Asian-cuisine restaurants and other businesses in downtown Flushing are clawing back from a year-long grip of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Leaders say an accelerated recovery depends on more vaccinations against the coronavirus and enhanced police security to deter the possibility of anti-Asian hate crimes.
Author: Bill Miller
Blasphemy Laws Bring Increase In Violence Around the World
“A land of infidels” is how Boko Haram’s leader described the Kano state of north-central Nigeria. Last year, an Islamic recording artist received a death sentence there for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
Landlords Fret Rent Debt Avalanche Will Fall on Them
Unpaid rent in New York City, estimated at $1-to-2 billion, could cause a serious ripple effect, and landlords say they fear having to absorb most of it.
Cuomo’s Executive Powers Under Scrutiny, Calls to Resign Intensify
March 2021 began with a flurry of calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign, be impeached, or stripped of executive powers the Legislature approved last year to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Black History Month Mass Homilist Calls on Church to be Moral Conscience
More sacrifices are needed to achieve justice for all, and Christians must lead the way. That was the message Sunday from Father Franklin Ezeorah during his homily at the annual Black History Month Mass.
Anti-Asian Hate Continues to Grow
A few days before the start of Lent, Father Vincentius Do assessed the COVID-19 pandemic’s assault on Chinese members of St. Agatha’s Parish.
“The report is bleak,” the pastor said, “The Asian community seemed to be spared in the first wave, but hit hard in the second wave.”
Sister Ortiz Survived Torture; Became Voice for Victims
Sister Dianna Ortiz struggled daily with memories of torture and rape at the hands of Guatemala security forces in 1989, but she would not let that define her life.
Local Clergy Concerned About No Mention of Vatican in China’s New Rules
Chinese priests in Brooklyn are taking a “wait-and-see” approach to reports the government in their homeland might be planning to ignore the renewed two-year deal with the Vatican over the selection of bishops.
Diocese of Brooklyn Donates Pews to Cathedral in Haiti
Pews, chairs, and a church bell, all formerly used in Diocese of Brooklyn churches, have a new home at the Cathedral of St. Anne in Anse-à-Veau, Haiti. The diocese donated these historical pieces to help the cathedral get ready for Anse-à-Veau’s upcoming tricentennial celebration in July.
CRS’s Lenten Rice Bowl Helps Feed 150 Million Worldwide
Catholic Relief Services’ annual Lenten Rice Bowl program helps fund efforts to teach “best practices” for growing abundant, nutritious food for 159 million people in more than 100 countries. Last year’s donations were about 47 percent below normal because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but CRS leaders hope this year will be much better.