Currents News for Friday, May 10, 2019

On the newscast: There’s an uproar tonight after Louis Farrakhan, known for anti-Semitic and racist speech, was invited to address a Chicago Catholic church; Brooklyn Deacon Michael Falce will soon be a priest. His inspirations… and who had concerns about his vocation; The connection between immigrants and expressions of faith. Bishop DiMarzio explores that; What happened when intruders invaded a home… caught on camera.

Today’s top news from the Catholic perspective anchored by Liz Faublas. Currents News airs Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET on NET-TV (netny.tv)

Chicago Priest Defends Inviting Islamic Leader Louis Farrakhan To Speak At Parish

By Emily Drooby

Following being banned from Facebook over hate speech, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan was invited to speak at Saint Sabina Church in Chicago by the the parish’s senior pastor, Father Michael Pfleger.

The speech served as a response to the Facebook ban, which removed Farrakhan from the social media service for promoting violence.

This ban comes on the heels of Farrakhan’s years-long reputation as an extremist figure, one who often speaks out against the Jewish community, women, and people of other races.

“It’s this that they fear. I don’t have no army. I just know the truth, and I’m here to separate the good Jews from the satanic Jews,” said Farrakhan in his speech to Saint Sabina parishioners.

These shocking words were uttered to the crowd by Minister Farrakhan while, at the same time, he was also denying hating people of the Jewish faith.

At a pre-speech press conference, representatives from the local Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center had condemned the event and Farrakhan.

“I know words hurt. I have lived through it and as a Holocaust survivor I know what was done to me, and to us, in the concentration camps because of words,” said Fritzie Fritzshall, Auschwitz survivor and museum President.

During his speech at Saint Sabina, Farrakhan also attacked Pope Francis.

“There’s not another human being on this earth that speaks like Farrakhan, that challenges just like Farrakhan, that has the wisdom of Farrakhan. Even to the Pope of Rome, and all those that you think are wise,” he said of himself.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has distanced itself from the event, saying they did not sponsor it and that their Cardinal, Blase Cupich, was not consulted.

The Archdiocese clarified that they were not involved in the organization and planning of the event in a statement.

“At a time when hate crimes are on the rise, when religious believers are murdered in their places of worship, we cannot countenance any speech that dehumanizes persons on the basis of ethnicity, religious belief, economic status or country of origin,” the statement said.

Father Pfleger, who did plan the event, confirmed with Currents News that he did not seek the Archbishop’s permission before booking Farrakhan, and also defended his decision to host the controversial Islamic leader.

“I don’t expect everyone to agree with me,” he said in a phone interview.

“I just want everybody to listen and to make a decision out of having heard for themselves, but 99 percent of the congregation was extremely supportive, and stood with us, and were here.”

Father Pfleger further defended both Farrakhan’s comments on Pope Francis and the Jewish community.

“In many of our religions there are good and there are evil people. He uses the word ‘satanic,’ I use the word ‘evil.’ There’s good and evil people who call themselves Christians,” he said.

Pope To Superiors Generals: You Did Not Become Nuns To Clean Up After Clergy

Currents News Staff

On Friday the Pope met at the Vatican with the International Union of Superiors General.

More than 800 Superiors from different congregations had come to Rome for their plenary assembly.

They received the Pope with enormous enthusiasm, as well as some nervousness.

“I never imagined I would be at the right hand of the Father,” said one Superior in attendance.

Pope Francis then decided to put aside his prepared speech and give a more spontaneous one instead, speaking to them about the commission that is studying female deacons during the early times of Christianity.

This commission is one which the International Union of Superiors General had requested. The Pope told the union he would give them a preliminary report as experts continue to work on the issue, despite many holding different positions on the topic.

“I cannot make a sacramental vow without theological, historical foundation,” he told the Superiors at the assembly.

“There has been a lot of work, but there are little results. However, it is a step forward. Certainly there was a form of women deacons, especially in Syria and in that area. In time I will call the members of the commission to find out the latest updates,” he said, holding firm to the belief that the commission must continue to move forward in its studies.

Pope Francis also spoke to the Superiors General about the reality of abuses in the Church, the role of religious in those instances, and answered questions.

He said he has been aware of the abuses of power, conscience and sexuality that many religious have suffered. For this reason, he wanted to make one point clear:

“The abuse of nuns is a serious problem. I am also aware of it here in Rome. I am aware of the problems from the information that I receive. Not only of the sexual abuse of nuns, but the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience. We must fight against this,”

“Please, service yes, servitude no. You have not become religious to become the cleaners of a clergyman, no,” he told the women.

He also responded to an invitation made to him by another religious for the next plenary session of the Superiors General, to be held in three years time.

“I will seriously consider it. However, if I will be alive to participate in the next assembly I don’t know,” he said.

“If I’m alive I will go. If not, remind the successor,” he told them.

They ended this meeting by all praying the Regina Coeli together.

The Road To Priesthood In The Brooklyn Diocese: Michael Falce’s Story

By Katie Engesser

On Sunday mornings, Catholic children around the Diocese learn the Word of God during Mass, among them the children at Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Mill Basin, Brooklyn.

Similarly, that’s how Deacon Michael Falce’s road to the priesthood began years ago.

“I can’t really remember a time when we missed Mass, Mass was really important to us,” said Deacon Falce on how being an active parishioner has had an impact on his life.

Growing up in Glendale, Deacon Michael came from a very religious family. His mother is on the Parish Council and a minister of Holy Communion, while his father is a Knight of Columbus and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre.

From a young age Deacon Falce followed his family into the faith, becoming an alter server in his parish of Saint Pancras. There, his parish priests soon saw a spark in him, a call to a vocation that even parishioners noticed.

“You know you really make a great priest. We just see you up there, and you even look like a little priest,” members of the Church community would say to him as a child.

When it came time to look at high schools, Falce considered Christ the King, the place where his parents first met.

But then he stepped foot inside Cathedral Prep, a high school and seminary meant to be a place where young boys could consider a vocation to the priesthood.

Falce knew that was where he wanted to go, but his parents were concerned.

“They thought maybe I was signing my life away,” he said.

“You know, in freshman year of high school I was committed to this already at that time, and I remember sitting very vividly in the living room talking about that. My father said, ‘you can get involved in campus ministry in any high school in the Diocese, and you can still explore this vocation while going to one of the other schools,’ and i said ‘no, this is where I want to go. I feel like this place is going to be like a home.’”

Cathedral Prep became more than a home, it became a place where Falce made up his mind to say yes to God.

“I remember the first day of senior year, I asked for the application to Douglaston because I was ready to go,” he said.

And on the day he received his acceptance letter into the seminary, the first people he told were his mom and dad.

“When I got the letter I ran down into the basement and excitedly explained to him I got the acceptance, and he was happy,” Falce remembered.

Now, as Deacon Michael prepares to fulfill that vocation, he is excited to serve the people of the Brooklyn Diocese, and they are excited to have him.

“Everyone wants to keep you in their parish, they want to chain me in the pew. They never want me to leave. It’s a great thing because you see the joy they have, the love they have for the priests of a Diocese.”

60 Second Review – “Breakthrough”

David DiCerto reviews the real-life miraculous drama BREAKTHROUGH!

Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan Speaks At Chicago’s St. Sabina Church

Currents News Staff

St. Sabina Church in Chicago hosted Minister Louis Farrakhan Thursday night, just a week after the Nation of Islam leader was one of several people banned from Facebook for promoting “violence and hate.”

At least one Jewish-led organization is criticizing the church for the Farrakhan event, saying it will provide a “platform for bigotry.”

“There’s not another human being on this earth that speaks like Farrakhan, that challenges just like Farrakhan, that has the wisdom of Farrakhan. Even to the Pope of Rome. And all those that you think are wise,” Louis Farrakhan said as cheers of support for himself and Father Michael Pfleger filled the packed church.

“Perhaps that is why Facebook wanted to ban him. To keep people from hearing his whole talk, his entire message. And the truth that he seeks to teach us,” Pfleger told the crowd.

Pfleger invited Farrakhan to speak after Facebook banned the Nation of Islam leader last week, citing its policy against those who promote and engage in violence or hate.

“If you’re going to ban Farrakhan from social media, why not ban the President from social media when one could say why, or the black community could say our president’s rhetoric can invoke violence, and it has,” said one attendee.

Earlier, leaders from the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie joined a representative of the Archdiocese of Chicago at a press conference raising concerns that Pfleger was providing a platform for bigotry and anti-Semitism.

“I know words hurt. I have lived through it and as a Holocaust survivor I know what was done to me and to us in the concentration camps because of words,” said one woman.

“We hope that the platform tonight will be focused in a positive way on our common humanity,” another added.

In a statement the Archdiocese said Cardinal Cupich was not consulted before the event was announced.

“This is not an Archdiocese sponsored event. The Cardinal has made clear his support of the First Amendment, but that that comes with great responsibilities and calls upon all of us to not use hateful and denigrating language.”

Currents News for Thursday, May 9, 2019

On the newscast: Pope Francis is taking action to better protect people from sexual abuse. He’s issuing a law that will be in force around the world; Outrage is growing after a school principal was banned from saying ‘God Bless America’ to his students; The sky-high prices of some medicines could be coming down after what President Trump said; And three “Eagles” from a Queens church are flying high.

Today’s top news from the Catholic perspective anchored by Liz Faublas. Currents News airs Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET on NET-TV (netny.tv)

Members Of Troop Sponsored By Diocesan Community Become Eagle Scouts

By Emily Drooby

Three members of a Boy Scout troop sponsored by Saint Anastasia Catholic Church in Douglaston have all risen to the rank of Eagle Scout, an achievement for which the trio was recognized during a ceremony.

For parishioner Ryan Cahn and his friends, it was a special accomplishment indeed. An average of only two percent of Boy Scouts have advanced to become an Eagle Scout since the rank was started in 1912.

But when it came to Cahn, being a Boy Scout is a family tradition, so much so that Ryan’s own father was his Scoutmaster.

“My dad was a Boy Scout and he only got to ‘Star’, so I wanted to beat him. That was a lot of source of inspiration,” said Ryan of what motivated him to keep climbing the ranks.

“I figured this would be something, hopefully he would get something out of it, like i did,” said Marc Cahn, Ryan’s father and Scoutmaster.

With his father at his side, Ryan Cahn not only advanced past the rank of Star Scout, he went all the way to the top, now an Eagle Scout.

“The day of his Court of Honor may have been one of the best days of my life,”said Marc of the ceremony which officially recognizes a Scout’s highest rank.

“Wow, I get a little misty now thinking about it. It was something quite special.”

Becoming an Eagle Scout is so significant because it is incredibly hard to do. A Scout must live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and earn 21 merit badges.

They have to plan, develop, and lead a service project, among other requirements, and do so all before their 18th birthday.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who was a Boy Scout himself, said that completing all these tasks builds character.

“They do well in life because they learn discipline and learn many skills that are important, and service, which is really part of what an Eagle Scout is about,” he said.

“Iit is an award of service to others, and that’s what the Scouts are about.”

“It’s great, just after having done all the steps to get here, it’s nice to say I’m here now,” said Paul Russell, one of the three troop members to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

For his project, Paul distributed one thousand kits that help health professionals get people’s medical information quickly in an emergency.

The third troop member to become an Eagle Scout, Vito, revitalized a Queens park, while Ryan renovated a Douglaston American Legion Post.

While they each had their own project, in true Scout fashion, the boys helped each other.

“I want to be that kind of person who is always helpful, who can lend a helping hand,” said Ryan of why he became a Scout in the first place.

“One of the best parts is the fact that you’re going to be in a group of guys that are in the same boat as you,” said Paul.

“You just need that, you need someone to be there for you. Whether or not you need the help, it’s great to have people there for you.”

Their success as a group and as individuals shows how they live by the Scout Oath of helping other people. Ultimately, While the Cahn’s might be family by blood, the Eagles are family through the Boy Scouts.

Since the boys ceremony, the troop has added one more Eagle Scout, Noah Chen.

Trump Praises Chinese Tariff Increases, Plans To Add More Imported Goods To The List

Currents News Staff

President Trump has been slamming China and praising an upcoming tariff increase on Chinese-made goods.

“We’re not going to be taken advantage of anymore,” said President Trump.

“We’re not going to pay China 500 billion dollars a year, so we put very heavy tariffs on China as of Friday.”

The tariffs have gone into place as the U.S. and China trade talks continue in Washington.

Last July, the Trump administration imposed its first round of tariffs on 50 billion dollars of Chinese exports.

In September, it added a ten percent tariff on approximately 200 billion dollars of additional goods.

At midnight on Friday, those tariffs increase to 25 percent, increasing the price for things like fish, soybeans, handbags, steel, and more.

“On the apparel side they’re going to hit us in our hats, our handbags, our wallets.They’re going to hit us on baseball gloves.” said Rick Helfenbein, President of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, on the effects of the tariffs.

Not on the current list: things like iPhones, televisions, shoes, and toys.

President Trump said tariffs on those popular items are coming soon, meaning American consumers will soon be paying more for nearly everything imported from China.

Pope Announces Groundbreaking New Standards For Reporting Clergy Abuse

Currents News Staff

Pope Francis’ new document entitled “You are the light of the world” is aimed at keeping religious men and women accountable for their actions.

It gives every diocese in the world until June 2020 to establish a mandatory office with “one or more public, stable and easily accessible systems for submission of reports.” It will address abuse committed, child abuse cover ups and the use of child pornography.

Crimes of abuse against religious sisters and also those committed against seminarians or novices by other clerics are included in the document.

The goal is for each victim to be listened to, protected and taken seriously.

“This is for the global Church. The Pope, who is the Supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church is giving a law to the universal Church,” said Monsignor Charles Scicluna, Prelate of the Catholic Church.

The Pope’s Groundbreaking Law On Abuse Will Be Felt Throughout The Global Church

Now, all religious men and women are obliged to “report promptly” to ecclesiastical authorities any accusation of abuse they hear, a major change included within the document. While only religious are included in this mandate, laity are also asked to participate.

A lay person may also investigate a case, if the individual involved in the investigation is “free of conflicts of interest.” Each lay person is also required to take an oath to carry out the investigation properly.

Yet, the ultimate responsibility for investigations lies with the Metropolitan Archbishop, who also has new responsibilities.

When investigating bishops, he will receive a mandate from the Holy See to look into the case. The process will now also operate under fixed time frames, requiring a “status report on the state of the investigation” every thirty days. This will ensure everyone is responding to a case in a timely manner.

Additionally, a fund may be created to pay for the cost of the investigations. It will be managed by an administrator, who must receive a full account of how the money was spent at the end of the investigation.

Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Applauds The Pope’s Groundbreaking Move

The Metropolitan Archbishop must send the results to the competent Vatican Dicastery, who will continue the process in accordance with canonical norms and Vatican law. The Holy See, at that point, can set preventative and restrictive measures against the accused.

The penalties for committing a crime of sexual abuse remain the same, but the Pope is cracking down on the actions, or lack of them, being taken around the world, creating these mandatory global procedures for reporting and investigating abuse cases.