Meet the Artist Behind Cardinal Dolan’s New Portrait

By Emily Drooby

Artist, Richard Hearns’ pieces fill the walls of The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture. While all of them are beautiful, one commands the room: the new official portrait of Cardinal Timothy Dolan.

Hearns and Cardinal Dolan met through mutual friends.

“We have a very long [old], family connection,” Hearns explained.

Hearns grew up Catholic. His godmother, Sister Rosario Delaney, happened to have been Cardinal Dolan’s grade school principal at Holy Infant Catholic School in Missouri.

A Hearns family friend, Sister Bosco Daly, became a connection as well. She was once one of Cardinal Dolan’s teachers

“It was fascinating to me that we both had this very positive influence from these same two women all our lives, so that’s really the bridge that connects myself and the Cardinal,” said Hearns.

Now, another bridge connects the two: the art work.

Over the years, Hearns and Cardinal Dolan have met both in New York City and in Ireland where Hearns lives. The idea for the portrait came from these get-togethers.

Hearns is primarily an abstract painter. Painting a portrait became a challenge, one he was thrilled to take on.

“I went to great lengths, I poured over books, I talked to anybody I knew who was involved in portraiture, I visited Museums in Ireland, in the states, in Rome,” he said.

Now, his hard work has paid off.

“That painting was in my studio for over three years and nobody really got to see it, so now to have other people engage with the painting, from the Archdiocese from the greater New York area, I can’t put it into words really, it means a great deal to me,” Hearns said.

The portrait and other pieces from his still life collection are on display at the Sheen Center for all to enjoy. They will remain through May 22, which is when the painting will be moved to Cardinal Dolan’s home, which is not open to the public.

More video of Richard Hearns and his other projects can be found on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/user17200100

Pueri Cantores Choirs

Pueri Cantores Choirs are among the most famous children’s choirs and are the second biggest Catholic choir in the whole world. They have performed all over the globe, from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to the Vatican. Joe Estevez interviews two of their Los Angeles choirs.

Currents News for Wednesday, May 15, 2019

On the newscast: Alabama is on the verge of the strongest law in America to protect the unborn, possibly setting the stage for a new Supreme Court battle over abortion; The Pope Room is part of a bright new addition at JFK Airport, recalling the golden age of jet travel; Two men are in danger more than 800 feet above ground before they were rescued; It’s a joyride from the Pope as his passengers drive around Saint Peter’s Square.

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.

Couple Graduates With Masters In Theology As Husband Prepares For Life As A Deacon

By Emily Drooby

One couple within the Diocese of Brooklyn is living out a little known truth: the married couple that studies together, stays together.

Juliette and Hugo Morel both recently graduated with their Masters in Theology from St. Joseph’s Seminary, having tackled the difficult course load the way they do everything: as a team.

In May, Hugo will be ordained as a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Brooklyn, meaning that he will become a clergy member who is allowed to be married, and can perform sacraments like weddings and baptisms. As a deacon he can also proclaim the Gospel and preach at Mass, among other ministries.

The road to his ordination and their masters degrees has not been smooth. The couple has faced plenty of struggles, like his commute and a language barrier.

“I rely on her a lot, without her I wouldn’t be able to do it. Thank God for her,” said Hugo of his wife.

“It was hard. The beginning we thought it was going to be in Spanish, and I said ‘okay, in Spanish, I can handle. It’s going to be hard, but I can handle.’ But then when we found out it was in English, it was like, ‘I don’t know, maybe,’” Juliette said.

The couple had some important help to get through it all, praying often throughout the process.

“God helped me, sent me angels around me and helped me to accomplish that,” said Juliette.

For years, the Morels kept their faith on a back burner. The family rediscovered it after being hit hard by the 2008 recession. Now faith is the cornerstone of their lives.

“Without my faith, I could not do nothing. Because when I have a problem, I know I can overcome that because God is with me. It’s our lives, it’s what we are going to pass to our kids, we don’t want money, but we want them to love God,” said Juliette.

The Morels are proof that with a partner by your side, and faith, you can accomplish anything.

New Alabama Abortion Law Could Head To High Court

Currents News Staff

Alabama’s new bill bans abortion at every stage of pregnancy.

Those seeking an abortion would not be punished, but doctors performing the procedure would face 99 years in prison.

Women would only be able to get an abortion if their life is at risk, with no exception for rape or incest.

Alabama joins four other states this year that passed bills limiting abortion, and 11 other states that introduced similar legislation this year.

Alabama’s lawmakers say their bill is specifically designed to go to the Supreme Court and challenge the law of the land, Roe vs. Wade.

“This is the first time in 46 years that the makeup on the Supreme Court has changed where there’s possibly enough conservatives on there who would believe Roe vs. Wade is incorrectly decided,” said Eric Johnston, founder of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition.

“Life is a gift of our creator, and we must do everything that we can to protect life,” said Clyde Chambliss, the state’s Republican Senator.

“Keeping that bill as simple and as focused on the message, to me, was our goal,” agreed Terri Collins, the Republican State Representative from Alabama’s 8th District.

Meanwhile, crowds have been convening in Alabama’s Capitol, waving signs and protesting the most restrictive abortion bill in the country.

Chants of “what do we do,” and “stand up fight back,” echoed throughout the Senate chambers.

“You just aborted the state of Alabama. You just raped Alabama with this bill,” Democratic State Senator Bobby Singleton said.

With similar goals being pursued across the nation, the courts have intervened in some states, stopping Kentucky’s bill from going into effect and finding previous measures from North Dakota and Iowa unconstitutional.

How Catholics Can Champion Life Amidst Pro-Abortion Legislation

By Emily Drooby

Alabama State Senator Clyde Chambliss has spoken about the bill that would protect life in his state and outlaw virtually all killings of unborn children through abortion.

If Alabama’s Governor signs the measure as expected, the law might wind up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Joining us to discuss how Catholics can protect life in the face of political uncertainty is the Director of Pro-Life Activities for the New York State Catholic Conference, Kathy Gallagher.

Denver School Hero Laid To Rest With Help From Knights Of Columbus

Currents News Staff

Eighteen-year-old Kendrick Castillo was killed as he lunged toward a gunman during the shooting at his Denver area school on May 7. The shooting left eight others injured, and the Castillos without their son.

This week he was laid to rest with a celebration of life worthy of a hero. The Knights Of Columbus, which Castillo’s father is a member, contributed support to the funeral services.

The result of Castillo’s actions are still painful for his friends and family, even though his actions spared other families from grief.

The accused gunmen were both students at the school, and are now both facing charges as adults, including murder and attempted murder.

Castillo was about a foot away from one of the shooters and immediately jumped into action along with the help of two other students.

“He was a wonderful person and he was going off to college. He was doing great things, and it’s truly a shame that he had to leave us so early. It’s truly a shame that he had to make that kind of decision,” said Joshua Jones, a student who also tackled one of the shooters.

Meanwhile students are beginning to return to class to finish out the school year and make the final stretch toward graduation, a milestone Kendrick Castillo was only days away from.

Alabama Senate Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban

Currents News Staff

The Alabama Senate has passed House Bill 314, the most restrictive abortion bill in the country.

If the state’s Governor Kay Ivey signs it into law, the Alabama Human Life Protection Act would make performing an abortion a class a felony with a maximum prison sentence of 99 years.

“A life is a life. Even if its origins are in very difficult situations, that life is still precious,” said Senator Clyde Chambliss of Alabama’s 30th District.

The bill allows exceptions for deadly fetal abnormalities and the health of the pregnant woman. Senators rejected an amendment making exceptions for rape and incest.

“Keeping that bill as simple and as focused on the message, to me, was our goal,” said 8th District Representative Terri Collins.

Some supporters of this bill are focused on overturning Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion.

“I think this bill has too many flaws in it, and maybe it is the best thing that it goes up there and it doesn’t get affirmed, and Roe vs. Wade will still be the law of the land,” said State Senator Bobby Singleton, of Alabama’s 24th District.

Critics say this law infringes upon women’s freedom, and in some cases, health.

The Governor has six days to sign the bill.

A spokeswoman said Ivey would not comment until she reviews it. If she signs the bill, it would go into effect in six months.

Staci Fox, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeast says the organization will be going to court to “ensure abortion remains safe and legal.”

Vermont Becomes Latest State To Pass Extreme Abortion Legislation

Currents News Staff

An extreme bill that would end the lives of unborn children, at any time, has gone to the desk of the governor of Vermont.

The measure’s attack on the sanctity of life is just as harsh as the law Governor Andrew Cuomo pushed through in New York, allowing the destruction of an infant, even up to the moment of birth.

Vermont lawmakers even go one step further, wanting to make abortion a constitutional right.

Vermont’s Republican Governor Phil Scott supports abortion, but hasn’t said if he’ll sign the bill.

The Vermont action is the latest in a flurry of legislative moves on abortion.

Some moves, like those of New York and Vermont, are deadly to the lives of unborn children.

Other states, however, are passing laws to protect infants in the womb.

National Correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, Christopher White, joins us in the studio to discuss.

Currents News for Tuesday, May 14, 2019

On the newscast: A Catholic high school that’s educated young women in the Brooklyn Diocese for decades is closing. The reasons behind the end of Bishop Kearney; A deadly abortion bill is on the verge of becoming Vermont law. It is as bad as the extreme one in New York; A violent confrontation between a police officer and a women is captured on a cell phone camera; Disturbing violence targeting religious people is surging in America.

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