Michael Swan

Bishops’ silence on Afghan war ‘a scandal’

December 6, 2007

TORONTO - Canada’s Catholic bishops are failing to lead as the nation’s troops are drawn ever deeper into a civil war in Afghanistan, KAIROS board chair Fr. Paul Hansen told The Catholic Register.

Toronto's Parkdale food bank saved

December 3, 2007

TORONTO - St. Philip's Centre is well on its way to another 20 years of serving the poor in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood, avoiding near bankruptcy and eviction just before Christmas.

Morality should trump politics on climate change

November 30, 2007

globeWarming.jpg [images/stories/misc/globeWarming.jpg]TORONTO - Grade 9 students at Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School probably won’t learn anything about Bali in their geography class this week. The Indonesian island might get a passing mention from their science teacher, but it’s not on the exam. But in religion class, Bali will definitely be a focus.

Investors showing an environmental conscience

November 30, 2007

pollution.jpg [images/stories/misc/pollution.jpg]The state of our environment has captured the attention of Canadian investors. A Harris/Decima poll of more than 2,000 Canadians for Investors Group found 56 per cent thought environmental considerations are an important part of socially responsible investment decisions. Environment out-polled such traditional ethical investment factors as alcohol and tobacco at 43 per cent, and weapons at 53 per cent. Only substandard human rights practices at 70 per cent and child labour named by 79 per cent were more likely to determine ethical investment decisions.

School board pulls controversial book

November 29, 2007

TORONTO - An Ontario Catholic school board has pulled The Golden Compass and other His Dark Materials novels by outspoken atheist Philip Pullman from school library shelves in response to a U.S.-inspired campaign against both the books and the movie version of The Golden Compass, which opens across Canada Dec. 7.

Ajax heritage church sold to town

November 26, 2007

AJAX, Ont. - The Town of Ajax is taking over the 136-year-old St. Frances de Sales Church and the parish has an extra $400,000 to put towards the debt on its new church a few blocks north of the old building.

Advent readings save us from twisted Christmas

November 23, 2007

TORONTO - When Kathleen Norris pulled back the curtain on what Benedictine life is really about in her ground-breaking 1997 book Cloister Walk, she wanted readers to know it’s not easy being spiritual. She wrote about loneliness and heartbreak and not knowing and just what it might feel like to haul one’s body off to chapel five times a day, every day, for the rest of your life.

Peace group seeks bishops’ statement on war

November 23, 2007

TORONTO - It’s time for Canada’s Catholic bishops to state clearly what they think Canada should be doing in Afghanistan, according to a lay peace group which plans to petition the bishops for a statement before Christmas.

Government challenged on tax cuts to oil sector

November 22, 2007

The federal government has some explaining to do about climate change and tax breaks. A coalition of churches with the help of an environmental legal group are hoping to hear what the government has to say early in 2008.

Monastery sale divides Toronto Ukrainians

November 21, 2007

TORONTO - The Ukrainian eparchy of Toronto is divided and will face years of bitterness and recrimination over its decision to sell its monastery near Orangeville, according to one of the bishop’s most senior consultors.