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April 2007

April 12

‘Designer embryos’ an attack on life

April 12, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI denounced the high-tech trend that encourages parents to seek the “perfect child” through genetic selection.

Jesus tomb discovery ‘nonsense’

April 12, 2007

TORONTO - The claim by a Toronto filmmaker that he had found the true burial site of Jesus of Nazareth — along with Jesus’ wife and child — began to sink under withering criticism almost as soon as he revealed his new film Feb. 26.

Symposium prepares for Eucharistic Congress

April 12, 2007

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

Cheating cheats cheaters

April 12, 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.

Retreat makes faith real

April 12, 2007

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

April 12, 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.

Catholics honoured with Order of Canada

April 12, 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.

April 13

Report sets stage for closer relations between Catholics, Anglicans

April 13, 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.

We author our own misfortune

April 13, 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.

MY FAVOURITE PRAYER: Serenity Prayer eases things in stressful world

April 13, 2007

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).

Vatican trying to end liberation theology, Sobrino says

April 13, 2007

WASHINGTON - In a sharply worded letter to his religious superior, Jesuit Father Jon Sobrino said that a Vatican document criticizing his work is an effort “to put an end to the theology of liberation.”

Toronto interfaith council launched

April 13, 2007

TORONTO - From Anglican to Zoroastrian, 45 faith communities came together to put the stamp of faith on Toronto’s immense diversity at the inaugural breakfast meeting of the Toronto Area Interfaith Council March 20.

$1.2-million grant will aid Free the Children projects

April 13, 2007

TORONTO - A charity established by 12-year-old Catholic school children a dozen years ago has landed a $1.2-million grant from the Canadian founder of eBay, who as a student pumped gas in the neighbourhood.

Catholics For Peace join anti-war rally

April 13, 2007

TORONTO - Ten Catholics For Peace were among a couple thousand protesters who marked the fourth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq with a St. Patrick’s Day rally across the street from the U.S. consulate and a march through downtown Toronto converging on the Peace Garden in Nathan Phillips Square.

Hate crime charge follows attack

April 13, 2007

TORONTO - An attack on a Jewish community centre in midtown Toronto is part of a continuing pattern that needs to be addressed, said Fr. Damian MacPherson, the archdiocese of Toronto’s interfaith and ecumenical affairs officer.

Pope remembered on film

April 13, 2007

TORONTO - The first Canadian theater screening of the film “Karol: The Pope, The Man” will be shown at the Ontario Place IMAX Cinesphere in English and Polish on Mar . 31 and in Italian Apr. 1. It is being sponsored by Catholic Youth Studio-KSM Inc.

We are God’s hands

April 13, 2007

Every day I hear people all around me say, “We are so blessed to live in Canada,” and I agree. There is a plethora of resources, an abundance of food, warmth, shelter, career advancement opportunities and let’s not forget beauty. Every time I hear comments like this I am filled with ease, but at the same time I cringe.

We are God’s hands

April 13, 2007

New group ministers to an overlooked demographic

April 13, 2007

TORONTO - Maria Shymonovych moved to Toronto from Ukraine two years ago after visiting the city in 2002 for World Youth Day.

Ancient relics on display

April 13, 2007

OTTAWA - While a relic is often labelled as a thing of the past, as Carlos Martins explains, these sacred objects have relevance today. The fourth-year Companions of the Cross seminarian uses his extensive relic collection to teach about them. A former atheist, Martins came to the Catholic Church almost 11 years ago during a mystical dialogue with God before the Blessed Sacrament. Two years later, his relic ministry began.