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December 2007

December 7

Downplaying religious voice can only help

December 7, 2007

TORONTO - The movement against euthanasia and assisted suicide will have the greatest impact if a secular face replaces a religious one, say advocates.

Death is a natural part of living

December 7, 2007

TORONTO - “To legalize euthanasia changes the way we understand ourselves, human life and its meaning,” said Margaret Somerville.

To have hope

December 7, 2007

With the release of his second encyclical, Spe Salvi (on Christian hope), Pope Benedict XVI offers less a dogmatic pronouncement than a university lecture, rewarding the careful reader with profound insights into why Christians have hope in the face of a world that appears to be hopeless.

December 10

Christmas gift ideas to make St. Nick smile

December 10, 2007

manger.png [images/stories/misc/xmas/manger.png]Editor’s note: If you are scrambling for gift ideas during this third week of Advent let us assure you that there is an alternative to the cult of shopping mall madness. We challenge you to root through our free or inexpensive homemade last-minute gift ideas guide. Give with a social and ecological conscience in the spirit of Bishop St. Nicholas of Myra whose compassionate generosity, albeit twisted by our modern day consumer culture, points to a greater reality — the greatest gift of all: the coming of Jesus Christ. Happy Advent from the Youth Speak News Team

Patience is queen of all spiritual skills

December 10, 2007

Third Sunday of Advent (Year A) Dec. 16 (Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11) People can bear almost any negative situation if they believe that it will come to an end. And if they are being oppressed, this hope for deliverance is tinged with fantasies of revenge and retribution, especially at the hands of a heroic liberator.

Catholic, Orthodox show signs of reconciliation

December 10, 2007

Advent invites us to cast aside our pessimism about the present age, and boldly imagine the great new beginnings that God has promised to His people.

Many ways to spread God’s light

December 10, 2007

It’s been several weeks since we turned back the clocks, ending daylight savings time, but I’m still adjusting. It feels particularly strange to drive home from work in the dark. I much prefer being out and about during daylightot hours; I have more energy and I feel safer, too.

Faith matters, Mormon candidate finds

December 10, 2007

WASHINGTON - When Arizona Rep. Morris Udall sought the Democratic nomination for president in 1976, the fact that he was a Mormon, albeit an inactive one, was barely mentioned.

December 11

Canadian churches demand poverty-reduction strategy

December 11, 2007

The 21 churches which collectively represent more than 80 per cent of Canada's Christians have unanimously called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to define and implement a poverty reduction strategy for Canada within the next budget year.

December 13

Latimer's parole denial welcomed by disabled

December 13, 2007

OTTAWA - The decision to deny parole to Robert Latimer, who murdered his 12-year-old disabled daughter Tracey in 1993, has prompted an outpouring of sympathy for the Saskatchewan farmer.

Notre Dame Sisters fight for justice, peace, environment

December 13, 2007

OTTAWA - The Sisters of Notre Dame in this city are reaching around the world with a new web site devoted to justice, peace and the environment.

For B.C. couple, mission begins at home

December 13, 2007

ONION LAKE, Sask. - While many Catholics do missionary work overseas, one couple is concentrating its efforts a little closer to home by working with native communities in northern Saskatchewan.

Legatus donates $! million to Eucharistic Congress

December 13, 2007

TORONTO - The considerable financial burden of staging the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City next June is being eased by a donation from an organization of Catholic businesspeople.

World is one human family, Pope says

December 13, 2007

VATICAN CITY - Anything that threatens the traditional family threatens peace, because the family “is the first and indispensable teacher of peace,” Pope Benedict XVI said.

Catholic faith is a social faith

December 13, 2007

TORONTO - The Catholic faith has always been a social faith that takes the material world and human bodies seriously, said Fr. William Ryan, S.J.

Toronto area school boards choose 2008 leaders

December 13, 2007

TORONTO - Catholic school boards in the Greater Toronto Area have all chosen the chairpersons who will lead them into the new year.

Toronto Catholic board unveils ‘Vision’

December 13, 2007

TORONTO - The Toronto Catholic District School Board has launched its version of the Character Development Initiative proposed by the government of Ontario in October last year.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board buys St. Joe’s

December 13, 2007

TORONTO - The Toronto Catholic District School Board has closed a $10-million deal with the Sisters of St. Joseph that will keep the board’s downtown, all-girls high school exactly where it has been since 1960.

The changing face of Toronto’s church

December 13, 2007

TORONTO - The linguistic ground is shifting underneath arguably the most diverse diocese in Catholicism, where Mass is celebrated in 34 languages every Sunday morning. The latest numbers from the 2006 Census show quick and dramatic changes in the languages spoken in Toronto.

December 14

Toronto St. Patrick’s parish set for centennial

December 14, 2007

TORONTO - Hundreds of parishioners pack St. Patrick’s parish for noon hour Mass each Wednesday. They flock from all over Toronto and beyond for weekly devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help.