Michael Swan

New Pope a man of style and substance

August 6, 2013

Less than six months into his papacy, Pope Francis still seems very new, very different to the world. In particular, his relationship to the media has caused a sensation. Newspapers around the world have headlined the Pope's remarks on homosexuality with the "Who am I to judge?" soundbite.

Francis' comments taken as surprise are no surprise at all

August 2, 2013

Pope Francis did not turn Catholic sexual ethics on its head while chatting with reporters on the plane trip back from Brazil.

Canadian prayers for unity

July 28, 2013

The world will pray with Canada this January, and in a special way with native Canadians. For the second time in the 106-year history of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Canadians have written the biblical reflections, prayer services and educational materials to be used worldwide.

Provincial changes put children’s aid in a hole

July 28, 2013

TORONTO - Catholic kids who need protection from their own families are going to get it from smaller agencies with less money starting this year.

ShareLife parish campaign seeks donors on final weekend

July 26, 2013

TORONTO - Going into the final weekend of its 2013 parish campaign, ShareLife is reminding potential first-time donors that if they give they will have both the government and a matching fund on their side.

Catholic health providers demand government action

July 26, 2013

The big Catholic hospitals, nursing homes and other health services have teamed up with doctors and nurses across the country to demand provincial premiers continue to work with them to make health care cheaper and better.

Ramadan similar to Lent

July 14, 2013

TORONTO - Catholics aren’t the only ones who go hungry for their faith. On July 8 or 9, depending on lunar sightings, Canada’s one million Muslims began a month of fasting.

St. Michael's Hospital on board with safe injection site

July 11, 2013

TORONTO - St. Michael’s Hospital doesn’t want people to inject street drugs. But Toronto’s largest Catholic hospital believes some addicts should have access to a community-based safe injection site.

Double canonization united by Vatican II

July 10, 2013

Two generations of Canadians will be united in the canonization of the pope who called the Second Vatican Council and the one who interpreted it for 27 years.

The Church’s response to the crisis in Syria

June 30, 2013

The last three years of sponsoring Iraqi refugees has prepared Catholic parishes and religious communities to deal with the next wave coming from the civil war in Syria, said Office for Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto executive director Martin Mark.