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March 2007

March 1

It’s getting ugly

March 1, 2007

There was an interesting contrast in the news last month between the attitudes of today’s youth toward politics and the way it is practised at the highest levels in this country. Among Canada’s young, there was inspiring idealism and belief in the nobility of political life. Among our politicians, not so much.

We author our own misfortune

March 1, 2007

3rd Sunday of Lent (Year C) March 11 (Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15/1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12/Lk 13:1-9) Many traditions insist that to name and define God is a form of betrayal, for whatever can be named and defined cannot be God. But that doesn’t stop us from trying our best to have a name and a face for God. Not only is it more personal, it also gives us (we think) a greater sense of possession and control.

Catholics honoured with Order of Canada

March 1, 2007

OTTAWA - A pair of Catholics have made the grade as Canada’s governor general has announced 87 new appointments to the Order of Canada.

Conservative promises school funding will be election issue

March 1, 2007

Education Minister Kathleen Wynne [images/stories/ontario_people/wynne.jpg]TORONTO - Which religious traditions get support from publicly funded schools is going to be an issue in Ontario’s Oct. 10 election, promises Ontario Progressive Conservative education critic Frank Klees.

Symposium prepares for Eucharistic Congress

March 1, 2007

TORONTO - Leaders of Catholic lay movements in the archdiocese of Toronto will attend an annual symposium March 24.

Symposium prepares for Eucharistic Congress

March 1, 2007

TORONTO - Leaders of Catholic lay movements in the archdiocese of Toronto will attend an annual symposium March 24.

Cheating cheats cheaters

March 1, 2007

I still remember my first English class in high school. I was in Grade 9 and it was period two. The teacher walked in, smiled and got right down to business. The first item on her agenda was plagiarism.

March 6

Retreat makes faith real

March 6, 2007

retreat kids [images/stories/ysn/retreatkids.jpg]MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Nicole Fernandez expected a huge emphasis on faith and to meet friends as one of 125 young people to attend the 12th annual Lasting Treasure’s weekend retreat at Philip Pocock Secondary School in Mississauga in early February. What she didn’t expect, like many others, was the confidence to be a future leader and insight into how to surrender herself to God.

Youth for Christ: fun, friends, faith, freedom

March 6, 2007

WINNIPEG, Man. - At an early age Ian Garcia started doing drugs, drinking, partying and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Eventually his family disowned him.

Report sets stage for closer relations between Catholics, Anglicans

March 6, 2007

TORONTO - Church unity hasn’t happened yet, but Catholics and Anglicans have a new list of concrete suggestions for ways to bring the two churches closer.

There is more to Africa than poverty, pestilence

March 6, 2007

faceofafrica [images/stories/books/faceofafrica.jpg]Fr. Stan Chu Ilo is a Catholic priest from Nigeria, now based in the diocese of Peterborough. He is an Igbo, a tribe from the Eastern part of Nigeria. The aim of his book is to present a true story of Africa, with a message that “Beyond the shadows of the present gloom lies the true face of Africa.”

MY FAVOURITE PRAYER: Serenity Prayer eases things in stressful world

March 6, 2007

elizabeth may [images/stories/toronto_people/elizabeth-may-photo.jpg]For Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May it’s difficult to choose a favourite prayer. She’s partial to the Peace Prayer of St. Francis (which is Franciscan in spirit, but not written by St. Francis) and St. Francis’ Canticle of All Creatures (which probably does date from St. Francis’ lifetime).

Brave, new world is not that far off

March 6, 2007

When I first read Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World in 1960, this ironic novel from 1932 about the distant future had been around for a little over 25 years. But already its predictions seemed to be coming true, at least in the affluent North American society in which I lived as a young man.

St. Paul’s bishop gives organizations three years to stop raising funds by games of chance

March 6, 2007

ST. PAUL, Alta. - The choice of Catholic organizations to raise funds from gambling “is scandalous and compromises the religious identity of the institution or organization,” says the bishop of St. Paul.

Public education should respect all religions

March 6, 2007

Editor’s note: With the growth of ethnic and religious diversity in Canada, there is a growing debate over religious education and whether it should be supported with tax dollars. In this essay, Peter Lauwers analyses the debate and offers a cogent argument for state funding of religious education.

March 8

Opponents appeal Three Parents case to Supreme Court

March 8, 2007

OTTAWA - The Alliance for Marriage and Family filed an application Mar. 5 to appeal the so-called Three Parents Case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Mentally ill have too much autonomy for their own good, says professor

March 8, 2007

homeless [images/stories/misc/homeless.jpg]TORONTO - Putting a person in jail for being sick might sound extreme, barbarous and unreasonable, but 40 per cent of the inmates in Canada’s prison systems suffer mental illness. AND Approximately 35 per cent of the homeless suffer serious forms of mental illness. Philosopher and bioethicist Barry Brown argues that society should do more for the mentally ill than tossing them in jail or out on the street.

ShareLife begins campaign to raise $14 million

March 8, 2007

TORONTO - This year’s ShareLife campaign to “recognize, reflect and respond” is now underway.

Marie Deans chosen to lead Pontifical Missions Societies

March 8, 2007

TORONTO - The Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of People has appointed Toronto's Marie Deans as the next national director of the Canadian English sector of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

More than 1,300 celebrate Toronto’s ordinandi

March 8, 2007

TORONTO - Any time you want to talk about religious vocations, just call Archbishop Thomas Collins. His phone number is (416) 934-0606.