Browse Articles — April 2008 | The Catholic Register

April 11

Living vocation as Chief Squire

April 11, 2008

I can’t have a standard part-time job. My marks are high enough to get me the post-secondary options I’m interested in, but they could be a bit better. Many of my weekends are taken up by keeping on top of schoolwork or going to a meeting miles away... and I couldn’t be happier.

Here comes everybody!

April 11, 2008

James Joyce once described the Roman Catholic Church as "Here comes everybody!" In the United States, his description rings true. American Catholics are a diverse and somewhat unruly bunch and attempts to paint them into categorical corners usually founder on the facts. Pope Benedict XVI will no doubt find this out for himself during his visit April 15-20.

Here comes everybody!

April 11, 2008

James Joyce once described the Roman Catholic Church as "Here comes everybody!" In the United States, his description rings true. American Catholics are a diverse and somewhat unruly bunch and attempts to paint them into categorical corners usually founder on the facts. Pope Benedict XVI will no doubt find this out for himself during his visit April 15-20.

April 14

And they'll know we are Catholics...

April 14, 2008

That hoary old folk hymn said "they'll know we are Christians by our love." But how will they know we are Catholics? In modern secular society, Catholics fit right in. There are few visible signs they wear. Crucifixes are just as likely to be a fashion accessory as a statement of faith. But scratch a Catholic and you'll find a surprising amount of religious tradition.

And they'll know we are Catholics...

April 14, 2008

That hoary old folk hymn said "they'll know we are Christians by our love." But how will they know we are Catholics? In modern secular society, Catholics fit right in. There are few visible signs they wear. Crucifixes are just as likely to be a fashion accessory as a statement of faith. But scratch a Catholic and you'll find a surprising amount of religious tradition.

Canadian 'censorship' bill angers artistic community

April 14, 2008

OTTAWA - Liberal MP Denis Corderre says the next election will be fought over censorship. But the newly minted Heritage Critic was not speaking about press freedom in light of hate speech complaints levied against Catholic Insight, Maclean’s and Ezra Levant, the former publisher of the Western Standard.

April 15

The hordes are here

April 15, 2008

You know you're in Washington when you walk into a hotel and everyone around you works for the media. And they're here — in spades. Some 5,000 journalists have signed up to cover the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States and, having nothing else to do but sit and wait for his arrival at Andrews Air Force base here in Washington at 4 p.m., we're keeping busy keeping the U.S. Secret Service busy.

The hordes are here

April 15, 2008

You know you're in Washington when you walk into a hotel and everyone around you works for the media. And they're here — in spades. Some 5,000 journalists have signed up to cover the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States and, having nothing else to do but sit and wait for his arrival at Andrews Air Force base here in Washington at 4 p.m., we're keeping busy keeping the U.S. Secret Service busy.

A picture-perfect landing

April 15, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI's "Shepherd One," an AlItalia flight from Rome, arrived just the way the cameras love. It was a bright, sunny, cloudless and slightly breezy day as the papal jet touched down on the runway at Andrew Airforce Base outside of Washington. And the crowd of 1,200 government officials, American Catholic prelates and assorted invited guests cheered.

A picture-perfect landing

April 15, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI's "Shepherd One," an AlItalia flight from Rome, arrived just the way the cameras love. It was a bright, sunny, cloudless and slightly breezy day as the papal jet touched down on the runway at Andrew Airforce Base outside of Washington. And the crowd of 1,200 government officials, American Catholic prelates and assorted invited guests cheered.

Americans greet the Pope with warmth and curiosity

April 15, 2008

WASHINGTON - As Pope Benedict XVI arrived here for the first North American visit of his papacy, the greetings ranged from a love-in to the critical to the just plain curious. In fact, as Benedict touched down at Andrews Airforce Base outside the capital at 4 p.m. April 15, his visit was the talk of the town. Some 5,000 journalists were here filling the airwaves with everything from speculation on what he would say to reviews of the place of the church in American society. Over the next five days, until the Pope's departure from New York City on April 20, they would dissect every one of his words.

April 16

They know how to throw a party

April 16, 2008

The official welcome ceremony to Washington April 16 for Pope Benedict XVI on the lush south lawn of the White House was a colourful, even cheery, affair. It was full of music, marching bands, waving flags, kind words. Not to mention a spontaneous rendition of "Happy Birthday" for the Pope, who turned 81 that day.

They know how to throw a party

April 16, 2008

The official welcome ceremony to Washington April 16 for Pope Benedict XVI on the lush south lawn of the White House was a colourful, even cheery, affair. It was full of music, marching bands, waving flags, kind words. Not to mention a spontaneous rendition of "Happy Birthday" for the Pope, who turned 81 that day.

Of Vespers, incense and lapsed Catholics

April 16, 2008

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington is one imposing pile. The largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States, it blends Romanesque, Byzantine and modern styles into a church truly conducive to prayer and worship. And some thoughtful introspection, as Pope Benedict XVI offered his American fellow bishops on April 16.

Of Vespers, incense and lapsed Catholics

April 16, 2008

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington is one imposing pile. The largest Roman Catholic Church in the United States, it blends Romanesque, Byzantine and modern styles into a church truly conducive to prayer and worship. And some thoughtful introspection, as Pope Benedict XVI offered his American fellow bishops on April 16.

April 17

Pope tackles sex abuse and the 3 'isms'

April 17, 2008

WASHINGTON - Pope Benedict XVI spent day two of his first visit to the United States dealing with his favourite topic — and his least favourite. In two public events on his 81st birthday, the Pope returned to a theme he has often developed — the role of religion in support of a strong civic life. And in an attempt to begin to heal the still-open wound of the clergy sexual abuse crisis that rocked the country in 2002, he devoted a considerable portion of his talk to the 350 or so American bishops to the topic.

Big Oil gets big subsidies

April 17, 2008

CALGARY - The federal government continues to subsidize fossil fuel production at the cost of developing sustainable energy alternatives, according to a study released April 15 by KAIROS, an ecumenical church-based social justice organization.

Teachers, trustees fight standardized religion test

April 17, 2008

TORONTO - If you want to meet the standard for Grade 4 religion in Toronto’s Catholic schools you had better know the other name for Candlemas.

It's all political

April 17, 2008

China, the International Olympic Committee and diehard Olympic supporters continue to repeat the mantra that we should leave politics out of the Olympic Games. Since when? we might ask.

Graham Greene, an ecclesiastical rebel

April 17, 2008

For many readers the notion of a Catholic novelist is simply Graham Greene. There is none better. After all, novels like The Power and the Glory, The Honorary Consul and Monsignor Quixote are replete with Catholic figures and themes. Other works, like The End of the Affair, The Heart of the Matter and A Burnt-Out Case, are strong Catholic meat, even if inedible for those of a more pious taste.