Sacerdotus - "Come now, let us reason together." Isaiah 1:18
Showing posts with label Victims. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Victims. Show all posts

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Bronx Fire in Belmont Area on Prospect Avenue Kills 12

It seems to never fail. During the holidays there is always a tragedy of some sort. This time the tragedy was close to home, so to speak. A huge fire broke out at 2363 Prospect Avenue in the Bronx, New York in the Belmont section. This area is known for Little Italy, The Bronx Zoo and Fordham University. It is also just blocks from where I grew up. The area used to be mostly Italian, Puerto Rican, Irish, Jewish with a few Polish, Germans and African Americans when I was little. Eventually, Mexicans, Albanians, Africans, Ecuadorians and Dominicans began to populate the area. The old fashion tenement buildings are everywhere with a few houses still left over. 2363 is one such tenement with the charm of days long gone. Unfortunately, it became the place where twelve people died.

According to reports, the fire broke out in the first floor and made its way up to the fifth. People tried to escape via the fire escapes but they became crowded. Residents left with only the clothes they had on. Many were children who were barefoot wearing pajamas or t-shirts. As you may know, New York and most of the nation is under an artic blast. The temperatures was as low as 11 degrees during the time of the fire. This cold weather gave the fuel necessary for the fire to grow out of control due to the airy conditions.

Fire fighters investigating the fire believe a three year old child was playing with the stove as his mother was showering. She came out to find the kitchen ablaze. As anyone would do in such a scenario, she escaped but did something wrong. The mother left the door open. Fire fighters always remind citizens that they are to close the door during a fire in order to contain it and possibly weaken it as it loses oxygen to feul on. The building built in 1916 during a time where fire concerns were not a priority. Its interior is wooden and it had no elevator. Residents relied on stairs to get to their floors. All of this, the airy weather and the mother of the toddler who started the fire negligence contributed to the fire getting out of hand. Flames escaped the opened door and moved up through the stairs kiling people on each floor. Among the dead is an 8 month old who was playing with gifts from Christmas while being babysat by her grandmother. The grandmother called her daughter to say goodbye and letting her know that she and the 8 month old would not make it. Both were found dead by fire fighters in their tub; grandmother clutching the baby in her arms.

Fire fighters from local 18th Battalion, a firehouse I often visited during my elementary school years for school trips were the first on the scene. They wer emet with cold conditions which made using water nearly impossible. Moreover, the hydrant nearby did not work. They had to use a hydrant on 187st street which was working. Survivors of the fire are upset with the mother of the child who started the fire. They claim that she did not warn them of the fire. She has not been identified. Four others remain hospitalized with one in a coma and not expected to survive. One victim actually went back into the burning building several times to rescue others. U.S. Army mechanic Emmanuel Mensah was home from serving duty. He was found in a fourth floor apartment dead.

Immediately, the Catholic Church took action to help those affected by the fire. Our lady of Mount Carmel pastor Father Morris was at the scene offering support and prayers. A prayer service is scheduled at his parish on January 2nd. Another nearby parish, St. Martin of Tours where my uncle served as a deacon and my grand mother attended also started a clothing drive. So far, only the Catholic Church has been active in humanitarian aid. Local Baptist, Kingdom Halls, Mosques and Pentecostal organizations have not been present to help.




















You can donate at:





















Let us pray for all those affected. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering the family and friends of the fire victims are experiencing. To lose people just days after Christmas is heart-breaking.





Source:

https://therealdeal.com/2017/12/28/nycs-deadliest-fire-in-decades-kills-at-least-12-in-the-bronx/

http://pix11.com/2017/12/28/multiple-people-injured-in-bronx-apartment-fire/

https://nypost.com/2017/12/29/inside-the-charred-remains-of-the-fatal-bronx-fire-building/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/nyregion/bronx-fire.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/child-playing-stove-ignited-bronx-fire-killed-12-people-article-1.3725603

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5219605/FDNY-15-people-seriously-injured-Bronx-fire.html

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/new-york/2017/12/30/fdny-releases-fatal-bronx-apartment-fire-video/992301001/

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2017/12/30/priest-asks-prayers-victims-bronx-fire-families/

https://nypost.com/2017/12/30/fdny-chiefs-recall-first-moments-at-deadly-bronx-fire/

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/bronx-fire-starter-mom-didn-alert-neighbors-blaze-tenant-article-1.3727754

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/12/at-least-12-dead-in-bronx-fire-nycs-deadliest-in-decades.html

https://www.trulia.com/homes/New_York/Bronx/sold/1000597781-2363-Prospect-Ave-Bronx-NY-10458


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Victims of Orlando Shooting at Pulse



Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Flight MH17

It seems Malaysian Airlines cannot catch a break.  Another of its planes went missing but this time the situation is different.  Malaysian flight MH17 on a Boeing 777-200 was shot down by missilles on route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.  THe flight left at 12:15pm and never made its 13 hour flight. THe pilots and passengers possibily died instantly and did not have any warning of the impending doom from the projectile heading towards them.

All 285 people, many of them children, were killed. The whole situation is heartbreaking and disturbing. Leaders and media pundits are pointing fingers at Russia and Ukrain rebels as being responsible for the shooting down of this flight. The black boxes are trying to be collected in order to figure out what really happened.  Voices were overheard on radio frequencies alluding to possible knowledge of the attack by Ukraine rebels.  Only time will tell who was really responble.

See the victims here:  http://hollywoodlife.com/pics/malaysia-airlines-plane-crash-pics-families-mourn-photos/#!1/hans-de-borst-daughter-vladimir-putin-ftr/

Let us pray for these people who died in this horrible attack, and let us pray for their loved ones who are going through a lot of suffering now.


Source:

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-what-happened-before-the-plane-was-shot-down/story-fnizu68q-1226993558755

http://abc7chicago.com/news/malaysia-airlines-confirms-it-lost-contact-with-plane-over-ukraine/194876/

http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/chandigarh/punjabi-among-mh17-victims/article1-1241774.aspx

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-07-23/mh17-victims-bodies-flown-to-the-netherlands/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/malaysia-airlines-mh17-what-we-know-about-the-victims-1.2711154

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/mh17-sky-news-apologises-profusely-after-reporter-goes-through-victims-luggage-30445658.html
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, March 24, 2014

New Sex Abuse Panel

In a move that has shocked the media and silenced Church critics, Pope Francis has named a woman who was molested by a member of the clergy to be part of a panel that will advice the Vatican on how to prevent sexual abuse.

He has named four women and four men so far from different countries.  Cardinal O'Malley of the Boston archdiocese as ell as Hanna Suchocka - former Polish Prime Minister,British psychiatrist Baroness Sheila Hollins, psychologist Hans Zollner, moral theologian Humberto Miguel Yanez, canon law professor Claudio Papal as well as two Jesuit priests are among them.  

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests or "SNAP" are content with Collin's appointment, but still believe the Pope has not done enough.  As the cliche goes, "there's always a critic." This group will not be truly content unless the Church disappears or goes bankrupt from paying out settlements.

Credit must be given to Pope Benedict XVI as well who implemented many measures to combat the problem of sexual abuse upon which Pope Francis is building.


Source:

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-appoints-former-child-victim-church-group-sex-133710368.html;_ylt=A0LEVz3Q.DJTdwsAneJXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0a2ZiMmNoBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDI5M18x

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/22/us-pope-abuse-commission-idUSBREA2L0D520140322

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/03/22/292939805/pope-includes-victim-among-members-of-commission-on-sex-abuse

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/pope-francis-adds-child-victim-new-commission-investigate-sex-abuse-cases-article-1.1730325

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/22/pope-francis-sex-abuse-commission/6731439/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pope-francis-appoints-former-child-victim-to-church-group-on-sex-abuse/2014/03/22/d30b035c-b1f8-11e3-a49e-76adc9210f19_story.html

http://www.npr.org/2014/03/23/293255056/pope-names-former-victim-to-sex-abuse-panel

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/03/22/pope-francis-names-women-victim-to-sex-abuse-commission-that-will-advise-pontiff-on-church-policy/

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/pope-appoints-former-child-victim-church-group-sex-abuse-n59426
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

9.11.01

Wow how time passes us by.  Today is the anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks on the United States of America in 2001.  I remember this day like if it was yesterday.  The images and sounds are vivid in my memory.    
September 11 will always be a date engraved in the minds and hearts of all who witnessed it, whether in person or on television. The events were indeed horrific. Planes were hijacked, people killed on them. 

Those same planes were used as missiles by terrorists who crashed them into the World Trade Center's "Twin Towers" and the Pentagon. Another plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the brave passengers thwarted the terrorist's plans to use the plane as another weapon - possibly aimed for the Capitol building or White House.
There are many questions we ask. One is why. 
  • Why did this happen? 
  • How can people be so evil to even think up these ideas and carry them out? 
The answer is sin. The infection of original sin is transmitted by concupiscence as St. Augustine tells us. Concupiscence is a strong desire to seek what is bad and evil.  Evil, general bad things and sin appear to be fun or useful to humanity because of concupiscence.  Even good things are often perverted and used to do evil as well.   It is the "Id" gone wild, so to speak.

Some anti religious people claim religion caused Sept 11; however, that is not so. This concupiscence or desire to do evil is the root cause. Terrorists hijacked Islam in order to carry out these heinous attacks in the name of God. The reason was not religion itself, but politics. Those who feel the United States of America is an unwanted presence in the Middle East came up with a plan to bring this nation to its knees.  Similarly, President Obama is being warned now in 2013 not to put the United States in a situation that will make it the police of the world.  He wants to strike Syria.  This will most likely give terrorist the reason to cry out "Jihad" and plan attacks against America and our allies just like they did on September 11, 2001.    

That plan in 2001 did bring the USA to it knees, but not in defeat. It brought us to prayer. America was reminded that while it is a super power, it is not the be all end all of the globe. 

Unfortunately, America has been spreading many ideas that feed concupiscence.  In a nation that kills its own unborn children and which promotes promiscuity in the guise of "safe sex," attempts to pervert marriage, those who are spiritually mature can see the real battle that is going on between evil and good. (Eph 6:12)  Like Communist Russia, the USA has made many errors run rampant throughout the globe.


September 11 reminded us that we are not gods. We cannot live in this life thinking that nothing will happen or that we control every aspect of space, time and matter. America is not immortal.  Unfortunately, America learned this lesson the hard way.  Nevertheless, it was beautiful to see this nation become "e pluribus unum" in the days that followed the attack.  Everyone united despite differences. Churches, Synagogues, Mosques were full nearly every day. Everyone prayed, helped each other in a spirit of goodwill.  If only this would have continued even to today in 2013!
On September 14, 2001 President Bush declared the day the National Day of Prayer & Remembrance. Ironically on this date the Catholic Church celebrates the Triumph of the Holy Cross. It is also ironic that among the piles of dust, twisted steel beams and other debris, all that remained were 2 beams in the form of a Cross. 

Was God telling us something? We cannot know for sure, but coincidences do not exist. Anything that happens in life has some reason.  It is Divine Providence at work. 
  • But why would God use this violent event to give a message? 
  • Why the loss of innocent people? 

Those questions can go either way. However, we do know God brings good out of evil.

God is not evil, nor does the presence of evil take away from his all good essence. Evil is the absence of good. God sometimes allows evil to happen in order to bring good out of it. That good can be anything He wills. 

Unfortunately it does take a bad event to wake people up. 
  • Why can't people be united, help each other every day? 
  • Why does it take a tragedy to bring everyone together? 
Sometimes kids don't listen when parents calmly tell them to stop doing something that will harm them. It isn't until mom and dad raises his/her voice or uses some other form of discipline that the child presents his/her attention.

Humanity as a whole being God's children are not any different. God does sometimes use a strong way to get humanity's attention. We must pray, meditate, and grow spiritually in order to see what God's will is. America needs to wake up and not go the way of the Greeks and Romans whose societies became so licentious that anything and everything was allowed. There was no moral/immoral distinction; everything was "good." 

Today we see abortion where some argue till they turn blue claiming that it is a good.  They will distort Biology and Embryology, even ontology in order to present Abortion as a mere surgical procedure instead of the murder of a human being.  

Others push for marriage between same sex couples and to allow transgendered people to use either bathroom. Now they even want to make pedophilia normal.  This is an abuse of freedom.  It is a complete neglect of morals and conscience.  Society is reverting back to primitive times.    

Where is the line between sanity/insanity and morality/immorality? America must pray, follow the Lord's will be truly be a Nation under God.
Let us pray to the Lord, keep His will and Commandments alive. We must worship God, love God and one another; not attempt to make ourselves God and oppress our brothers and sisters born or preborn.  We must not attempt to rewrite the Natural Law and redefine sex and marriage in order to appease evil intrinsic sexual deviance.  

Osama Bin Laden was killed on May 1, 2011 and America has changed a lot since the attacks he planned and had carried out.  We have more security, have troops all over the globe.  However, have we changed our moral fabric which is dissolving?  

Secularism is on the rise in America.  Democrats booed God at their convention in the last election and throughout America clubs promoting secularism and atheism are appearing in high schools and colleges.  They are confusing our youth and distorting God's word in order to make it seem as a 'fairy tale.'  Our nation is imploding.         

As 2 Chronicles 7:14 says: " if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Rolling Stone Crumbles

"RollingStone," the famous magazine is now in a big controversy.  They put Boston Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the front cover with the title, "The Bomber, How a Popular, Promsining Student Fell Into Radical Islam and Became a Monster."  The issue covers the life of the young terrorist and presents theories regarding why he turned into a terrorist.

Many retailers have vowed not to carry the issue and victims of the Boston Marathon bombing as well as others are protesting it.  They claim that the issue is glorifying the terrorist, "slaps the victims in the face," and is in bad taste.

I agree with them 100%.  This demented kid should not be on the cover of popular magazine. "RollingStone" is a well known media outlet for its articles; however, this time, the "Rolling Stone" is due to its collapse and destabilization from the foundation of common sense.  How can they even dare put this evil guy on the front cover?  I understand writing an article on him and his actions like any other news outlet would, but why the front cover?  Is it because he is "cute" and seems to have captured the pity of some people because of his age?

I was appalled when he was being hunted down as I read tweets from women describing him as "sexy" and "cute."  Some were even tweeting not to kill him because they want to have his kids! Seriously?  This guy and his brother planned an attack on people and carried it out.  People had their limbs blow off, four people died, three from the bombings and one was gunned down by the brothers.  There is nothing "sexy" or "cute" about this guy, nor should anyone feel pity for him.  No woman should desire having his kids, he should be neutered.

He was of age to know what he was doing and even gloated about it, according to reports. Dzhokhar is not a small child who was brainwashed by his older brother.  He is a 19 year old man capable of deciding for himself.  In this case, he chose to join his older brother in doing evil.
Putting this terrorist on the front cover will inspire also psychopaths out there to hurt others in order to get attention.  Every psychopath enjoys attention; narcissim is part of their psyche.  They will see this issue as a reward.    

I hope RollingStone destroys every copy of this issue and apologizes to the victims.  If they are going to do a story on this evil guy, then he should be on the last page, and the money made from it should go to the victims.



Source:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/07/18/retailers-vow-not-to-sell-rolling-stone-as-critics-blast-decision-to-put/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/17/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-boston-marathon-bombing-rolling-stone/2523891/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/17/202956379/rolling-stones-tsarnaev-cover-whats-stirring-such-passion

 

   
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, August 31, 2012

Benedict Groeschel Blames Victims



No not Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR...  That was my first thought when I read the news about the comments he made during an interview.  He apparently said that victims seduce predators and even called Sandusky a "poor guy."

What was Groeschel thinking?  Victims don't seduce anyone.  It is the criminal who has screws loose in his/her mind and attacks the victim.


I will write more as I get more info....

UPDATE September 1, 2012******************************************

Since the whole incidence had occurred, both Fr. Groeschel and the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have posted up apologies and denunciation of comments made.  Fr. Groeschel seems to be blaming his aging mind as the reason.  Others in the Catholic world are also claiming that he is suffering from dementia.  Be it as it may, the comments were totally offensive and out of line.

The whole social networking world was lit on fire insulting Fr. Groeschel, calling for the ban of his shows and books, even his death!   Others made connections to the Church claiming it to be some sort of child abusing mechanism with psychopathic predator priests.

This is unfortunately indeed.  This serves as an example that we must be careful what we say.   I do not understand why the NCR did not take another look at the interview before publishing it.  Sometimes we do think things and say them differently.

I pray for all victims of sex abuse and for Fr. Groeschel as he rides this wave of hate directed towards him.



UPDATE II  SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 **************

Fr. Benedict Groeschel has stepped down from his EWTN Sunday show after consulting EWTN and his religious order, the Friars of the Renewal.  http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/father-groeschel-steps-down-from-ewtn-show/#.UEa9QFKwoTA.twitter


Source:

http://franciscanfriars.com/for-immediate-release-august-30-2102/

http://news.yahoo.com/catholic-tv-star-rev-benedict-groeschel-defends-child-145215741--abc-news-topstories.html

http://gma.yahoo.com/catholic-tv-star-rev-benedict-groeschel-defends-child-145215741--abc-news-topstories.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/catholic-priest-rev-benedict-groeschel-defends-child-sex/story?id=17114892#.UEDYjMFlSAI

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/31/nyregion/in-interview-the-rev-benedict-groeschel-says-abuse-victims-can-be-seducers.html

http://newyork.newsday.com/news/nation/rev-benedict-groeschel-apologizes-for-saying-priests-are-often-seduced-by-children-1.3941804
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Labels

Catholic Church (1206) God (534) Jesus (526) Bible (446) Atheism (377) Jesus Christ (355) Pope Francis (302) Atheist (259) Liturgy of the Word (256) Science (195) Christianity (165) LGBT (147) Apologetics (106) Gay (92) Abortion (89) Liturgy (88) Pope Benedict XVI (86) Rosa Rubicondior (82) Blessed Virgin Mary (80) Philosophy (80) Prayer (72) Theology (65) Physics (63) Vatican (60) President Obama (57) Psychology (55) Christian (54) Christmas (53) New York City (53) Holy Eucharist (52) Traditionalists (51) Biology (43) Health (41) Women (39) Politics (37) Baseball (34) Supreme Court (34) Vatican II (31) Protestant (30) Racism (30) Pope John Paul II (29) Gospel (28) NYPD (28) Religious Freedom (27) Space (27) Illegal Immigrants (26) priests (26) Death (25) Priesthood (24) Astrophysics (23) Evangelization (23) Donald Trump (22) Christ (20) Evil (20) First Amendment (20) Eucharist (19) Pro Abortion (19) Child Abuse (17) Pro Choice (17) Morality (16) Pedophilia (16) Police (16) Divine Mercy (15) Easter Sunday (15) Marriage (15) Jewish (14) Gender Theory (13) Pentecostals (13) Autism (12) Blog (12) Holy Trinity (12) September 11 (12) Cognitive Psychology (11) Muslims (11) Poverty (11) CUNY (10) Pope Paul VI (10) Sacraments (10) academia (10) Hispanics (9) Massimo Pigliucci (9) Personhood (9) Big Bang Theory (8) Evidence (8) Human Rights (8) Humanism (8) Barack Obama (7) Condoms (7) David Viviano (7) Ellif_dwulfe (7) NY Yankees (7) Podcast (7) Spiritual Life (7) Gender Dysphoria Disorder (6) Hell (6) Babies (5) Catholic Bloggers (5) Cyber Bullying (5) Eastern Orthodox (5) Evangelicals (5) Pope Pius XII (5) The Walking Dead (5) Angels (4) Donations (4) Ephebophilia (4) Plenary Indulgence (4) Pope John XXIII (4) Death penalty (3) Encyclical (3) Founding Fathers (3) Pluto (3) Baby Jesus (2) Dan Arel (2) Freeatheism (2) Oxfam (2) Penn Jillette (2) Pew Research Center (2) Cursillo (1) Dan Savage (1) Divine Providence (1) Fear The Walking Dead (1) Pentecostales (1)