brenda. 

“I think one of the big challenges is the schedules, which our husbands have. That’s one of the things, because obviously, the guard works 24/7, weekends included,” she explained.

For years, only guards who had attained the rank of corporal could get married. This is because there are a limited amount of larger apartments which are reserved for families or married guards. 

But under Pope Francis, all that is changing.

“He accepted the proposal to allow guards marry after five years of service. Before it was only after being a corporal. Now everyone can get married,” Janik explained. 

“Pope Francis himself didn’t like the situation much. So it really initiated with him that he wanted to change the rules. Those rules have now been changed. So you no longer have to be a corporal, which means that your professional success is no more linked to your private life as it was before. I think that’s a really good change,” said Brenda. 

While Janik’s and Brenda’s husbands had both served as guards for Pope John Paul II earlier in their career, Veronika is completely new to the Vatican. She has only been at the Vatican for three months since her husband’s first-time service began.

“My everyday life is very similar to back in Switzerland. I wake up; the bigger children must go to school; then the housework is done. It’s all very similar to back in Switzerland. Shopping and cooking, we have a dog that we go for walks with in the gardens,” she said.

The daily lives of these wives are normal, but just lived out within Vatican walls. 

The children play there all together, but leave the smallest country in the world to go to school.

“They all go to the Swiss school. So to get there and to get back that forces the parents to do things together. We’ve been fortunate enough to receive two little mini buses from a foundation which supports the guards and Switzerland. Those mini buses are driven by the parents in turn,” said Janik.

“They told me, if you have a license, you drive. Ok, that’s fine. Because finding a driver costs a lot and it’s easier for us parents to all take turns driving,” she added.

The parents have formed a tight-knit community with one another, especially the ones who have children. While the Swiss Guards protect Pope Francis daily, the families see him once a year, for the Swiss Guards’ swearing-in ceremony on May 6. 

On this day each year, new guards are able to join the army of men carefully selected to protect the Holy Father. 

Currents News for Friday, August 2 , 2019

On the newscast: A judge has recommended that the New York police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner should be fired; The Bishop of Brooklyn is speaking out on the immigration crisis. Why one old act has major lessons for the current debate; What’s it like to get married in the middle of a hurricane? Meet a Catholic couple that tied the knot; And the priest who loves the Mets. He’s from the other side of the world… but he doesn’t miss a game.

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.