On the newscast: The Child Victims Act is now law, and abuse survivors are reacting; A thief is caught on camera inside a Catholic Church in Manhattan; The Pope’s favorite nun is being evicted; A Catholic couple married for almost 50 years, credits the power of the pen for their strong marriage.
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)
By Tim Harfmann
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made it official to a round of applause. At the New York Daily News office in Manhattan, the governor told survivors of abuse he stands with them. “This is society’s way of saying we are sorry,” said Governor Cuomo.
The Child Victims Act raises the statute of limitations to 55 years old in civil cases, opens up a one-year window for all past victims of child sexual abuse to file a civil claim — no matter how long ago the abuse took place; and victims have until the age of 28 to press criminal charges.
There’s been a battle in Albany for years between the Catholic governor and the Catholic Church, with previous versions of the bill criticized for targeting the Church, while ignoring abuse in secular society. Last month, the New York State Catholic Conference withdrew objections to the legislation when the statute was broadened to include public institutions. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio told Currents News there are still shortcomings. “There’s no systematic way that people can get retribution because it’s going to be mixed up in the court system. That will take forever,” said Bishop DiMarzio. The bishop reiterated the Diocese of Brooklyn’s commitment to stand with survivors and said the new law is now fair because its scope extends beyond just the Church. “It’s not an institutional problem of the Church. It’s a problem of individuals in the Church and of society,” said Bishop DiMarzio.
During the Valentine’s Day press conference, Governor Cuomo said he always separated his official duties as governor from his Catholic faith. “It’s hard to take on your own Church. Well, there are a courageous few for whom it’s not about politics. It’s about making change, even when that change will cost you politically,” said the governor.
New Yorkers Anthony Raiola and Rafael Mendoza, two clerical abuse survivors, spoke about the new law moments before the governor signed it. “(I’m) extremely happy. I think it’s about time these people, the diocese needs to be accountable,” said Raiola. “I’m thrilled. I’m happy this is going through because I know I’m not the only one who has gone through something like this; and I just want justice,” said Mendoza.
By Currents News Staff
By Emily Drooby
Every day, Karen and Richie Roginski write love letters to each other. They credit their strong marriage on the deep connection they have formed through reading and discussing the letters.
Karen explained, “It can be the most minute thing, how do I feel about broccoli, but you’re really sharing how you feel.”
While Richie said, “But you’re really sharing deeply, it really draws you, it’s kind of magnetic.”
The Roginski’s started the practice 40 years ago. While they have taken small breaks, they do have a 4,615-day streak. They keep all the letters in what they call dialogue journals. They also use dialogue questions in the letters as jumping off points; for example, a recent question was, ‘what were the circumstances that told me that this was the one?’
Karen explained, “We always found we were much better dialoguing then not dialoguing.”
The couple was married in 1969 at Saint Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church in Queens. Recalling her wedding day, Karen explained, “I couldn’t wait to be with him, to spend the rest of our lives together.” While Richie said, “I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing without Karen in my life. Seriously.”
They said forgiveness, their faith and Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a Catholic pro-marriage organization that uses weekend experiences to strengthen marriages, has kept their marriage strong.
Karen further explained, “Anyone who’s married should do a Marriage Encounter Weekend, anyone, whether you are Catholic, non-Catholic whatever, on the weekend, you learn to focus on the things that keep a marriage strong, you learn communications skills that you can take with you, you will always have those skills.”It was during one of those weekends, that they learned the love letter exercise.
On August 24th, for their official 50th anniversary, the Roginski’s will once again walk down the aisle at Saint Robert Bellarmine to renew and reaffirm their wedding vows. A way to celebrate a life filled with happiness, love, faith, and dialogue.
By Currents News Staff
At 10:17 this morning, students across Florida stood silent. The tribute honoring the 17 people who died one year ago at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School.
One year ago today there was chaos and confusion during the Valentine’s Day shooting rampage. But now, a peaceful memorial garden stands outside the school. A sign with the school’s unofficial slogan, saying MSD strong, hangs above.
Robert Runcie, superintendent of Broward County Schools, said “Today is a day that we are calling a day of service and love to honor the victims.”
In almost an instant, student survivors became activists and made it their mission to campaign for gun reform.
Student Jaclyn Corin saying “this is our generation’s Vietnam war, except the war is in our country”
Emma Gonzalez warned, “fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job.”
Since the shooting, 26 states and Washington D.C have passed varying gun control measures.
Student Alex Wind asserted “we were the only people that could have made this movement possible.”
Cameron Kasky, expressing hope, said “we’re really seeing a lot of reasons to look to the future.”
But after a year of activism, today is a day for silence.
By Currents News Staff
Since the death of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran in early July, the Camerlengo position has been vacant, but that is no longer the case. The Camerlengo certifies and announces the death of the Pope to the public and destroys his ring, so no new Vatican documents can be falsified with his seal.
Pope Francis named Cardinal Kevin Farrell the new Camerlengo. He’s currently the Prefect for the Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life.
Cardinal Farrell told Currents News about the moment he first heard the announcement, saying “I was shocked. I was surprised. I, you know, told the Holy Father that, ‘Yeah, I’d accept, but on one condition – that he speak at my funeral.’ So what can I say? To be quite honest with you, I have never thought of anything like this. “
All joking aside, he presumes the nomination at this point in time is not significant of health problems with Pope Francis, but rather a task the Holy Father hadn’t gotten around to doing.
“I guess somebody put a piece of paper in front of the Holy Father sometime recently and said to him, ‘Holy Father, you have to name a Camerlengo. It’s part of the structure of the Church,’” Cardinal Farrell said, “I’m sure he said, ‘Oh, yeah, you better get me a list of all the Cardinals.’”
Upon the Pope’s death, Cardinal Farrell will be the Vatican City Head of State until a new pope is elected, informing the College of Cardinals on news the Pope normally would receive. While the Camerlengo role isn’t very demanding on a daily basis, it is historical, dating all the way back to 1147. Now in 2019, we have Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
On the newscast: a tragic case of friendly fire claims the life of a member of the NYPD; Pope Francis blesses an unborn baby in the womb as the late-term abortion debate rages across America; A local baked is spreading some Valentines Day cheer with cheesecakes for the homeless.
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)
By Tim Harfmann
Lisa Cotoggio owns Grandma’s Cheesecake Sandwiches, an online-based company, and she wanted to help those who have fallen on hard times. “It’s always been my biggest fear that I would wind up homeless,” said an emotional Cotoggio, “I just think it’s very important that we help them.” So the Bayside, Queens baker made 150 heart-shaped pastries for Valentine’s Day.
Using her grandmother’s recipe, cherry-filled cheesecake is sandwiched between two cookies and topped with chocolate. They’re baked with love. “I don’t have my own valentine, and I figured a lot of homeless people didn’t have a valentine either; so I thought maybe I could be everyone’s valentine this year and make some people feel better,” said Cotoggio.
Cotoggio’s first stop on Wednesday, February 13th was the Long Island Railroad station in Babylon. Fifty-five-year-old Thomas Wrightington has been on the streets for eight months. A former baker himself, he’s trying to get back on his feet. He described how the gesture made him feel. “Special. We’re on the streets here, so it’s nice that someone comes by and gives us some food,” said Wrightington. A Catholic himself, Wrightington said he turns to local parishes for help. To him, Cotoggio is a Godsend. “She’s an angel from above. She really is,” said Wrightington.
Growing up a parishioner at Saint Fidelis Church in College Point, Queens Cotoggio attended Catholic school there. The faith-based education instilled values leading to her good deed. “My Catholic faith played a tremendous role in this. They teach you, in Catholic school, to be caring and humble and to help the less fortunate,” said Cotoggio.
At Saint Patrick’s Church in Bay Shore, it was lunchtime in the soup kitchen. Cotoggio brought dessert. “It’s a beautiful spirit. She’s blessed for doing it, and I’m blessed for receiving it,” said Michael Lopuch. The 65-year-old was at the church for lunch. “They’re human just like we are, and people need to remember that,” said Cotoggio.
The Catholic baker also passed out desserts in Midtown Manhattan on Valentine’s Day.
By Emily Drooby
Polo Savinon tended to a memorial vigil for Detective Brian Simonsen who was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday night. Savinon said, “It’s hard to know that you see somebody every day who’s actually humble who has that down to earth indistinct to know they’re not going to be here tomorrow.”
Savinon works at the deli just around the corner from the 102nd precinct in Richmond Hill. He says Detective Simonsen was a regular fixture in the shop and beloved in the community.
Savinon said, “Brian took the time out of his day just to acknowledge your presence just to make sure you’re doing good. You could be a trouble maker in the neighborhood. He was still going to say hi to you, still going to make sure you’re okay.”
The morning after the shooting, Savinon and his co-workers closed down the deli for an hour-long prayer vigil to honor the 42-year-old officer. Savinon said, “Everybody said a prayer, here and there, but it was mainly a moment of silence for him because I feel like he at least deserved that.”
Detective Simonsen was shot by friendly fire while responding to reports of an armed robbery at a T-Mobile store near 120th street and Atlantic avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens. Officers shot at the suspect, Christopher Ransom, who had a fake gun in his hand. During the shooting, Detective Simonsen was hit by friendly fire.
NYPD Commissioner, James O’Neill said, “Make no mistake about it, friendly fire aside, it is because of the actions of the suspect, that Detective Simonsen is dead.”
The suspect was shot several times, but is expected to survive. Detective Simonsen was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, but died of his wounds.
Commissioner O’Neill said, “This is an absolute tragedy, the worst outcome any police officer or family of a police officer can ever imagine. The sympathy’s and prayers of the entire NYC police department are with the family of Detective Simonsen tonight.”
Monsignor David Cassato, Deputy Chief Chaplain for the NYPD, was at that hospital to help Detective Simonsen’s fellow officers and family cope with the loss. Monsignor Cassato said, “Big police officers all breaking down in tears that’s one of their own, that’s one of their own, part of the family, it was a very, very, very sad moment.”
But Monsignor Cassato, explained, prayer has a lot of power during a moment of loss; “And we prayed together, the Our Father, and you could see there a peace come over, and the power of prayer I think is the sense of God being with us at this moment, god helping us to walk through this moment.”
Currents News Staff
Iran flexing its military muscle, launching ballistic missiles which the Islamic Republic says have become more lethal in this past year. At this arms expo in Tehran, a spokesperson for the elite revolutionary guard corps praising the weapons.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is able to respond on the same level to any threats against it,” said Brig. Gen. Davoud Abdi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
On display, ballistic missiles with ranges up to two thousand kilometers or almost thirteen hundred miles, capable of hitting targets in many places in the Middle East and highly maneuverable cruise missiles with a range of several hundred kilometers according to Iran’s armed forces.
Hossein Kanani Moghaddam is a former Commander who used to meet regularly with Ayatollah Homeini. He says Iran’s missiles are key to its defense and bargaining power.
“One of our policies to countering the sanctions is to expand our missile program. This is exactly the path we’re following. the more they increase the sanctions the more we will boost our missile capabilities,” he said.
For the first time Iran recently revealed video of a secret missile assembly factory. The U.S. says Tehran is breaching U.N resolutions by bolstering its missile program, a claim the Iranian government rejects.
Iranians say their missiles are vital to this country’s defense, they have every right to not only maintain but to also enhance both the range and the quality of their missile arsenal.
Israel says Iran’s ballistic missiles are an unacceptable threat to its security and the Trump administration has imposed sanctions also citing its ballistic missile program.
National Security Advisor John Bolton ripped into Iran’s leadership saying, “Iran continues to seek nuclear weapons to intimidate people and ballistic missiles to use as military systems.”
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but is not backing down from its missile program a major factor driving the confrontation between Iran and the U.S.