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Bishop DiMarzio Leads Regional Meetings with the Faithful

By Tim Harfmann

Under Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio’s leadership, the Diocese of Brooklyn is producing an informational video, which pastors will soon be able to share with their parishioners, addressing the recent headlines about the sexual abuse crisis in the Church.

“Information is hard to get out. That’s why I wanted to do this because I knew people did not know what we are doing,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

The video will feature highlights from four gatherings called regional meetings with Bishop DiMarzio and the lay faithful. They took place at four parishes. In all, approximately 1,000 parish leaders attended.

“It’s impossible to reach everybody. But now with these four sessions, we’ll get some of the leadership and then have something that we can use with everyone,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto, vicar general and vicar for clergy and consecrated life; Jasmine Salazar, vice chancellor and victim assistance coordinator; and Maryellen Quinn, safe environment coordinator, joined Bishop DiMarzio. Attendees were allowed to ask Bishop DiMarzio any question.

Bishop DiMarzio referred to the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program (IRCP). Initiated by the diocese last year, survivors could come forward and work with an independent law firm to reach a resolution regarding their claim. Bishop DiMarzio said that program helped the diocese get a better understanding of the scope of the cases that spanned decades. “The fact of the matter is we only knew 14 percent. You cannot cover up what you don’t know. The rest of it was unknown to us,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Before the question and answer sessions, the audience was presented with important information about the crisis and what the Church has done to prevent sexual abuse.

“These are probably your most informed parishioners, and I’m sure this is the first time some of them are hearing that information. So the general population of parishioners at large — they may be unaware,” said Christopher Spinelli. He’s a parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

Data and graphs from an independent study conducted by researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice showed the crisis peaked in the 1980s. Also, the majority of abusers were priests who did their seminary studies in the 1950s and 60s. “An epidemic is something has a beginning, a high point, and then it ends. This is the key thing we need to understand, that the sexual abuse in the Church really has extinguished itself,” said Bishop DiMarzio.

Participants were also shown videos, including one with testimonies from sexual abuse survivors within the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Salazar talked about the outreach the Office of Victim Assistance does for survivors and the programs that are in place to help them. “The hope is with this information that’s being shared, more and more will know that if you are a survivor, or come across a survivor, that the message be communicated — you are cared for, and you are not alone,” said Salazar.

After the meetings, the feedback was positive. “It was good to know, the programs that they have for them. I didn’t about that,” said Gloria Dabreo. She’s a parishioner at St. Therese of Lisieux Church.

“I think it was very good that the bishop provided information on the accuracy of what’s actually happening. It’s important for us to get our own information from our bishop and not just through the media,” said Vincent Camastro. He’s a parishioner at Holy Name of Jesus Church.

The informational video will be released in the coming weeks. And for easy access, all of the information will soon be posted on a separate page of the diocese of Brooklyn’s website.

Currents News for Monday, November 26, 2018

On the newscast: The Diocese of Brooklyn is producing an informational video to address parishioners’ concerns about the abuse crisis in the Church; Tear gas at the southern border and tension on the high seas.

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)

Tensions Boil At Southern Border

Currents News Staff

Tension on the southern border, as thousands of Central American migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. hope to enter the country through Mexico.

An escalation Sunday as border patrol agents fired tear gas at migrants, including women and children, after a protest devolved into chaos.

Hundreds of migrants overwhelming Mexican police and blockades, attempting to enter the country illegally.

“The group immediately started throwing rocks and debris at our agents, taunting the agents. And we had two or three agents at a time initially, facing hundreds of people at a time. They deployed tear gas to protect themselves and to protect the border,” said Rodney Scott, Chief Patrol Agent, San Diego Sector Border Patrol.

“No one wants any border officer to be in danger but from what we know, this was an overuse of force. I mean, there are women and children out there. Using tear gas in this situation does not seem justified,” said Lee Gelernt, Deputy Director, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project.

U.S. officials arrested dozens and shut down the busiest port of entry along its Mexico border.

President Trump seized on the unrest saying “Mexico wants to see if they can get it straightened out but we’ve, during certain times, as you know, closed the border. They’re not coming into the United States. They will not be coming in.”

But not all republicans support a border shutdown. “We would prefer that we keep it open so let’s work really hard to make sure we’re addressing the asylum seekers before they actually come over the border,” said Sen. Joni Ernst from Iowa.

Diocese of Brooklyn Courage In Red Service

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“If there is no cost, there is no love. Love demands sacrifices,” Msgr. Kieran Harrington said in his reflection during Solemn Vespers on the Feast of Christ the King at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Prospect Heights, last Sunday, Nov. 25.

He was referring to the suffering of so many Christians around the world for whom 100 faithful came to pray at the co-cathedral. The service was part of the Courage in Red – Stand Up for Faith and Religion Freedom campaign.

During the Solemn Vespers, the Voices of St. Joseph Choir, under the direction of Alejandro Zuleta, sang the Gregorian Chant with Magnificat by Tomas Luis de Victoria, O Salutaris Ostia by Charles Gounod and Benedictus by Karl Jenkins.

The Courage in Red campaign is an initiative of Aid to the Church in Need, a Catholic, international organization that provides “pastoral and humanitarian assistance to the persecuted Church around the world,” according to its website.

The organization was created almost 70 years ago to help persecuted Christians under Communist regimes, but during its history the organization have provided assistance to persecuted Christians and poor people in over 145 countries.

During the week of Nov. 25, Aid to the Church in Need asked people of faith to remember those who have been martyred for their faith and stand in solidarity with fellow Christians as they fight for religious freedom by wearing red, the color of the martyrs; lighting parish churches and institutions in red and raising awareness about the need for religious freedom.

Msgr. Harrington, who is also the vicar for communications of the Diocese of Brooklyn, talked about the importance of sending a message to persecuted Christians around the world, “that they don’t suffer alone.”

Reflecting on the time he spent with Christians communities in Iraq this year, Msgr. Harrington said that one of the most repeated phrases among the suffering Christians in Iraq was, “Pray for us.” And that was the main purpose of the Solemn Vespers last Sunday and the Courage in Red campaign – to pray for persecuted Christians.

“We are Christians, we believe in the power of prayer,” he said. “The most important thing is that we […] pray for thus who are suffering.”

The second thing, Msgr. Harrington said, is to materially help persecuted Christians with donations to organizations like Aid to the Church in Need. But the third step, he said, “is to make our voice heard,” to tell our elected officials about this situation.

Symbolic gestures of solidarity were on display around the world over the last week. From Rome to the Philippines, from Mexico City to Paris and London, they illuminated churches in red and invited people to pray for their brothers and sisters.

At the end of the prayer service and concert at the co-cathedral, Brad Miner, who sits on the board of directors of Aid to the Church in Need USA, thanked Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Msgr. Harrington for their support of the Courage in Red campaign and all of the faithfull for their prayers and help.

We are “hosting several events like this around the country to draw attention to the persecution of Christians especially, but all people persucuted for their faith,” Miner said. “Christians are currently the most persecuted people on the planet.”

Missionary Killed By Tribe

Currents News Staff

Authorities say one of the oldest and most isolated tribes in the world is responsible for last week’s killing of American missionary John Allen Chau.

Archived footage from Survival International provides some of the few existing images of the tribe known as the Sentinelese.

They live in complete isolation on the tiny island of North Sentinel.

According to Indian officials, Chau illegally paid fishermen to take him to the isolated island, hoping to convert the tribe to Christianity.

Authorities believe he first canoed to shore on November 16th – deliberately disregarding an established perimeter around the island.

According to journal entries left with the fishermen, and shared with the Washington Post, the 26-year-old wrote “I hollered, ‘my name is John, I love you and Jesus loves you.'”

He was then reportedly shot at by a member of the tribe with an arrow piercing his bible.

The next day, Chau made a second attempt but never returned.

The fishermen he hired later reported seeing the young man’s body buried on the beach by tribe members.

Chau’s last entry in his journal reads, “You guys might think I’m crazy in all this but I think it’s worthwhile to declare Jesus to these people. God, I don’t want to die.”

In 2006, the same tribe killed two poachers who had been illegally fishing near their island.

Survival International, a group advocating for tribal people, believes the natives’ decision to remain isolated should be respected.

“They’ve made it very clear that they don’t want contact. Somebody comes, they have no idea what he’s coming for and why, I think it’s far more self-defense than it is murder,” said Sophie Grig, Survival International Senior Researcher.

On social media, Chau’s family wrote their son “loved god, life, helping those in need and had nothing but love for the Sentinelese people. We forgive those reportedly responsible for his death.”

All they can do is wait to find out when or if their son’s body will be recovered.

Diocese Of Sacramento Offers Free Tuition To Over Three Dozen Private Catholic Schools

Currents News Staff

The Diocese of Sacramento in California is offering free tuition to its more than three dozen private Catholic schools for students displaced by the camp fire.

This includes the Notre Dame Catholic School in Chico.

All education costs associated with the private school will be at no expense through the remainder of the school year. This includes tuition which usually costs between five to six-thousand dollars.

Displaced students will also receive uniforms, school materials, hot lunches and all other expenses.

“We have open seats in some of our schools here across the dices, and we know that over thirty thousand people have been displaced by this fire, including a number of children. And when we heard that the butte county schools were going to need a little bit more time to reopen and knowing that families have been scattered across the north and the Sacramento area, we just thought it would be good to open those desks to kids to get them back into school,” said Lincoln Snyder, Catholic Schools Superintendent.

The offer also applies to 9th through 12th grade students for Mercy High School in Red Bluff.

Displaced families interested in this offer should contact the Sacramento diocese.

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Special

The Great Thanksgiving Pumpkin Special. Monsignor Jamie shows you how to take those extra pumpkins for feeding and gift giving centerpieces for everyone from the needy to your family. This episode features Chef Pete Marcolini and his pumpkin sauce. Florist Laura Long and her pumpkin floral centerpieces and Brooklyn Angels Food Truck Executive Director, Ryan Kuonen.

Currents News for Wednesday, November 21, 2018

On the newscast: Crisis averted – Police thwart a potential mass shooting; A dramatic rescue caught on camera; Massacre in Africa – the latest on religious persecution in the central region.

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)

Brooklyn Center Prepares Thanksgiving Meals For Homeless

By Tim Harfmann

Allan Negron is homeless. His wife and now-adult children left him. And the 58-year-old sleeps at a shelter. But he’ll have a place to spend thanksgiving dinner — CHiPS in Park Slope, Brooklyn. “Have you ever been out there and went hungry? Believe me, you’ll know that this place is a Godsend,” said Negron.

Catholics from nearby St. Francis Xavier Church founded the center in the early 1970s. CHiPS serves 350 meals to nearly 150 people every day.

Wednesday, volunteers were hard at work, dicing and slicing for Thanksgiving. At least 40 turkeys and 100 pounds of potatoes were donated with all the trimmings. Every guest will receive a meal and a to-go tray with leftovers. “They say food fills the soul. It’s healthy for the mind, it’s healthy for the body; and around this time of the year, everybody should have somebody, somewhere, some place to be,” said Janice Lebby. She is the director of the site’s soup kitchen.

Brother Tom Barton, a Franciscan and volunteer, said CHiPS creates a family atmosphere when most the guests don’t have families of their own. “They really are respected, and they really respect each other. That’s the act of faith dynamic,” said Barton.

Negron has been coming to CHiPS for almost a decade. A former construction worker and postal service employee, he’s looking forward to his favorites: turkey, stuffing, and someone to be with. “It’s nice. You sit down, you conversate, you socialize, and have a nice meal. It’s not bad at all,” said Negron.

Negron is grateful and even through his tough time, he hasn’t lost his faith in God. “I ask Him to help me out with the situation that I’m in, and then I leave it all into his hands. Whatever He decides to do, He decides to do.”

CHiPS always welcomes donated food. The center is located at 200 4th Avenue in Brooklyn.

The Next Person You Meet In Heaven

Around the holidays and as Catholics, when a loved one is missing at the table, we tend to think a lot more about heaven. Does it exist? What’s it like? Is our family there?

New York Times bestseller, Mitch Albom, wondered the same thing when he wrote ‘The Five People You Meet In Heaven.’ He joins Currents News to discuss his latest book ‘The Next Person You Meet In Heaven.’