Michael Swan

Hope in a child's birth

January 5, 2007

Children of Men [images/stories/movies/childrenofmen.jpg]Writer-director Alfonso Cuaron uses P.D. James's novel The Children of Men to show us a world worn out, spinning on the empty energy of caffeine, terrorism, anger, paranoia, suicide and the media's technology of mental chaos. He shows us the real culture of death. But then he shows us something more.

Canadian philanthropy lags behind Americans

January 5, 2007

TORONTO - Canadians are the third most generous people in the industrialized world, but only half as generous as Americans. A spate of recent statistical reports on Canadian philanthropy draws a picture of a nation that opens its wallet, but not too wide. givinglevels [images/stories/canada/givinglevels.jpg]

Union officials take over at College of Teachers'

January 5, 2007

OCT [images/stories/logos/oct_copy.jpg]TORONTO - One of the most hated of the Mike Harris Conservative's education reforms in the eyes of teachers' unions is now in the hands of one of the unions' very own.

Response to terrorism can be taken from holy books

December 22, 2006

Fr. Bob Holmes and Shabir Ally [images/stories/toronto/holmes_sabir.jpg]TORONTO - Muslim cleric and scholar Shabir Ally's message to high school students with questions about terrorism is that theology matters. Ally took about 200 high school students from across the Greater Toronto Area through a quick tour of the history of Muslim thought about war and peace. The students were at the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto, for the annual Brebeuf Social Justice Symposium on Dec. 15. Students from half a dozen Catholic schools converged downtown to question a variety of speakers gathered to address the topic "When faith meets terror."

Insiders not surprised at Archbishop Collins' posting to Canada's largest diocese

December 22, 2006

TORONTO - The man who is about to become one of the most powerful churchmen in Canada has no interest in the trappings of power. Archbishop Thomas Collins has been a success as a seminary professor and rector, as a bishop in northern Alberta and as a metropolitan archbishop in Edmonton. Church insiders are not surprised Collins was appointed to lead Toronto, Canada's largest and richest Catholic diocese by Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 16.

Afghan mission bound to fail, says Caritas head

December 18, 2006

TORONTO - Canada's twin goals of military success and humanitarian aid in Afghanistan are doomed to failure, the president of Caritas Internationalis told The Catholic Register as he visited the international aid network's Canadian partner.

Trustees play for time with province

December 18, 2006

TORONTO - Despite a provincial report which recommends ways for the Toronto Catholic District School Board to erase $34.9 million in red ink, trustees are hoping to dodge cuts by playing for time until the spring provincial budget.

Charities feel pinch as province starves agencies of money

December 18, 2006

Michael Fullan [images/stories/toronto_people/fullan_michael.jpg]TORONTO - Catholic Family Services — Peel-Dufferin delivers one of the best bargains the Ontario taxpayers ever got. The agency deals with family breakdown, the after-effects of child abuse, violence against women and more among 1.2 million people living west and northwest of Toronto. For the region's adult survivors of child abuse, the agency collects $53,000 of provincial government funding and magically transforms it into $250,000 in front-line counselling services to some of the most tragically damaged people in our midst.

Pax Christi head hopes to meet Toronto group

December 7, 2006

PaxChristi [images/stories/logos/PaxChristi.jpg]TORONTO - The next secretary general of Pax Christi International wants to see the international Catholic movement gain a foothold in Canada.

Liturgists to meet in Toronto

December 1, 2006

TORONTO - If good liturgy doesn't happen by accident, it must surely have something to do with the work of the North American Academy of Liturgy. The first week of January, the academy will bring about 250 scholars to Toronto in its continuing crusade to make sure accidents don't happen.