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ACCEPT
Today, I commend Pope Francis for his clarification on Catholic Church teaching on the death penalty, declaring it inadmissible in all cases. In 1995 Pope John Paul II said that execution is only appropriate “when it would not be possible to defend society,” but he pointed out that such cases were “very rare, if not nonexistent.” Today Pope Francis has made even clearer the Church’s consistent life ethic.
While it has become popular for people to accept capital punishment as a just consequence for heinous crimes, the death penalty is an act of revenge. Taking someone’s life, regardless of the reason, is an attack, as the Holy Father said, “on the dignity of a person.” Capital punishment destroys the sanctity of life and diminishes us as a society.
For weeks now, we have heard of children being separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, literally being ripped from their parents’ arms. The images of crying children and distraught parents seem so inhumane that it is hard to believe this is actually happening in the United States of America.
We are beginning to hear more about the detention centers at the border, as reporters and elected officials are now being allowed inside. One individual who was given access said he saw children being kept in what resembled “animal kennels” or cages. Another reported that a baby was taken away while breastfeeding. There have been numerous reports of children being taken away on false pretenses, with no idea when the will be returned to their parents.
It is horrifying to contemplate the psychological damage being perpetrated on these innocent children.
As the Book of Leviticus reminds us, “When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God …” (19: 33-34).
The Trump administration says in taking children from parents at the border, it is following a law that already existed, but this is untrue. There is not a law that requires family separation. The President could stop this with a phone call.
The administration also says this zero-tolerance policy acts as a deterrent by sending a message to adults of what could happen if they arrive at our border with their children. But this policy is not reflective of the values of our nation or the morality of its people and should be halted immediately. There must be a compassionate way to enforce immigration laws.
What is more egregious is that the administration is using these children as leverage to enact its nativist agenda in the form of two bills being considered in Congress. Both of those bills would change our nation’s immigration system for the worse. And they are not needed to end the separation of families.
Both bills would include, among other “poison pills,” a reduction in asylum standards, the removal of protections from unaccompanied children, evisceration of the family-based immigration system, the end of the diversity lottery system and an ineffective border wall. In order to end family separation, the bills remove protections for unaccompanied children — what they call “loopholes” — allowing the administration to incarcerate children with their parents in adult jails.
The second bill, forged by the House Republican leadership and dubbed a “compromise,” would provide DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) youth a chance for a green card through a new merit — or points-based — system. But immigration advocates say as many as half of the DACA-eligible youth might not get the chance to obtain one through the new system.
Both of these bills should be voted down. They use the undocumented youth as bait to achieve immigration changes which on their own would never receive majority support. They also would fundamentally alter our legal immigration system, weakening family unity and diversity in the process.
As the U.S. Catholic bishops have stated in the past, addressing the push forces that drive migrants to flee — endemic violence and extreme poverty in their countries — is a more effective and humane solution to forced migration than a border wall. For years, the bishops also have called for comprehensive immigration reform, which should include a path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants, not just undocumented youth.
But right now our immediate concern should be ending the brutal policy of separating migrant children from their families at the border. President Trump himself has said he “hates” to see children separated, while First Lady Melania Trump opposes the policy, stating that we need to be a country that follows laws, but also a country that governs with heart.
If these statements are sincere, then the President should end this policy and not use vulnerable children as bargaining chips.
I call upon Congress to reject this false bargain and work toward humane immigration reform. What is needed on this vital issue is a true bipartisan effort which reforms our immigration system in a just manner and reflects our history and values as a nation of immigrants.
NICHOLAS DiMARZIO
By the Grace of God and of the Aposcolic See
BISHOP OF BROOKLYN
——+——
DECREE
Changes in the spiritual practices among the faithful, a decrease in available clergy and men and women in consecrated life, changes in the general population within our Diocese, as well as concerns regarding temporal matters have affected the means by which the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed within the Diocese of Brooklyn. In an effort to respond in the best possible way to the gifts of the Holy Spirit generously given to us in our current situation, I have overseen a comprehensive pastoral plan, which included the whole of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
In an effort to evangelize more effectively the community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, as well to administrate the temporal goods of the faithful more efficiently, Reverend Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, located at 275 N. 8th Street, and Administrator of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, located at 259 N. 5th Street, petitioned that they be canonically merged.
In keeping with the requirements of the Universal Law of the Church, the Presbyteral Council was consulted on February, 6, 2018 (Canon 515 § 2), and after having heard the reasons for the proposed merger its members expressed their support for this action. In addition, after having consulted the territorial Episcopal Vicars, clergy, pastoral ministers and other members of the faithful of the parishes involved, I, the undersigned Bishop of Brooklyn, hereby declare and decree that the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Parish of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, both within the Diocese of Brooklyn, shall be merged to form one Parish.
• This one Parish shall be named the Parish of Our Lady of Mount CarmelAnnunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the main Parish office to be located at 275 N. 8th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211.
• Reverend Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello shall be the Pastor of the Parish.
• The territorial boundaries of the new parish shall encompass all of the territory which, up until now, has constituted the territories of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• All assets and obligations currently belonging to aforementioned parishes are by this canonical merger, transferred to the Parish Our Lady of Mount CarmelAnnunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• The parochial registers and the seals of the aforementioned parishes shall be kept at 275 N. 8th Street.
• The Parish shall have two churches for worship: The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Church of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This merger shall take effect on June 1, 2018, at which time the public juridic persons of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary shall be merged. Recourse action may be sought according to the norms of Canons 1732 to 1739 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
All schools and academies are closed on March 21, 2018, for Winter Storm Tobywhich is expected to deposit 11-15 inches of snow in the New York City area.
From 6:00am EDT, Wed Mar 21 until 6:00am EDT, Thu Mar 22
Issued by: New York City – NY, US, National Weather Service,
…WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM EDT THURSDAY… * WHAT…HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 11 TO 15 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. * WHERE…PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY, SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK. * WHEN…FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM EDT THURSDAY. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE EVENING COMMUTE. SNOW WILL DEVELOP DURING THE MORNING AND BECOME HEAVY BY AFTERNOON. EXPECT SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY AT TIMES. A COMBINATION OF THE HEAVY SNOW AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH COULD BRING DOWN TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES, CREATING POWER OUTAGES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. CHECK LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION SERVICES FOR THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS. &&
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Robert M. Robinson, a senior priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn who was ministering as Parochial Vicar of the Parish of Saint Francis of Assisi–Saint Blaise. Father Robinson was born on November 22, 1943 in Brooklyn, was ordained to the Priesthood on May 31, 1969, and died Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Sea Crest Rehabilitation Center and Nursing Home in Brooklyn.
Father Robinson served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of the Parishes of SS. Joachim and Anne (Queens Village) and Saint Patrick (Long Island City), as well as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Holy Cross (Brooklyn), Saint John the Evangelist (Brooklyn), Saint Sebastian (Woodside), Saint Gabriel (East Elmhurst), and Saint Barbara (Brooklyn). He also served in the Catholic University in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
The arrangements are as follows:
WAKE:
Sunday, March 18, 2018
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Martin A. Gleason Funeral Homes LLC
149-20 Northern Boulevard
Flushing, New York 11354
Tel: (718) 359-6300
FUNERAL:
Monday, March 19, 2018
10:30 AM
SS. Joachim and Anne R.C. Church
218-27 Hollis Avenue
Queens Village, New York 11429
Tel: (718) 465-0124
BURIAL:
Saint John Cemetery
Middle Village, New York
Father Robinson was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. All priests are invited to concelebrate the Liturgy. Please bring your diocesan vestments. If you wish to send condolences, please mail to the Family of Reverend Robert M. Robinson, 35 Dare Court, Brooklyn, New York 11229.
Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord.
Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L. Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Dagoberto Noguera, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Father Noguera was born on October 16, 1949 in Colombia, was ordained to the Priesthood on June 29, 1985, was incardinated into the Diocese of Brooklyn on May 20, 2002 and died Saturday, March 10, 2018 in Colombia, where all arrangements have taken place.
Father Noguera ministered in the Diocese of Brooklyn as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of St. Agatha (Brooklyn), St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus (Brooklyn), Incarnation (Queens Village), St. Leo (Corona) and St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception (Brooklyn).
The Memorial Mass information is as follows:
MEMORIAL:
Friday, March 23, 2018
7:30 PM
St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus R.C. Church
862 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Tel: (718) 383-3339
Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord.
Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L. Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Monsignor John E. Mahoney, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, who was in residence at the Bishop Mugavero residence for Senior Priests. Monsignor Mahoney was born on October 12, 1946, was ordained to the Priesthood on May 27, 1972, and died Sunday, February 19, 2018 at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Queens.
Monsignor Mahoney served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of Blessed Sacrament (Brooklyn), Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament (Bayside), and Our Lady of Fatima (Jackson Heights) as well as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart (Glendale), Saint Rose of Lima (Queens), and Our Lady of Fatima (Jackson Heights). In addition, Msgr. Mahoney also served as Episcopal Vicar of Brooklyn East, and as part of the Faculty of Cathedral Prep Seminary. The arrangements are as follows:
WAKE:
Thursday, February 22, 2018
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Immaculate Conception Center Main Chapel
7200 Douglaston Parkway Douglaston,
New York 11362
Tel: 718-299-8001 Ext. 2100
VIGIL MASS:
Thursday, February 22, 2018
7:30 PM
Immaculate Conception Center Main Chapel
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: 718-299-8001 Ext. 2100
FUNERAL:
Friday, February 23, 2018 10:30 AM
Immaculate Conception Center Main Chapel
7200 Douglaston Parkway
Douglaston, New York 11362
Tel: 718-299-8001 Ext. 2100
BURIAL:
Saint John Cemetery
Middle Village, New York
Msgr. Mahoney was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. All priests are invited to concelebrate the Liturgy. Please bring your diocesan vestments.
Condolences may be sent to his sister, Mrs. Katherine Brennan, c/o Gleason Funeral Home, 10-25 150th Street, Whitestone, NY 11357.
Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord.
Reverend Monsignor Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L.
Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs
News of yet another mass shooting, this one at a high school in Florida, is heartbreaking and, for many, demoralizing. News reports indicate this is the 18th school shooting this year.
Gun violence has become so prevalent in our country, and people are angry and frustrated.
Please pray with me for the families of the victims as well as for all Americans and our elected leaders, that we may come together to address this senseless violence.
Due to a severe outbreak of the flu, Bishop DiMarzio has suspended the distribution of the Precious Blood to the faithful at Mass. This suspension will be lifted when flu season is over.
While not life-threatening in most cases, the flu can be very dangerous for infants, small children, the elderly, and those who suffer from chronic illness. Bishop DiMarzio reminds the faithful to use common sense precautions when attending Mass or other public functions in their parishes to minimize the spread of the virus.
Specifically, parishioners should refrain from physically exchanging the sign of peace at Mass with a person exhibiting signs of illness. The bishop has asked pastors to make hand sanitizer accessible to all Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion as well as Mass celebrants. Given the scale of the latest outbreak, these reminders are intended to protect those most vulnerable in our midst against a serious threat to their health.
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, regrets to inform you of the death of Reverend Monsignor William J. Rodgers, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Monsignor Rodgers was born on May 24, 1922 in South Carolina, was ordained to the Priesthood on June 11, 1949, and died Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the Queen of Peace Residence, Queens Village.
Monsignor Rodgers served the Diocese of Brooklyn as Pastor of Saint Lucy-Saint Patrick Parish, as well as Parochial Vicar of the Parishes of Saint Peter Claver (Brooklyn), Saint Benedict the Moor and Saint Patrick (Kent Ave.). He also served as Chaplain of the Queen of Peace Residence. On July 3, 1982, he was named Prelate of Honor to His Holiness. The arrangements are as follows:
WAKE:
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Queen of Peace Residence
110-30 221st Street
Queens Village, New York 11429
Tel: (718) 464-1800
VIGIL:
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
7:30 PM
Queen of Peace Residence
110-30 221st Street
Queens Village, New York 11429
Tel: (718) 464-1800
FUNERAL:
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
11:00 AM
Queen of Peace Residence
110-30 221st Street
Queens Village, New York 11429
Tel: (718) 464-1800
BURIAL:
Saint John Cemetery
Middle Village, New York
Monsignor Rodgers was a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society. All priests are invited to concelebrate the Liturgy. Please bring your diocesan vestments. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family and friends. May he rest in the peace of Christ, the Risen Lord. Reverend Monsignor
Anthony Hernandez, J.C.L.
Chancellor and Vicar for Canonical Affairs