Michael Swan

Internet changing face of theology schools

February 27, 2016

Journalists, taxi drivers, musicians and motels have all had their economic apple carts upset by the Internet. Theology professors are discovering they too are not immune from the game-changing, democratizing effect of the world wide web.

Trafficking problem has too many solutions

February 26, 2016

There’s no easy way out of Ontario’s sex trafficking crisis and no shortage of opinions about first steps.

Ontario sorry for attempt to ‘crush’ French culture

February 24, 2016

TORONTO - The Anglo-Protestant attempt to crush French Catholic culture in Ontario got rare acknowledgement from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne Feb. 22 as she stood in the legislature to apologize for Regulation 17.

The moral question can’t be ignored in battling Islamic State

February 21, 2016

There’s more than political interest, strategic advantage, and military considerations in the decision to end Canadian bombing runs over Syria and Iraq in favour of more military trainers on the ground and additional spending on aid and development.

The female voice needs to be heard: Durocher

February 21, 2016

Archbishop Paul-André Durocher loves women. He wants to hear their voices, take their advice and see them active in the Church.

Assisted suicide and salvation

February 20, 2016

With doctor-assisted suicide now legal in Quebec and available across Canada to anyone granted permission from a Superior Court judge, bishops and pastors will face new pastoral dilemmas.

D&P’s Share Lent seeks to foster change

February 18, 2016

Each year during Lent the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace makes its major push for funding, tapping the one source that not only keeps the organization afloat but also the only source of funding that can validate its existence — ordinary Canadian Catholics.

L’Arche art takes us beyond the disability

February 14, 2016

TORONTO - Conversations with Andrea Frizon can take a while. Words don’t come easily. The best way is to sit across from her and hold out both hands. She will lightly lay her hands on yours then withdraw them. Ask her questions that call for a choice and indicate the choice with your hands. “Does painting make you happy (indicate your right hand) or unhappy (indicate your left).” Andrea chooses the right hand with a light touch.

A failure to communicate

February 13, 2016

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has decided it doesn’t need a communications committee any more.

Ukrainians: don’t throw us under the bus

February 10, 2016

Nobody wants the Pope to meet Moscow’s Orthodox patriarch more than the Ukrainian Catholics, but the Eastern-rite Catholics want to be sure their Church is treated as a full partner in the dialogue between Rome and Moscow.