Currents News for Friday, March 1, 2019

On this special edition: A big problem for some New Yorkers that makes it almost impossible to get from the street to the subway; A young girl’s dying wish is to go to school. Her mother is turning heartbreak into action; A special honor for Catholic NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen. A memorial for the Catholic officer is celebrated in Queens; A new movie about a huge Pro-Life advocate is hitting the big screen. We have a sneak peek.

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)

Currents News for Thursday, February 28, 2019

On the newscast: Saint Joseph High School is coping with the passing of their beloved principal Caroline Latham; America’s top ally in the Middle East is facing indictment tonight on corruption charges; the reasons why roads are deadlier now than any time in nearly thirty years.

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)

Black History Month – Catholic Academy Students Learn and Perform

By Tim Harfmann

Students honored Black History Month by performing for children and parents at Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village, Queens. “It’s a time to celebrate all the black people that have done great things for us,” said Chrisitan Scott. The 2^nd grader dressed up as Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop.” Other students also dressed up as notable figures and pretended to be part of a wax museum. It was part of the festivities along with singing, dancing, poems and skits.

Four-year-old Sydney Mae-Campbell wasn’t too young to understand the Civil Rights Movement. She portrayed Rosa Parks. On-stage with her pre-k classmates, they perform a skit about the Montgomery bus boycott and Parks’ fight against segregation. “The man wasn’t being nice to her, so she boycotted the bus,” said Mae-Campbell.

But it wasn’t the only day students learned about black history. All month long, they worked on projects in their classrooms. “Every day we have a writing prompt on the board. Each day it’s a different person. Today was Barack Obama, and he had a quote. We had to write about it and explain its meaning,” said Michael Echevarre. He is an eighth grader at Incarnation Catholic Academy.

For the students, understanding black history gave them a greater appreciation for the past to continue the fight for equally in the future. “We can do whatever we want and that we can be free and do good things for the world,” said Shiloh Milford. He’s a 5^th grader at the Queens school. “Kids don’t understand what racism is, and that’s why adults need to teach them. So, they need to not contribute to racism and keep the world equal,” said Echevarre.

At the end of the show, all of the students sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as a show of solidarity.

School Coping with the Death of Beloved Principal

By Emily Drooby

The halls of Saint Joseph High School, quieter than usual, as students, like Armani Meza, adjust to a life without their beloved principal.

Meza explained, “She meant so much to me and my school I don’t know if it’ll ever be the same without her.”

The school has been doing their best to help those grieving. Guidance department head counselor, Mary Christy, explains it started when they broke the news of principal Latham’s death. Christy said, “We gave them the opportunity to go where in the building they needed to go. Did they need to talk to somebody, did they need to go to the chapel, did they need to be with each other?”

Extra help to deal with the profound loss continued throughout the week. Meza explained, “You can step out of the classroom whenever you want, there’s so many people you can speak too.”

Councilors have been available to students and staff and there were organized prayers on Wednesday at Saint Boniface Church.

During the prayer service, students wrote their favorite memories with principal Latham on these hearts, which are now hanging in the school lobby.

Rose Tomassi, a religion teacher, said, “There’s a sort of joy that comes from remembering someone who is really an incredible person and sharing those memories.”

Another way to remember principal Latham is by visiting her office, which has been left open, something students and staff have been taking advantage of.

Students and staff will also have the chance to say their final goodbyes, the school is busing people to the Friday morning mass of Christian burial, at least 170 people plan on going.

Protecting Muslim Babies

Currents News Staff

Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem is a space for hope in Palestine.

Here, in this Pediatric Intensive Care Ward, most of the babies are children of Muslim mothers.

One of them, Reema, gave this image of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a “thank you” to the doctors who saved her son’s life, after a complicated premature birth.

This health center, managed by the Order of Malta, is the only one capable of maintaining the life expectancy of premature babies born in Palestine with only seven months of gestation.

Of the 4,500 babies born here each year, about 470 need to go through this intensive care unit.

“The law in Palestine if a baby is born under 25 weeks is an abortion. Here, because we respect the soul and we respect Catholic principles. So, if the baby has a heart rate in the in the delivery room, we support them,” Micheline Alqassis, the Intensive Care Unit Doctor.

In addition to providing quality care for families in Bethlehem, this hospital is a promoter and example of religious coexistence.

“We work together, you know? Half of our employees are Muslims. Then 99.9 percent of our patients are Muslims. This makes us proud, that we are serving not only our people? Because if we were serving only our people, we wouldn’t do anything. Jesus Christ said if you love somebody from your family. Do you understand me? You didn’t do anything. But if you love somebody, even if they are a stranger or enemy, that is the important thing. This is the value,” said Alqassis.

This hospital, a few feet from the place where Jesus was born, is today a benchmark of professionalism and respect for the dignity of each patient.

“I truly thank the employees of the hospital. Because I first was admitted as a caesarian section but they stood with me and they helped me throughout the whole thing. In the end, I was able to deliver normally,” said Marwa Najarech a Palestinian mother.

The Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem continues to grow and prepares the construction of a new pavilion for gynecological care.

It’s a tribute to life right next to the place where Jesus was born.

Vietnam Summit Ends Without Agreement

Currents News Staff

President Trump is on his way back to Washington from Hanoi, without a deal.

“I think actually it was a very productive two days. But sometimes you have to walk,” said Trump.

The second summit between the two leaders in less than a year still aimed at convincing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to abandon his nuclear program.

Top advisers to the President were said to have warned him that the North Koreans would be unyielding on the topic of the sanctions that severely restrict their trade.

The President thought he could make more progress face to face with Kim but in the end, said he didn’t want to make a bad deal.

“They wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, and we couldn’t do that. They were willing to denuke a large portion of the areas that we wanted. But we couldn’t give up all of the sanctions for that,” said Trump.

There is no third summit set. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said both sides need some time to regroup but the summit and weeks of work by each side ahead of it showed some signs of progress.

“We made real progress. And indeed, we made even more progress when the two leaders say down over the last 24, 36 hours. Unfortunately, we didn’t get all the way. We didn’t get to something that ultimately made sense for the United States of America,” said Pompeo.

President Trump spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-In after leaving the summit. Both urged continued discussions.

Six Years Since Benedict’s Exit

Currents News Staff

It was exactly six years ago today that the then-Pope Benedict XVI left the Vatican. It came after the historical announcement of his resignation.

On the day Benedict XVI left the papal apartments, he was greeted with a round of applause from the bishops and Vatican employees.

He was then escorted to a helicopter within the Vatican Gardens where he was flown to the papal apartments in Castel Gandolfo. It was there that he gave his last speech as Pope.

World’s Smallest Baby Goes Home

Currents News Staff

The world’s smallest baby was born in Tokyo and weighed just over half a pound at birth. He now has left Tokyo’s Keio University hospital and is headed home.

At birth the baby boy weighed only 268 grams, that’s a little bit over half a pound.

After five months of nutrition management, the baby’s weight is now up seven pounds-two ounces, becoming the world’s smallest baby boy to be sent home healthy.

Before that the record was held by a male infant in Germany who weighed 274 grams at his birth in 2009.

Currents News for Wednesday, February 27, 2019

On the newscast: Mourning the sudden passing of Caroline Latham, the beloved principal of Saint Joseph High School; President Trump’s ex-lawyer Michael Cohen goes public with allegations against his former client; A Brooklyn bishop is leading the humanitarian effort to help those affected by the crisis in Venezuela; Why convicted Cardinal George Pell has been taken away to jail.

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)

Catholic Relief Services Sends Aid to Venezuela

By Tim Harfmann

The people of Venezuela are desperate. They’re so hungry, they’re eating out of the garbage because relief supplies have been destroyed. Venezuelan soldiers locked arms to shut off humanitarian aid from reaching the country’s citizens. But Catholic Relief Services — the international, Catholic aid agency — is doing its best to help. “Politics come and go. Unfortunately, sometimes they get worse than ever. But the Church and the humanitarian efforts go on. We just find a way to serve, especially the needy and the poor, in any way we can,” said Bishop Gregory Mansour. The Brooklyn-based bishop is the chairman of CRS.

CRS is working with Caritas, another international aid organization, to provide basic goods to the Latin American country. Over 3.5-million Venezuelans have fled the nation to receive emergency materials in neighboring countries. “In the last couple of weeks, we know — for sure — some of the relief has gotten in; or people have come over the boarder to receive it,” said Bishop Mansour.

Venezuelan bishops called on the government to end the crisis and listen to people pleading for help. “The (Venezuelan bishops) I’ve known, they’re men of integrity; and I think when they cry out, we should listen,” said Bishop Mansour. He hoped the United States is able to bring about a peaceful solution in Venezuela. “I just hope and pray that the American government and whatever becomes of the Venezuelan government, will find some meeting of the mind for the good of people.”

Bishop Mansour promised Catholic Relief Services will continue to provide aid for Venezuela for as long as it takes.