China Clones Dogs – Says Humans Are Next

Currents News Staff

Chinese scientists have cloned several dogs and they say humans could be next. China’s media is reporting that a twelve-year-old schnauzer is the latest pup to be cloned.

The process involves taking skin samples from the dog and cloning the cells. Experts have replicated twenty different breeds of dog since March of this year.

Monsignor Michael Curran is a professor of moral theology at St Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York and discusses the moral implications of cloning.

Belgium Bishop: Something’s Missing

Currents News Staff

For the past three weeks, the Synod Fathers have been discussing youth. Even more specifically, youth spirituality, youth ministry, and bishops and priests’ role in helping young people.

“The first element which we really spoke of so much is you have to be ready to listen to young people and that is listen, but also hear. That means, not only say, ‘I heard you.’ But say, ‘I heard you and I want to hear you. I want to do what you told me.’ The whole thing is a very active way of being in the midst of youth,” said Msgr. Lucas Van Looy, Bishop of Ghent, President Caritas Belgium.

Listening has been the “hot synod word” this year, yet, amidst all the discussions with bishops and youth, he said there is one big piece missing.

“What I’m missing in the text now is clarity about the conditions to listen. You can only listen to the people if you’re with them, not on the telephone or on the video. You have to be with them. The fact of listening is there, many times even. Listening to each other and listening to the young people, but how do you do that and what are the basic conditions for it? The basic condition is: you have to be there,” said Msgr. Van Looy.

The Bishop of Ghent assures that he tries to spend as much time as possible with the youth in his diocese, learning from them. In that way, he believes the final letter to young people should be written in a different way than it’s always been done.

“We want to write a message to the young people, and that is not easy. There should be somebody writing that message, who is constantly with young people. I would almost say, the young people themselves should write the letter to their friends and that the bishops sign it,” said Msgr. Van Looy.

He believes this sort of letter would be better received in the “common language used by youth,” as if written to a friend. He desires that young people be excited to share this letter and learn more about how the Church wants to incorporate them in her mission.

Church Burned Down – Painting of Christ Survives

Currents News Staff

A massive fire probably sparked by a lightning strike gutted the 150-year old First Baptist Church in Wakefield. Firefighters struggled to reach the hellish inferno that had made its way toward the 180-foot-tall spire that was the steeple.

It was nearly impossible to extinguish the flames. The congregation’s one saving grace was an image of Christ, hung just inside the church’s front doors. The painting survived the seven-alarm fire unscathed.

Still, the pain of loss is deep. Donna Burns, who’s been the church’s music director for 35 years, finds it hard to witness the devastation of a place she calls home. “Very special place in my heart musically, religiously, it’s a loss, a lot like a death in the family,” said Burns.

Interim Pastor Rev. Norman Bendroth says the church is the cradle of many stories and memories. “It’s not the building of course, but it’s the container of all these sacred memories you know this is where baptized, married my daughter, buried my mother,” said Bendroth.

It’s also a building that contained historic records, paintings, a decades old organ – things difficult to replace. “Total sadness, total sadness, you can’t even put it into words,” said Burns.

However, a picture miraculously unscathed speaks a thousand words, and parishioners pray, just like Christ’s resurrection, their church will rise again.

“It’s comforting to me that this is just a building, and that we’re just going to move forward,” said Elaine Shindle, a parishioner.

Additional Suspicious Packages Discovered

Currents News Staff

Thursday morning authorities say a suspicious package intended for former Vice President Joe Biden was intercepted in Delaware. The package to Biden was flagged as suspicious because of its similarities to other packages sent this week throughout the country. Another package addressed to actor Robert De Niro was reported early Thursday morning at his Manhattan office. So far, no arrests have been made.

Interview Preview: Monsignor Michael Curran

Chinese media is reporting another puppy has been cloned and scientists state the next logical step will be humans. The move is raising questions of morality. Monsignor Michael Curran is a professor of moral theology at St Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York and discusses the moral implications of cloning. You can watch Monsignor Curran’s full interview tonight on Currents News.

Currents News for Wednesday, October 24, 2018

On the newscast: terror in America – Explosive devices sent to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and other prominent Americans; New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan confronts the evil of religious persecution on an important anniversary; Central Americans talk about why they’re taking the risk of marching on the U.S. border.

Pope Francis and Martin Scorsese Talk Generational Bonds

Currents News Staff

Pope Francis and well-known film director Martin Scorsese spoke together in Rome about helping young people better connect with older generations.

In speaking about his New York childhood, Scorsese said he couldn’t find Christ’s love around him, a problem he sees for today’s youth.

The Hollywood director asked the Pontiff how older generations can guide youngsters in times of trouble. Francis’ advice, don’t be afraid to be emotional.

The Holy father explained that crying “softens” the heart and is a source for inspiration. He said even Jesus cried during his most heart-felt moments.

Suspicious Devices Sparking Fears in DC and NY

Authorities are investigating links between dangerous mailings to the Obamas, the Clintons, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, George Soros, and Eric Holder through the Office Of Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wassermann Schultz. The Secret Service and the FBI are heading up a massive operation to catch whoever is responsible for the terror.

Cardinal Dolan Leads Symposium Against Religious Persecution

By Tim Harfmann

Cardinal Timothy Dolan headlined a symposium in Manhattan to raise awareness for Christians who are suffering because of their faith.

“We have to stand up for them, darn it! We can’t let them go. We love them. We support them. We’re praying with them and for them. We have to advocate for them, too,” said Cardinal Dolan.

Christian persecution is at an all-time high, according to Aid to the Church in Need. The organization is devoted to supporting Christians who are persecuted around the world. Experts estimated 600,000 Christians suffered discrimination for their faith in 2016.

In Iraq, more than half of the country’s worshipers are refugees in their own homeland — and Christianity could be wiped out by 2020.

The number of Christians in the Syrian city of Aleppo dropped more than 75 percent in recent years.

The symposium featured religious leaders and human rights activists, including Ray Kelly. He wass New York City’s longest-serving police commissioner.

The former top-cop is now using his expertise to promote religious freedom overseas.

“People are being persecuted. People are literally being killed every day. So it’s a right that we have here that we should cherish and not just take for grated,” said Kelly

The conference recognized the 20th anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act, which President Bill Clinton signed into law on October 27, 1998. Its goal was to advocate on behalf of persecuted people in foreign countries because of their faith.

“It gives a great mission to American identity and foreign affairs, but we have to follow through,” said Cardinal Dolan. “We have to make sure that our government keeps its promise of getting aid especially to suffering Christians.”

Ed Clancy is a director from Aid to the Church in Need and has worked directly with Christians on the front lines.

“I actually believe it’s more important now. Religious freedom faces overt, existential threats around the world. Its been said many times that religious freedom is the first freedom. If it goes, everything else will follow.”

The need to act is as vital as it was two decades ago.

Migrants Speak Out

Currents News Staff

Another dawn at the migrant caravan heading to the united states. Another night sleeping on concrete for thousands of people. Some get ready for the day. Children play a game as if they were still home. Others decide to sleep a little longer.

Maria Antonia breast feeds her two-month-old daughter Estrella on the pavement where they spent the night. Maria Antonia says she is leaving Honduras so that Estrella can have a future. “There isn’t any work there, we have nothing to live on,” she said.

On the same block, Kevin asks people for coins. He’s traveling alone to join an older brother in the U.S. hoping to send money back home. He says he is 14 but looks much younger. We aren’t showing his face to keep him safe. “I came here so I could work and eat and help my family,” he says.

Over in the town plaza Bryan is figuring out how to get back to the U.S. He lived most of his life in Texas but was deported this month to Honduras. He will walk as long as it takes to reunite with his three-year-old daughter, an American citizen. “She’s the one who needs me the most and I don’t want her to go without me,” he said.

They have over a thousand miles to go to the U.S. – Mexico border where they will not be welcome.

The Trump administration is pressuring the Mexican government to stop the caravan and deport more than 7000 migrants back home because there could be terrorists or dangerous gang members in their midst. But literally everyone we have talked to has said the exact opposite: They aren’t gang members, they are their victims.

Maria Antonia says Honduras’ out of control gangs extort everyone, sometimes for just a few dollars. “That’s why we came. They charge ‘war taxes’ there. If you don’t pay they kill you,” she said. She said she hopes her baby daughter is too young to remember the hell they are fleeing from and the hell they are living now.