Browse › 2008 › March

March 2008

March 25

Rights vs. religion

March 25, 2008

A politician, a philosopher, a political scientist and a “scholar-at-risk” will gather to talk about who is afraid of what when it comes to religion and human rights at a two-hour public chat on the campus of the University of Toronto April 2.

Earth Hour Vespers at St. Basil’s

March 25, 2008

TORONTO — Catholics who wish to express their love of the Earth liturgically will have a chance March 29 when St. Basil’s Church in Toronto holds an “Earth Hour” Vespers.

Green forum at U of T

March 25, 2008

TORONTO — If ecology isn’t a religious issue that will be news to Toronto poet laureate Fr. Giorgio Di Cicco, who will open a day-long forum sponsored by Faith and the Common Good’s Greening Sacred Spaces program April 12.

Focus on China

March 25, 2008

The showdown in Tibet between Chinese troops and Tibetans demonstrating to protest Beijing’s oppressive rule have achieved the kind of global prominence in the media that religiously minded Chinese can only dream about. It’s the usual sad fare: dozens of deaths and violent repression of riots and protest marches remind the world that China is still the world’s largest dictatorship.

Traditional seven deadlies apply to environmental ethics

March 25, 2008

The bellwether of the Canadian consensus, The National with Peter Mansbridge, recently played up the story of the Vatican allegedly proclaiming a new list of deadly sins. The implication was that the old seven — pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth — just didn’t cut it today, so Rome had invented new sins to lay upon gullible believers.

A shocking lack of decency abounds

March 25, 2008

My mother and I had just settled in front of the television to watch a movie. Foolishly (at least it seems so, afterwards, to my teenage self), I mentioned that the movie had been condemned by the Legion of Decency. I promptly found myself looking for something else to do. There wouldn’t be any TV for me that night.

Paying the price of faith

March 25, 2008

For many Catholics around the world, including this one, the joy of this Easter season has been shadowed by the sadness and rage we feel at the kidnapping and death of Paulos Faraj Rahho, Chaldean Catholic archbishop of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

True peace is harmony with God

March 25, 2008

Second Sunday of Easter (Year A) March 30 (Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31) What an ideal community — a veritable utopia! We might suspect that the early Christian communities were not quite as rosy as Luke paints them. Paul’s letters are certainly a dissenting voice. But even allowing for Luke’s often idealistic and enthusiastic portrayal of community life in the early days of the Christian movement, it is clear that it was something very exceptional.

Multi-faith group explores different religious avenues

March 25, 2008

TORONTO - The University of Toronto’s Multi-Faith Centre for Spiritual Study and Practice has piloted a new project: four multi-faith discussion groups operating across the downtown Toronto campus.

Traditional girl in modern world

March 25, 2008

I’ll get right to the point: I am 19 and since I was young I have wanted to be nothing more than a stay-at-home mom.

March 28

Muslim writer’s public conversion upsets scholars

March 28, 2008

ROME - The Muslim-born journalist baptized by Pope Benedict XVI at the Easter Vigil said he wanted a public conversion to convince other former Muslims not to be afraid of practising their new Christian faith.

School's out on junk food

March 28, 2008

TORONTO - Twenty-six per cent of Canadians between the ages of two and 17 are overweight or obese. That’s three times the obesity rate of 25 years ago. In 2004 eight per cent of kids were obese, as opposed to just overweight, compared with only three per cent in 1978.

Obama’s race speech sets new tone

March 28, 2008

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race March 18 at Philadelphia's National Constitution Centre may or may not significantly affect his prospects for being elected president in November, but either way it charted a new course for how race can be discussed in the United States.

Canada's doors opened to Iraqi refugees

March 28, 2008

TORONTO - While the Canadian government plans to increase the number of Iraqi refugees resettled in Canada by decreasing numbers accepted from other troubled areas, the archdiocese of Toronto has doubled its overall refugee sponsorship targets in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances of approximately 4.5 million displaced Iraqis.

KAIROS campaign takes on big oil

March 28, 2008

TORONTO - Until at least 2010 Canada’s ecumenical social justice agency is going to be thinking, talking, organizing and campaigning on one over-riding issue. From here on out it’s all about fossil fuels for KAIROS.

Latimer's challenge

March 28, 2008

Robert Latimer’s highly publicized campaign to obtain a reversal of his second-degree murder conviction should force Canadians to think twice about our seemingly unstoppable “progress” toward legalized euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide.

The rise of the new monastics

March 28, 2008

In the years since the Second Vatican Council, the various traditions of Christian faith have participated in an ecumenical gift exchange for their mutual enrichment. Catholics have embraced Protestant strong points like singing the faith and closer familiarity with the Word of God. Protestants have increased their celebrations of the Eucharist and rediscovered helpful practices like spiritual direction.

Don't step back on Vatican II reforms

March 28, 2008

Recently it would appear that top Vatican officials are joining the attack on liturgy changes approved by Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council.

The eclipse of human dignity

March 28, 2008

Human beings have an inalienable dignity. This means that their dignity is an aspect of their being that cannot be removed. If people are treated in accordance with who they are, they will be treated with dignity.

Do bodies go to heaven?

March 28, 2008

My friend Eleanor and I went to the garden show, exploring things of the Earth, how they grow and flourish. Eleanor, who’s battling illness, said she’s been wondering about the resurrection of the body.