On the newscast: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò publishes a third letter – but questions remain as to his whereabouts; Thousands in migrant caravan marching north – the latest; The trail for Khashoggi’s body grows dim as questions mount – President Trump vows to find out what happened.
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Mission Sunday
Currents News Staff
Students and schools assisting the needy were recognized over the weekend at the Diocese of Brooklyn’s annual World Mission Sunday Mass. The awards for students from the diocese who have raised money for missionary churches around the world took place. Altogether, they’ve been able to collect thousands of dollars.
Bishop James Massa was on hand to recognize them. “In learning about the mission, they are learning about other cultures. They’re learning about how the faith has been implanted in different societies. Making use of their customs and different peoples and how really faith, elevates culture,” said Massa.
Mission Sunday is an opportunity for the clergy to gather with the students and celebrate how God has worked through them to touch the lives of many in need.
Trail For Khashoggi’s Body Grows Dim As Questions Mount
Currents News Staff
The trail for Jamal Khashoggi’s body is going cold. Video released to Turkish media over the weekend reveals the hours before his death. This as Saudi officials offer their first accounting of events.
“This was an operation that was a rogue operation. This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made the mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi in the Consulate, and they tried to cover up for it,” said Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Foreign Minister.
A fist fight. A chokehold. The implication being Khashoggi’s death was an accident. In Riyadh 18 people arrested. But there are still holes in the Saudi narrative.
They say they are cooperating closely with Turkish investigators. But, still, Khashoggi’s body is missing. Where some of these consular vehicles went in hours after Khashoggi’s disappearance is still a mystery. Saudi leaks says his body given to a local “collaborator.”
Forests and farms outside Istanbul have been at the center of rumors his body may have been dumped there, but as yet no evidence. On Saturday Turkish investigators questioned consulate employees including the consul general’s driver, but still no body.
His friends are demanding its return. “Give him back so that we can raise his funeral. Let the whole world watch Jamal Khashoggi’s farewell who was killed in a dark room with horrific details and whose body is tried to be hidden,” said Turan Kislakci, Turkish-Arab Media Association.
President Trump asking too, “Somebody knows, but nobody of the various investigation groups at this moment know. But we’ll find out.”
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò Publishes Third Letter
Currents News Staff
Since publishing his first letter on August 25 and his second September 27, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has not publicly announced his whereabouts, yet he still continues to write, publishing his third letter October 19.
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s third letter, in response to Cardinal Marc Ouellet’s letter on October 7, restates his main points and calls out Pope Francis, yet again. However, everything still doesn’t come together.
“In the third letter, he mentioned that you have documents reached from the settlements with the victims in the dioceses where those claims were made. He has correspondence with nuncios in the U.S. to the Vatican, at least on two occasions, complaining about McCarrick or referring to some misconduct. We’re still missing that. We’re still missing those memos, we’re still missing the documentation, we’re still missing a lot of the key facts here. So, in terms of this third letter, it doesn’t really provide any new insights,” said Elise Harris, Senior Correspondent for Crux.
Viganò says Ouellet “concedes his important claims,” but Ouellet’s disputes are not on claims Viganò made in his letters. Viganò thus goes through each one, listing the evidence he has, which has not been officially confirmed from the Vatican.
“From the Vatican or from Vatican officials, I don’t know if we’ll see anything from anyone else. I think Viganò will continue to publish his letters, I think if somebody else does reply to him from wherever his hideout is, he’s in hiding, you know. What this is going to continue to be is a public discussion and something that is happening in the digital sphere,” added Harris.
He closes, appealing to his brother bishops to testify to his statements. He also asserts that he is not encouraging rebellion against Pope Francis with these letters, but that he prays for the successor of Peter daily.
While all this writing is going on, it is important to remember that on October 6 Pope Francis authorized the investigation of all Vatican documents relating to McCarrick. As of now, the Holy See has not found any hard evidence amidst all these accusations, but we’re staying tuned to see what they find.
Thousands In Migrant Caravan Marching North
Currents News Staff
More than seven thousand, mostly Central American migrants, continued their march north towards the U.S. border Monday, saying they are seeking safety and better economic opportunities.
“Our message is, ‘We’re not criminals, we’re coming here because we want to work. We need a job, we need, you know, a better life.’ That’s why we’re here,” said Orlin Herrera, a Honduran migrant.
That is on top of some 3,000 Hondurans who have already quit the caravan and returned home
And the more than one thousand who stopped their journey in Mexico. Claiming refugee status there with the help of the U.N.’s refugee agency.
“Numbers will increase in the coming days to address and ensure adequate protection of information on the asylum system to members of the caravan,” said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
But most say they plan to continue their slow march to the U.S., a more than 2,000 mile journey on foot.
President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment that the caravan has not yet been stopped, saying, “Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. we will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.”
Most of money the U.S. has promised to those countries for this year has already been spent.
The scheduled 2019 foreign aid packages from the U.S. to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador add up to more than $180-million.
‘Shining Star’ Businesswoman Devoted to Faith and Finance
By Tim Harfmann
Dedicated, hard working and service are some of the words inscribed on awards around Veronica Tsang’s office in Flushing, Queens.
Now, she’s a Shining Star, a prestigious honor presented annually by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic Migration Services.
“I was pretty humbled when I was selected to be the Shining Star,” Tsang said. “At the same time, it is a great honor for me.”
She was recognized for making exceptional contributions to the Church and her community.
[Related: Father Patrick Keating Interview]
The Shining Stars go to individuals who are active in their ethnic ministries.
The Chinese Award is the only one bestowed on two people, because the number of Chinese-Americans in the diocese is growing so large.
Tsang is the Queens recipient, dedicated to helping those living in her community.
“Hopefully I’m able to inspire others, especially the new immigrants, to do the same,” Tsang said.
Tsang is executive vice president at Cathay Bank and guided branches in Brooklyn and Queens to great success.
Now, she oversees operations in Cathay ranches from coast to coast.
She came to the United States in the late 1960s, migrating with her parents from their homeland in China.
While a student at Pace University, Tsang worked her way up the corporate ladder at JP Morgan Chase, earning her finance and banking degree at night and also working part-time in a supermarket.
“At the time it was all work, no play. Looking back, it’s hard for me to believe that I did that. I think it’s because I have help from the divine intervention,” Tsang said.
Faith is the most important part of her life.
She’s active at Saint Michael’s Church in Flushing, serving on many committees including the finance council. She’s also a director on the Saint Michael Catholic Academy’s board.
“God gave me energy and wisdom to achieve what I have accomplished, and I do believe that He is still doing this for me every single day. I’m very grateful for that,” Tsang said.
The Chinese-American population in Brooklyn and Queens is accelerating at a rapid rate, up more than 23,000 in recent years.
Tsang has good advice for her neighbors.
“I am a strong believer in the more you give, the more blessing you will get from God. Therefore, give generously within your means,” Tsang said.
And for what she has given, Tsang is a shining star.
Queens Chinese Shining Star
Each year Catholic Migration Services presents the Shining Star Awards to individuals who are active in their ethnic ministries. Veronica Tsang is the recipient of this year’s Queens Chinese Shining Star. She’s an immigrant from China and dedicated to the Flushing, Queens community.
Faith and Tradition Connect Young Catholics
By Katie Engesser
Traditional dances were performed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Sunset Park for the annual Jornada Cultural Day. The Jornada is for young people; a movement very particular to the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens.
“A lot of the people that are here today are the children, and even grandchildren of older Jornadistas,” said Father James Kuroly, the Jornada’s spiritual director.
The young Jornadistas get together once a week for spiritual direction and prayer.
“We’re loud and proud, we’re Catholic and we love it,” said Jornadista Yaliz Campos.
“I come here not only to show God love,” Jornadista Mari De Los explains, “but also to show that we’re together as a community, as different cultures.”
Inside the church’s parish hall on Sunday, nearly every Hispanic and Latino culture is well represented. While Jornada Cultural Day is a time to celebrate heritage and faith, this year there is also reflection.
Puerto Rico is on the minds of many, including a young Jornadista who dedicated his performance to those lost during Hurricane Maria.
More than a year after Maria slammed into Puerto Rico, recovery on the U.S. island from the deadly storm remains unfinished.
The separation of families who crossed the U.S. Mexico border illegally, and the possible deportation of undocumented immigrants, are also big concerns for the young Jornadistas.
“It’s maybe even scary to come out as Mexican, as Ecuadorian or whoever who are because of what’s going on in this country,” Yaliz explains, “and that sometimes disturbs our faith.”
Faith is what drives the Jornada forward, enriching the Catholic belief in God from generation to generation.
“And that’s the beauty of this movement,” Father Kuroly said, “is that it’s passed down not just as a movement or a tradition of a movement, but as the encounter of Christ and the receiving of that faith.”
For fifty years, the Jornada movement in the Brooklyn Diocese has seen young people evangelizing other young people, so that they too come to the church.
SSN 11_EPS 14
Bishop George Pallipparrambil from Miao, India and Deacon Rory Desmond join Monsignor Harrington on an all-new In the Arena! Also joining the show are authors Jose Antonio Vargas, who wrote “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen” and Terry Golway, whose book discusses the alliance between FDR and Al Smith. Tune in!
La interpretación
La Reforma Protestante y la invención de la imprenta favorecen la aparición de diferentes traducciones de la Biblia, y nuestros hermanos separados proponen el libre examen de las Sagradas Escrituras. ¿Cómo hacemos para leer la Biblia y entender su verdadero significado? El padre Tomás nos ilustra cómo leer e interpretar la Biblia en términos que no son sólo válidos para los católicos, sino también para protestantes y ateos. Acompáñenos.