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February 2008

February 8

NAFTA threatens rural Mexico, bishops say

February 8, 2008

MEXICO CITY - Mexico’s Catholic bishops have pleaded with the federal government to renegotiate a trade treaty with the United States and Canada that they say is leading to the cultural death of their nation.

Few parishes use lay pastoral associates

February 8, 2008

TORONTO - Lay pastoral associates have been active in the archdiocese of Toronto for more than 20 years, but today the position has reached a plateau.

Spiritual battle

February 8, 2008

In his 2008 Message for Lent, Pope Benedict XVI refers to the “spiritual battle” of the Lenten season, a time when we use the tools of almsgiving, fasting and prayer to strengthen our inner selves against those forces, internal and external, which prey on our human foibles.

Follow Christ's sacrificial example

February 8, 2008

I have a friend, a fellow writer, whom I’m here calling Peter. That’s not his real name, but I can assure you he’s real.

February 13

The good, bad, ugly of Valentine's Day

February 13, 2008

It is only days away, that fatal day, that day with the power to cast single women into abject gloom and to send married men into a frenzy of procrastination; that day that crushes the joy out of men who love and rarely fails to disappoint the women who love them; that day that sends boys and girls hand in hand to their local Catholic college campus to watch The Vagina Monologues. Yes, my friends, Valentine’s Day is upon us again.

February 14

Calgary bishop offers to settle publishing dispute

February 14, 2008

OTTAWA - Calgary Bishop Fred Henry would like to see Imam Syed Soharwardy and former publisher Ezra Levant settle their feud so they can work together to stop the abuses of human rights commissions.

We must place our trust in God

February 14, 2008

Second Sunday of Lent (Year A) Feb. 17 (Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9) Most people have a great reluctance, even fear, of being vulnerable. We like to control events and our environment. We insulate ourselves with power, wealth and relationships and a host of other things to give us the illusion of security.

TST adds London, Ontario affiliate

February 14, 2008

TORONTO - The Toronto School of Theology has extended its reach down to London, Ont., by adding the Anglican Huron College of the University of Western Ontario as an affiliate.

Prayer is our common language

February 14, 2008

Editor's Note: This is a runner-up essay winner in the Friars’ Student Writing Award. Margaret Suen is a Grade 12 student at St. Joseph Morrow Park Catholic Secondary School. The Register will publish all six winning essays. In our society today, we see many Christians around us, be they Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. But in the end, we all believe in the same God and share a common prayer. Prayer is the single driving force that will bring all Christians together in unity. It rises above all differences, gathers us together and allows God to accomplish things for us on Earth.

Candid talk for Christians, Jews

February 14, 2008

TORONTO - The people in the pews of both churches and synagogues are being invited to dig into the really meaty issues of Christian-Jewish dialogue at a series of six events in churches and synagogues around Toronto.

February 15

Toronto Catholic education's history chronicled

February 15, 2008

TORONTO - If Catholics thought the debate over publicly funded religious education in Ontario’s last provincial election campaign was bruising, they should have a little history lesson. They would find that today’s battles are sedate compared to those of the 19th century.

Every day is Family Day

February 15, 2008

I couldn’t help but stare in disbelief at the front cover of a major newspaper last semester. A cartoon depicted a same-sex couple gawking at a young couple walking with their child. From the mouths of the same-sex couple was a speech bubble with the bold word “FREAKS!”

Discussing the future of campus chaplaincies

February 15, 2008

OTTAWA - Some 35 students from universities across Ontario gathered in Ottawa for the Canadian Catholic Students’ Association regional conference, held Jan. 25-27 at Saint Paul University.

Vancouver archbishop tells youth to evangelize

February 15, 2008

BURNABY, B.C. - Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, coadjutor bishop for the archdiocese of Vancouver, met with young adults at the newly opened Interfaith Centre of Simon Fraser University on Jan. 23 where he urged students to defend the faith.

Canterbury touches sour note on Sharia law

February 15, 2008

LONDON - An English cardinal has rejected suggestions that aspects of Shariah, or Islamic law, might be incorporated into the British legal system.

Northern bishops to support aboriginal commission

February 15, 2008

OTTAWA - Despite concerns, eight Northern Catholic bishops have decided to participate in a national awareness campaign in advance of public hearings on Indian residential schools.

D. & P. commits $50,000 to help Kenya

February 15, 2008

TORONTO - The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace is kicking in $50,000 to the Caritas Internationalis effort to assist people left homeless by violence in Kenya.

Wrong solution

February 15, 2008

Until Liberal MP Keith Martin tabled a private members’ motion in the House of Commons on Jan. 30, the problem of human rights commissions dabbling in censorship of free speech had really not hit the political radar screens. Now, however, the politicians have been forced to take note and, predictably, they wonder what the fuss is all about.

February 18

Freedom of expression can go too far

February 18, 2008

I believe firmly in freedom of speech, but I do draw the line. Incitements to violence and murder are illegal in Canada, and well they should be. Libel, treason and sedition are also illegal. It is also wrong to pass off another’s words as one’s own. Meanwhile, I am not at all interested in freedom to create images — especially pornographic images.

There's hope for the pro-life cause

February 18, 2008

Charles Moore wrote a column not long ago in England’s Daily Telegraph so politically incorrect as to take my breath away.