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Brooklyn Voters Head to the Polls

By Tim Harfmann

Rain didn’t stop these New Yorkers from heading to the polls.

“I think voting in this election is exceedingly important! Our country is not in a good condition,” said Eileen Dirnfeld.

Voter Mike singer added, “we’ve gotta show that, at least I’m not satisfied with the direction. And I hope these other people feel the same way.”

One of the biggest hot button issues not only for the country, but also for Catholics is immigration.

“We are a country of immigrants! We can’t brush them away from our borders,” said Dirnfeld.

And fellow voter Juliet Moser agrees. “I think it’s important to protect immigrants that come into this country,” said Moser.

“I mean, obviously we can’t let 100,000 undocumented people just come into the country. But I think there has to be some legislation that gives people a chance and yet guards our security,” added Singer.

Another issue on the minds of voters is healthcare. “I do think it’s something that should… access should be expanded, for sure,” said Moser.

Singer adds “if the Republicans and the Democrats could get together, they can come up with some improvements. It’s not perfect, for sure.”

All 435 seats are up for election in the house. Democrats need at least two dozen seats to take control.

In the Senate, 35 seats are up for grabs. The Democrats need at least two seats to win majority in the chamber.

Some of the major races in New York include Republican Marc Molinaro challenging Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo looks to win a third term. “I don’t always agree with Andrew Cuomo… but I voted for him today,” said Dirnfeld.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Letitia James faces Republican Keith Wofford.

In the race for State Comptroller, Thomas Dinapoli against Republican Jonathon Trichter – and Democratic Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, faces reelection against Republican Chele Farley.

Voters say regardless of where you stand on the issues, you must cast your vote.

“It’s important. I think it’s your civic duty to come out. And I came this morning, but the line was all the way around the block, so I came during my lunch break instead,” said Moser.

Voters Casting Their Ballots On Election Day

American voters get a chance to show how they feel, about the Trump presidency and G.O.P. control of Congress. In addition to 435 house races, and 35 senate races – 36 governor’s mansions are up for grabs today too, with Republicans on defense in 26 of those states.

Rector Major of Salesians: Our Houses in Syria Have Been a Real Field Hospital

Currents News Staff

It’s been seven years and eight months since the war in Syria began. As of 2011, the country has been bleeding to death as a result of a conflict revealed as a kind of world war on Syrian territory. Beyond geo-strategy or politics, the real protagonists and victims have been the Syrians. Suffering and living side-by-side with this martyred population, the Salesians of Don Bosco have persisted.

“It is the attitude that I am noticing in my Salesian brothers that really touches my heart. The same thing happened to me in Sierra Leone, and in Liberia. That is to say, when there are great conflicts, they love those affected people so much that they are not able to leave them in moments of suffering,” said Father Angel Fernandez Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians.

For the Rector Major of the Salesians, it is a source of pride that the Congregation has kept its houses in Aleppo and Damascus open, although they are still surrounded by destruction and death.

“Our Salesian house is in a less-battered area since it is very large. I am happy because it has been a place where hundreds and hundreds of families have been able to take refuge, sleeping on the floor. It has really been, as Pope Francis says, a field hospital. I would say to all those who are listening, that our presence as a Church, that our presence as a congregation, has nothing to do with the geopolitical interests of others,” said Artime.

This presence is made concrete in his work, especially with the younger ones. During a recent trip, the Superior of the Salesians was able to confirm that the young people have enough strength to push on.

“In fact, I was told at various times, ‘We tell you, Fr. Angel, that those who will have the last word will not be the warlords, whoever they are. We have a great strength that is personal, internal, and that comes from our faith. We will rebuild our city, we will rebuild our beautiful country, it is not going to end, we still have the will to live and a lot of strength,’” said Artime.

The Salesians have maintained, and continue to maintain, several initiatives in the midst of the rubble, for Christians and Non-Christians alike. Initiatives like the chapel, the youth center, and support for university students. All of this is so that the life of the youngest in Syria may be as normal as possible, in spite of the bombs of this almost forgotten war.

Election Day Is Here

Currents News Staff

Millions of dollars have been spent on ads. Thousands of hours pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, making calls or sending texts. And it all comes down to today for the 2018 U.S. midterm elections.

All 435 House seats are on ballots across the country – 35 out of the hundred senate seats, and 36 of the 50 governors.

As of Monday morning, at least 31million people had voted early, blowing early voting numbers from the last midterms out of the water.

Both democrats and republicans hope that means good news for them.

“The Republican agenda is the American dream and that’s what we’re doing. We’re bringing back the American dream,” said President Donald Trump.

And when it comes to politics, the last-minute push tends to mean last minute attacks.

“I heard people were making racist robo calls in my name against Stacey Abrams who I’m 100% for in Georgia. I just want to say Jesus don’t like ugly,” said Oprah Winfrey.

Sen. Bernie Sanders said “what this election is really about is whether we feel comfortable having a President who is a pathological liar.”

But whatever drove people to the polls over the last few weeks, there’s hope that trend will continue Tuesday.

Conquering Katrina

Ansel Augustine lived through one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to hit the U.S. Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States August 29, 2005. The Category three storm itself did a great deal of damage, but its devastating aftermath, especially for Dr. Augustine, was even more catastrophic. He shares his harrowing experience with Liz Faublas.

Currents News for Monday, November 5, 2018

On the newscast: Tomorrow is Election Day – what does it mean to vote with your “Catholic conscience?”; Men from the Diocese of Brooklyn and elsewhere take an important step towards the priesthood; The latest on the migrant caravan headed to the boarder; Pope Francis takes on anti-Semitism.

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 Student Helps Cancer Patients

By Tim Harfmann

Skye Workman is an eighth grader at Saint Bernard Catholic Academy in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn and dedicated to helping cancer patients losing their hair.

“I basically collect fun and new hats to donate to children and adults. When I donate the hats to them, they’re just happy afterwards,” said Skye.

From beanies to baseball caps and cartoon characters to sports teams, Skye collected hundreds of hats and raised one-thousand-dollars to buy more. Everything’s being donated to Cohen Children’s Medical Center and Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Skye does this every year. She even has a foundation called “Skye’s the Limit.”

Claudette Workman is Skye’s mother and said it started when her daughter was in fifth grade. She learned about a Saint Bernard graduate who lost the fight with cancer. “She came home and was curious about cancer. I explained what the disease is and the effects of it. She said, ‘I want to do something to help,” said Workman.

Then, Skye’s best friend experienced tragedy when her sister died from cancer. “Automatically, I was there for her. I understood what she was going through because a couple of years before that, my aunt had been diagnosed with breast cancer,” said Skye.

The act of helping others is a foundation of the learning experience at Saint Bernard Catholic Academy. “We try to follow what Jesus would do, give to the needy, help the poor, help the sick. So, we try to do these fundraisers as often as we can,” said Gail Gibbons. She’s a teacher at the Bergen Beach school.

“It doesn’t matter how young you are. You can still help others,” said Skye.

Cancer is all too common in the United States. The National Cancer Institute estimates one-in-three Americans will contract the disease at some point in their lives.

Pope Francis to Jewish Rabbis: Christians Cannot Be Anti-Semitic

Currents News Staff

A little bit more than a week after 11 people died at the October 27th shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Pope Francis met with a Jewish delegation dating back to the 5th century.

Pope Francis held this meeting with a group of rabbis from the Caucasus belonging to the World Congress of Mountain Jews. It is the first time Jews from that area and tradition have visited a Pope. Pope Francis stressed the importance of remembering the Holocaust, so that its memory remains alive. He also recalled that attacking places of worship or the people belonging to a religion is trying to eradicate the presence of the Creator from the heart the people.

 “To attempt to replace the God of goodness with the idolatry of power and the ideology of hatred ended with the madness of exterminating creatures. Therefore, religious freedom is a supreme good that must be protected. It is a fundamental human right and a fortress against the claims of totalitarianism,” said Francis.

The Pope lamented that anti-Semitic attitudes from the past continue to be reproduced, especially amongst Christians. “As I have often repeated, a Christian cannot be anti-Semitic. We share the same roots. It would be a contradiction in faith and in life. Together we are called to commit ourselves to ensure anti-Semitism is expelled from the human community,” he said.

Finally, Pope Francis invited them to work to promote and expand the dialogue between Jews and Christians. He said it was especially important in these times and for the good of all humanity.