Currents News for Tuesday, March 5, 2019

On the newscast: Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio reacts to news New York’s top leaders are pushing a pot tax to fund mass transit; The secret Vatican archives about Pope Pius XII are being unsealed. Find out why Pope Francis is taking the action; A joyous celebration marking the rejuvenation of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Queens; The growing controversy over vaccinating children against preventable diseases is the subject of a hearing on Capitol Hill.

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

Lawmakers: It’s Time to “Acknowledge” Unborn Life

Currents News Staff

New York’s new law, the extreme Reproductive Health Act that removes virtually all restrictions on abortion, is under fire tonight.

Because of that law, the death of an unborn baby from a violent assault on a pregnant mom would not be a separate crime.

Now, there’s a proposal to change that and New York state Senator Catherine Young is a sponsor.

Backing the bill in the State Assembly is Marcos Crespo, a democrat who represents the Bronx and he joins Currents News from Albany to discuss the new proposal.

Vatican To Open Secret Archives On Pope Pius XII

Currents News Staff

The historical interpretation of Pope Pius XII’s pontificate changed after the theater play “The Vicar” by the German Rolf Hochhuth. In it he accused the then-pope of having remained silent during the Holocaust.

The reality is that Pope Pius XII secretly authorized the opening of the convents in Rome and Italy to receive Jews escaping from the Nazis.

Yad Vashem is Israel’s official Holocaust memorial institute. The center has for years asked for the archives to be open to explain Pope Pius XII’s role during those years. Pope Francis has listened.

“I have decided the opening of Vatican archives regarding Pope Pius XII will be March 2, 2020,” said Pope Francis.

It is Vatican policy to release internal documents relating to a pontiff 70 years after his papacy. In this case Pope Francis has authorized that the archives be opened eight years ahead of schedule.

He announced this during a meeting with employees of the Vatican Archives, better known as the “Vatican Secret Archives.” He said the documents soon to be available to scholars, range from March 1939 to October 1958.

The pope lamented that the image of Pope Pius XII is a victim of prejudice and exaggerations. He said he hopes the documents will shed the necessary light to explain the role of his predecessor.

“I have assumed this decision after hearing the opinion of my closest collaborators. With a serene and confident mind, sure that serious and objective historical research will be able to evaluate, in the proper light and with appropriate criticism, the praiseworthy moments of the Pontiff. Without any doubt, also moments of serious difficulties, of tormented decisions, of human and Christian prudence,” said Francis.

In fact, the process of canonization of Pope Pius XII is underway. In 2009, he was declared venerable.

Experts such as Dominiek Oversteyns, whom Rome Reports interviewed in 2014, stress that the silent help Pope Pius XII offered the Jews was very effective.

“On June 4, 1944, there were about 9,930 Jews, out of which 6,300 received help. That’s almost two-thirds,” said Oversteyns.

The decision to open the archives to scholars has also been welcomed by sectors critical of Pope Pius XII. They are satisfied at hearing the news because they say it could help shed light on one of the most difficult periods in history.

Catholic Charities is ‘Ready to be a Part of’ Tornado Recovery

Debris and a damaged house are seen following a tornado in Beauregard, Ala., March 3, 2019. At least 23 people were confirmed dead in Lee County, Ala. (CNS photo/Scott Fillmer via Reuters)

MOBILE, Ala. (CNS) — With search and rescue efforts underway for the tornado that whipped through Alabama and other parts of the South March 3, Mobile Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi asked for prayers for “those who lost their lives and their loved ones as well as those who have lost homes and businesses.”

“The catastrophic tornadoes which occurred yesterday in the Archdiocese of Mobile have brought loss of life and devastating damage,” said the archbishop in a March 4 statement.

He added that as recovery efforts begin, Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Mobile has reached out to the pastors of the affected areas to offer assistance for those in need and Catholic Social Services “stands ready” to be a part of the recovery.

The violent storms caused at least 23 deaths and scattered debris across parts of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and parts of South Carolina, knocking out power for more than 10,000 homes.

In Lee County, Alabama, where the tornado hit ground in the town of Beauregard, the sheriff’s office told reporters March 4 that 50 people were injured and that the number of missing was in the double digits. Sheriff Jay Jones said he expected the number of fatalities to rise.

“It’s extremely upsetting to me to see these people hurting like this and the families who have lost loved ones,” Jones said in a Weather Channel report. “This is a very tight-knit community. These people are tough. They’re resilient people, and it’s knocked them down. But they’ll be back.”

He also described the devastation as shocking, adding: “It looks almost as if someone took a giant knife and just scraped the ground. There are slabs where homes formerly stood, debris everywhere, trees snapped, whole forested areas where trees are snapped and lying on the ground.”

The threat of severe weather continued late into the night March 3 when a tornado watch was in effect for much of eastern Georgia and a large portion of South Carolina.

Teen Got Vaccinated, Parents Opposed

Currents News Staff

Ethan Lindenberger’s teen rebellion made headlines last year. On Tuesday he shared his story with Senators.

“My name is Ethan Lindenberger, and I’m a senior Norwalk High School, and my mother is an anti-vax advocate. I went my entire life without numerous vaccinations against diseases such as measles, chicken pox, and polio. However in December of 2018, I began catching up on my missed immunizations, despite my mother’s disapproval,” he said.

The hearing comes amid an increase in measles cases in the U.S., including recent outbreaks in Washington state and New York, and around the world.

Also, on the rise, according to a CDC report last year, the percentage of young children receiving no vaccines.

Senators dug into the spread of common fears and misinformation – especially via social media.

A study published Monday also rejects that idea, looking at around 650,000 children in Denmark over more than a decade, and finding the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, did not increase the risk of autism.

Despite his new platform Ethan Lindenberger hasn’t swayed opinions at home.

“I have tried to convey to my parents, that I don’t think they are stupid for believing it but that people are very convincing and that’s very dangerous,” he said.

He’s caught up on his vaccinations, but has expressed concern, about his younger siblings who have not.

Pot Tax Proposed for MTA Upgrades

By Emily Drooby

There’s always a scramble to find money for New York’s subways and buses. But a new plan to help fix mass transit with a tax on marijuana is something that’s causing a lot of talk and concern tonight, especially from Brooklyn’s Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio.

Bishop DiMarzio said, “We’re looking for trouble because it is a gateway drug for many people.”

Bishop DiMarzio is an outspoken critic of marijuana’s dangers, he’s concerned about the plan to pay for mass transit improvements with a pot tax. He explained, “We have practically stopped people from smoking cigarettes…because we wanted to make them more healthy. Now, because we can tax it, we think it’s going to be good that we have a whole new industry running around marijuana and that people are not going to be stoned when they’re driving their car and have accidents. I don’t see the wisdom in this.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio teaming up to release a 10-point plan on how they will transform the MTA and pay for it. Including raising money through congestion pricing tolls, where people would have to pay more to drive south of 61st street in Manhattan. Those tolls would be supplemented by a new internet sales tax and with quote, “a percentage of the state and city revenue from the cannabis excise tax” referring to the likely, but not yet hammered out, legalization of recreational marijuana in New York, endorsed by both politicians.

They say the money from congestion pricing and the two taxes would fund; new signaling for the subway, new subway cars, subway track and car repair, accessibility, buses and bus system improvements, expanding transit availability to areas with limited mass transit options.

Monsignor Joseph Nugent, who has spent much of his life working with recovering addicts in the Brooklyn Diocese, echoes the Bishop’s concerns over the plan.

Monsignor Nugent, said, “Interestingly enough over the years, the one thing that has surfaced over and over and over again was well I began smoking weed, it was an entrance level drug that led to the destructive cycle, that was destroying families, people and society.”

Monsignor Nugent’s biggest worry, the impact of addiction. He explained, “It’s destroying someone who has been created in the image and the likeness of god, the preciousness the sacredness of our life is being attacked by our own government.”

The tax of course depends on the state legalizing recreational marijuana which is not yet a reality.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio

Before the Lenten season begins, Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello brings you a Madri Gras special! Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio joins Msgr. Jamie in the kitchen for the first time, to cook a traditional Italian dish called Souten Boka. They talk about their roads to the priesthood, as well as the importance of vocations.

Msgr. David Cassato

Monsignor David Cassato talks and laughs with Ed Wilkinson about his journey from Brooklyn boy to police chaplain to becoming the “Pope of Bensonhurst.”

This show is available on Time Warner Cable Channel 97, Verizon Fios Channel 48 and Cablevision Channel 30 in the New York area. For more information, go to https://netny.tv/shows/on-the-block/

Fr. Gabriel Gillen

Why would a successful Wall Street stockbroker, who grew up surfing in the Rockaways, give up his career to become a Dominican Friar? Tune in and find out more about the fascinating life of Father Gabriel Gillen—the surfing priest.

This show is available on Time Warner Cable Channel 97, Verizon Fios Channel 48 and Cablevision Channel 30 in the New York area. For more information, go to https://netny.tv/shows/on-the-block/

100 Year Old Church Renewed and Rejuvenated

By Katie Engesser

Parishioners of Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal Church are amazed as they see what’s been accomplished in the place where they worship God.

“When you sit in mass sometimes, I just can’t help but sitting there and looking up at the stars,” said parishioner Karen Loweth, “I think it’s absolutely exquisite.”

“I think it’s fabulous,” Fred Hoefferle agreed.

Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop James Massa blessed the newly renovated church Sunday in conjunction with the parish’s 100th anniversary of serving the people of Ridgewood, Queens.

Pastor Father Anthony Sansone explained the renovations, saying “We needed to address the issues of the interior of the church.”

Thanks to the Brooklyn Diocese’s Generations of Faith fundraising campaign, many more generations will be able to witness stained glass windows dedicated to the Blessed Mother; as well as shrines for Our Lady of Czestochowa and Mary’s Mother, St Anne.

Bishop Massa talked about what’s happened at Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal, saying “The cracks of the church have been painted over and many of the statuary and images have been touched up. This is a wonderful history to the worship site of the church.”

The Ridgewood parish was established in 1917 but the faithful didn’t have a church building right away. That took more than ten years to create.

“The first church or chapel for Our Lady of The Miraculous Medal was the first floor of the school,” Bishop Massa said, “But it opened in August of 1929, within weeks of the Great Depression.”

Despite the economic calamity, the Miraculous Medal Parish continued to grow. In 1941, they finished their official church, shortly after another world-changing event: Pearl Harbor and the beginning of World War II.

“The church became kind of a place of refuge,” Bishop Massa said.

Now today’s parishioners of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal are providing for those who will follow.

Father Sansone said, “We have about 1,200 people who come here to mass every Sunday morning and we’re grateful to God for such an outpouring of devotion and commitment from parishioners.”

Because of all of them and their sacrifices, the church is rejuvenated for generations to come.

“I think all of this is making a big statement to the community that ‘we have a future.’ And it kind of points people in the direction of the future with great hope.” Bishop Massa said.