Michael Swan

Holy See unhappy with Canadian arms treaty inaction

June 29, 2013

A Vatican diplomat has signalled serious concerns over Canada’s belated attempt to ratify an arms control treaty it signed five years ago.

The World Bank’s plan to help end ‘absolute poverty’

June 29, 2013

The World Bank is promising the poor will not always be with us.

The human genome is not property

June 22, 2013

A decision by the United States Supreme Court to strike down patents on portions of the human genome is a victory for society that reinforces the moral necessity of keeping our common biological heritage in public hands, said Jesuit genetic researcher Fr. Rob Allore.

Humanism displayed at the AGO

June 22, 2013

If you’re a Christian, humanism is about God because God became human, created humans and cares about humans.

Ursuline sisters fight for worker safety

June 21, 2013

The Ursuline Sisters of the Diocese of London, Ont. have joined a coalition of Canadian investors to demand that Canadian retailers join international efforts to ensure Bangladeshi garment factories meet basic fire and safety standards.

Canadian-owned mine must be closed, says archbishop

June 20, 2013

The Archbishop of San Salvador is calling for international support in shutting down a Canadian-owned gold mine just across the border in Guatemala.

Jewish scholar predicts dark times for Palestinian Christians

June 16, 2013

Updated 06/18/13: A previous version of this article contained an error. Justus Weiner does not practise law with the U.S. firm White and Case. It’s not hard to find Christians willing to predict a dire future for Christians in the Middle East. Jewish legal scholar Justus Weiner arrived in Canada to echo that bleak forecast for Palestinian Christians from an Israeli perspective in front of the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights in Ottawa June 4.

Delving into Catholic moral reasoning

June 15, 2013

The Ethical Being: A Catholic Guide to Contemporary Issues by Scott Kline (Novalis, 264 pages, softcover, $19.95) It is not inevitable that a Catholic book about ethics must become a Catholic book about sex. Despite the popular notion that morality is the conservative, judgmental and unkind mode of talking about sex, Catholic moral science is not primarily a list of forbidden thoughts and acts which originate south of the belt buckle.

The ordination of Atataatsiavaluk Tony

June 9, 2013

RANKIN INLET, NUNAVUT - Bishop Anthony Krotki found out a few weeks before his episcopal ordination he was finally a grandfather.

St. Anthony of Padua relics coming to Canada for 750th anniversary tour

June 6, 2013

TORONTO - Every year Toronto renews its connection with St. Anthony of Padua, but this year the city will welcome the saint’s relics on the 750th anniversary of their discovery by St. Bonaventure and the 782nd anniversary of his death.