Biden's Orders
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The Newspaper of The Diocese of Brooklyn | Since 1908 | Volume 113, No. 45 | January 30, 2021 | $1 ‘9 Days for Life’ Novena Held BIDEN’S ORDERS How his executive actions affect Catholics l PAGE 13 Ahead of 2021 Virtual March by Erin DeGregorio, Staff Writer PROSPECT HEIGHTS — The nationwide “9 Days for Life” Novena, sponsored by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishop’s Committee on Pro-Life Activ- ities, was celebrated in the Diocese of Brooklyn. This year, the Novena took place from Jan. 21 to 29, provid- ing parishioners with daily refl ections and opportuni- ties for prayers and actions to promote the respect of all human life. “Every year, Diocese of Brooklyn parishioners attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C. to pray for an end to the tragedy of abortion. This year, due to the pan- demic, the March for Life is virtual, so attendance was not possible,” said Father Joseph Gibino, vicar for Evan- gelization and Catechesis. “But, here in our Diocese, we can pray in communion for the protection of all human life, either at one of our Masses or through this year’s special Novena.” On Jan. 21, the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph held the opening Mass for Life with strict health and safety guide- lines put in place. Deacon John Cantirino from Immac- ulate Heart of Mary Parish in Windsor Terrace, who an- nually walks in the March for Life, attended the Mass to keep his tradition alive in a similar fashion. ALSO INSIDE He believes the “9 Days for Life” Novena highlights President Biden's previous meetings with Pope Francis l PAGE 9 Catholics’ commitment to proclaim the sanctity of life. “It’s an issue that’s close to the heart of many Catholics, New Defense Secretary is a lifelong Catholic l PAGE 12 and really nothing’s going to stop them from constantly Parishioners praise inaugural poet Amanda Gorman l PAGE 32 raising the issue of how sacred life is in all its forms, from beginning to natural death,” Deacon Cantirino said. President Joe Biden signs executive orders after his inauguration. (Photo: CNS/Tom Brenner, Reuters) Continued on page 6 Deacon The must-see How Mass is arrested in windows of good for your sex sting our churches mental health PAGE 3 PAGES 18-19 PAGE 33 2 January 30, 2021 | TheTablet.org Up Front & Personal Moving Forward with Prayers and Poems by Brian Browne the more than 400,000 Americans who have succumbed to COVID-19. Inaugu- Much has been written in the secular ration Day began with morning Mass at media on President Joe Biden’s overt Ca- the historic Cathedral of St. Matthew in tholicism and how that might challenge Washington; a Jesuit priest prayed the the already complex and daunting tight- invocation before the Oath of Office was rope walked by Catholics in the public administered; and in his inaugural ad- square. dress, Biden not only quoted St. Augus- As only the second Catholic presi- tine but — in a call for national unity — dent in American history, it is President invoked, “My whole soul is in it,” a quote Biden’s personal Catholic faith — more attributed to President Abraham Lincoln so than a public adherence to church when he signed the Emancipation Procla- doctrine — that seems to be the guiding mation on New Year's Day 1863 during an- force in his long public career and is cen- other dark and deeply divided time in our tral to his world view. He frequently ref- nation’s history. Biden, a politician with a erences God, cites scripture, quotes Pope 50-year career in public service, launched Francis, and recalls the healing power of his third and successful candidacy for prayer in his own life especially during President by referring to his campaign as the tragedies that have defined his polit- a "battle for the soul of the nation." ical narrative. Even before being elected While the Biden Presidency has al- President, Biden would conclude all his ready shined a light on Catholicism, the public speeches by asking God to bless next four years will no doubt advance our soldiers and our country. He wears another unique characteristic of the 46th his Catholic faith on his sleeve. President, and that is his lifelong appre- FAITH IN FOCUS INSIDE The teachings and traditions of the ciation for Irish poetry. Perhaps this is Catholic Church were evident during the most fitting because the Irish have long Adalia Reyes, an asylum-seeker from Put Out Into the Deep 4 scaled-down events and ceremonies sur- endured and sought to overcome a divid- El Salvador, poses with a friend's child Obituaries 15 rounding the Biden Inauguration under ed country, a Great Hunger, a civil war, outside a Mass celebrated in a tent camp Readers’ Forum & Editorial 16–17 the theme “America United.” Washington religious segregation, sectarian strife, and for migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border. Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory offered the suffering. Through all of this and more, Reyes said, out of desperation, she sent Columnists 25–28 invocation at a solemn pre-inauguration this little country that has been invaded, her two children unaccompanied to the Sports 35 memorial service to honor and remember Continued on page 34 United States, where they were reunited Crossword Puzzle B2 with their father. (Photo: CNS/David Agren) Published by and in the interest of The Diocese of Brooklyn January 30 JANUARY Publisher Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Papal prayer intentions Associate Publisher Msgr. Kieran E. Harrington 2021 Exec. Dir. of News Content & Development Vito Formica Human Fraternity Managing Editor of News Operations Michelle Powers Vol. 113 | Nº 45 May the Lord give us the grace to live Editor-in-Chief Jorge I. Domínguez-López in full fellowship with our brothers and The Tablet Deputy Editors Joaquin Badajoz, Jim DelCioppo sisters of other religions, praying for Manager of Digital Content Production Dustin Etheridge 1712 10th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215 one another, open to all. 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The Pro-Life Newspaper TheTablet.org | January 30, 2021 3 Assembly Members Turn to Biden To Get Nursing Home Death Data by Erin DeGregorio, Staff Writer “To date, the New York State Department of Health has not answered requests from lawmakers, families and good WINDSOR TERRACE — Two New York Assembly mem- government groups to release this crucial information, as bers have already written to President Joe Biden, seeking required by the Freedom of Information Law,” Byrne and his assistance to obtain data on nursing home deaths caused Kim wrote. “It is our strong belief you have the executive by COVID-19 in the state. power as president to have the Center for Disease Con- Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order on trol mandate the necessary retrospective reporting which March 25 that mandated nursing homes had to admit recov- would make this information public without further delay.” ering COVID-19 patients. The Assembly members also included copies of Fall 2020 The order, which was reversed on May 10, intended to correspondence with the Centers for Disease Control — in free up hospital beds, as hundreds were dying every day which a group of 24 state legislators wrote to CDC Director during the height of the pandemic. Robert Redfield, requesting the agency “update its rules to As of Jan. 18, 2021, New York’s Department of Health require nursing homes to employ retrospective reporting of (DOH) recorded 8,671 confirmed and presumed reported resident deaths.” COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities — which in- The current CDC requirement does not mandate this cludes nursing homes and adult care facilities. Of the 8,671 type of reporting for deaths that occurred before May. reported deaths, 8,469 have been attributed to those in They called the CDC’s response back “unsatisfactory” as nursing homes. However, the DOH has only recorded the the agency reiterated its existing rules and did not address number of seniors who have passed away in nursing homes or answer the legislators’ request for a mandate update. — excluding deaths outside those facilities, such as the hos- A resident at Hamilton Park Nursing and Rehabilita- Byrne and Kim concluded their letter to Biden, saying: pitals they were transferred to. tion in Brooklyn receives the coronavirus vaccine on “New York families have been seeking this information to Assembly members Kevin Byrne (R-Westchester) and Ron Jan.