Michael Swan

Canadian Jesuit plays role in launch of Pope's exhortation

April 20, 2018

Canadian Jesuit Deacon Adam Hincks was one of the first people in the world to read Pope Francis’ latest apostolic exhortation, a distinction that isn’t lost on the 36-year-old astrophysicist.

‘Triple crisis’ afflicting Venezuelan refugees

April 20, 2018

While the biggest refugee crisis in the Western Hemisphere languishes in media obscurity, one Catholic agency is working with the most vulnerable Venezuelan refugees flooding the back country of Colombia’s borderlands.

Twelve Canadian bishops withholding funds to Development and Peace

April 17, 2018

Twelve Canadian bishops, including Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto, are withholding contributions to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace following preliminary research that indicates some of the Catholic agency’s partners may be connected to abortion or artificial contraception.

The good doctors: Fighting to keep morality in the age of the quick fix in medicine

April 17, 2018

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, described a physician’s career this way: “Life is short, the art long, opportunity fleeting, experiment dangerous and judgment difficult.” So, who in their right mind would want to be a doctor?

Jesuit students set to ‘roll up their sleeves’ in next formation step

April 11, 2018

Erik Sorensen got his first job at 12, shovelling snow for an apartment building in his hometown of Red Deer, Alta. In high school he worked in a grocery store stacking cans and filling up the bins of potatoes.

Recipient of papal medal banks on Serra's future as oncoming president

April 11, 2018

Of course Mario Biscardi was given prior notice that he was to receive the highest honour the Vatican bestows on any layperson.

Pope issues holiness challenge, expands 'pro-life' meaning

April 11, 2018

Pope Francis has once again expanded the Catholic definition of being pro-life.

Canadian Church ready to help Rohingya refugees

April 10, 2018

Catholic parishes, ministries, religious orders and institutions stand ready to help should Ottawa heed Bob Rae’s advice on the Rohingya crisis.

Catholic groups scramble for summer job funds

April 10, 2018

Correction: A previous version of the story stated Matt Pascuzzo said the attestation came as a result of anti-abortion campaigners who used the jobs funding to aggressively campaign for criminal code sanctions on abortion. Pascuzzo did not make the statement. Agencies rejected for Canada Summer Jobs grants because they won’t tick the pro-abortion attestation box are scrambling to come up with private funds to cover the summertime services they provide to the poor.

The life and turbulent times of Blessed Oscar Romero

April 7, 2018

For Francisco Rico-Martinez, Archbishop Oscar Romero may well be the saint of silence.