Pennsylvania born and educated, Father John Gribowich took a circuitous route to the priesthood. He taught high school for 10 years prior to coming to New York City where he worked in a bookstore and museum before entering the seminary and embarking on his new life.
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Currents News for Friday, February 15, 2019
On this special edition of Currents News: Young people pack the pews of St. Patrick’s Cathedral…they’re using prayer to cope with New York’s new abortion law; President Trump takes on that law during his State of the Union address; A furor erupts over the renaming of a Brooklyn street; Anchor Liz Faublas reports on the annual Archdiocesan Black History Month Mass, where Catholics celebrate with a sign of faith.
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 14, 2019
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)
Cuomo Signs Child Victims Act
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.
Man Steals From Prominent Church
By Currents News Staff
Police are on the lookout for a man who stole from a prominent Catholic church on the Upper East Side. Detectives are searching for a man distinctly dressed in a fur-lined floor-length coat, who stole four brass candlestick holders from Saint Monica’s Church on East 79th Street. Each candlestick is said to be work $3,000.
The 142 year-old parish is often frequented by prominent cardinals, including the head of the New York Archdiocese, Timothy Dolan.
The NYPD is still working to identify the suspect and is asking for the public’s help. Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers at 800-577-TIPS or send a text to CRIMES then enter TIP 577.
Married Couple Writes Daily Love Letters
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.
One Year After Parkland: Tributes And Silence
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.
New Vatican Camerlengo Named
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.
Currents News For Wednesday, February 13, 2019
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)
Catholic Baker Delivers Hearts for Homeless
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.