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June 2008

June 18

U.S. bishops call stem cell research 'gravely immoral'

June 18, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. - Declaring that stem-cell research does not present a conflict between science and religion, the U.S. bishops overwhelmingly approved a statement June 13 calling the use of human embryos in such research “gravely immoral” and unnecessary. In the last vote of the public session of their June 12-14 spring general assembly in Orlando, the bishops voted 191-1 in favour of the document titled “On Embryonic Stem-Cell Research: A Statement of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ”

The Eucharist sanctifies the institution of the Church

June 18, 2008

QUEBEC CITY - Human beings may be fallible but the Catholic Church as an institution remains sanctified through the Eucharist, says Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. And it is this sanctified institution that always deserves defending, even if its individual members err, the archbishop of Buenos Aires and primate of Argentina explained in a large catechesis session here at the 49th International Eucharistic Congress June 18.

June 19

Where are young priests? Right here

June 19, 2008

Looking for bright young, spirited and inspirational priests? In despair because you believe the media mantra about the dying priesthood? Have a little faith. They're out there, believe me. I keep tripping over them, especially here at the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City.

Toronto pilgrims moved by Quebec's Catholic past

June 19, 2008

QUEBEC CITY - Pilgrims who venture away from the International Eucharistic Congress grounds in this city are getting some living lessons in church history — almost 400 years of it. Quebec City is celebrating the fourth centennial of its founding in 2008. And since the Catholic Church was there in the earliest years of this colony of France, it too is looking back into its own history and finding much to be proud of.

Something old, something new

June 19, 2008

It should not be suprising that here in Quebec City, the cradle of Christendom in North America, that the liturgies have been surpassingly beautiful. There is a veritable cornucopia of worship services to attend, from the large daily Masses in the Pepsi Colliseum at the Expo City to the Adoration chapels, to the many Vespers and prayer services that happen daily at many of Quebec's historic churches.

Fr. di Cicco's urban humanization

June 19, 2008

TORONTO - Fr. Pier Giorgio di Cicco wants everybody to get out of the house and play. He swears it will be good for us. The “play” he’s talking about is the ordinary creativity of living with neighbours, friends, family — even strangers. It is a form of creativity which creates “civil encounter,” he said.

Deal guarantees school labour peace in Ontario

June 19, 2008

TORONTO - The union representing Ontario’s Catholic teachers and the association for Catholic trustees have signed off on a new, province-wide framework agreement aimed at four more years of labour peace in the province’s schools.

Religious presence to be felt at G8

June 19, 2008

When G8 leaders meet in Japan July 7-9, they won’t be alone with their diplomatic and economic advisors. Fifty-nine religious leaders, including Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ president Archbishop James Weisgerber, will be in Japan tackling the same agenda. It will be the second Religious Leaders Summit held in parallel with a G8 Summit. At Cologne in 2007 the religious leaders pointed out that the world’s leading economies were not on target to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and that sub-Saharan Africa has been left out of the benefits of globalization.

June 20

Act of Contrition

June 20, 2008

Hardly has there been a period in history in which our past sins have weighed so heavily on our shoulders. The enormity of humanity’s abuse of humanity — in fact of the entire planet — has never been so apparent to us. So the mass apology has become an icon of our repentant age. Pope John Paul II used the apology to good effect, shining a light on the travesties of past church leaders, whether inflicted on women, indigenous tribes, religious dissenters or, in the case of the Holocaust, the Jewish people.

No to free trade with Colombia

June 20, 2008

In April 2001 my friend Kimy Pernia Domicó, leader of the Embera Katio, travelled from his home in Colombia’s rainforest to Quebec City to join tens of thousands of others from across the Americas in a resounding call for an end to the now defunct Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) project. Kimy knew that free trade would bring more hardship to his people. The Urrá I dam, a project that received partial financing from Canada’s Export Development Corporation, had already threatened their very existence. Since the dam construction, fish in the river disappeared and the Embera — robbed of their main source of protein — fell sick from malnutrition. The standing water created outbreaks of malaria and the dam’s reservoir flooded Embera homes and lands. Kimy knew he was risking his life by speaking out against the injustices his people had endured, but he also knew it had to be done.

Christ's love for church shows in marriage

June 20, 2008

When I was a little girl, I pored over my parents’ wedding pictures. Mum and Dad were married in 1969 in an old Toronto church. They were married in Advent, and my mother carried red poinsettias as her wedding bouquet. Her simple white gown, which she and her mother made, was trimmed with rabbit fur.

Alway era comes to an end at University of St. Michael’s College

June 20, 2008

TORONTO - Dr. Richard Alway has graced the buildings of the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto for almost half a century — first as a philosophy student and later in various administrative roles. As he prepares to retire June 30 from 18 years as president of the college, Alway has said that he will continue to serve the school in some capacity because it has become such a big part of his life. “The supportive context provided by the religious identity of the university and the presence of the priests and sisters was just very positive for me,” he said. “It obviously worked because I’ve hardly left since.”

Learning God's plan along Field of Stars

June 20, 2008

To the Field of Stars: A Pilgrim’s Journey to Santiago de Compostela, by Kevin A. Codd (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, softcover, 271 pages $19.99). In the opening pages of his book, priest and author Fr. Kevin Codd dedicates his words to his mother and father, “who taught me how to walk.” Whether this is in gratitude or accusation for the anguished steps that would follow 50 years later when he walked the almost-800 kilometres to Santiago de Compostela is for the next 270 pages to reveal. But what is immediately apparent is that Codd’s parents have, in fact, taught him how to walk and write — an essential combination for his pilgrimage.

Martyrs' Shrine to host WYD events

June 20, 2008

TORONTO - Events and features for the World Youth Day 2008 Ontario Regional Celebration at the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ont., keep adding on. This event, organized by the Office of Catholic Youth, is meant to serve those unable to attend WYD festivities in Sydney Australia. It will take place July 17-20, and will host the icon of St. Paul. This icon was commissioned for the year of St. Paul by Archbishop Thomas Collins to be displayed in different parishes in the archdiocese of Toronto.

ACCESS granted to kids in Third World

June 20, 2008

BRAMPTON, Ont. - After seeing firsthand the barriers to education that many children face abroad, 19-year-old Daniel Francavilla decided to do something. Two years have passed since he travelled to the Dominican Republic on a high school exposure trip, but he has since established a student-run non-profit organization, raised $20,000 and sent a few large shipments of supplies to help children attend school in three different countries.

Finding the middle ground

June 20, 2008

“You don’t even have your learner’s permit?” Here we go again. Lately I never fail to find one person daily who is shocked by the fact that I don’t have my driver’s licence.

Family faith led Platt to priesthood

June 20, 2008

TORONTO - After retiring from the priesthood, Fr. Edwin Platt had his connection with Corpus Christi parish come full circle when he was appointed interim administrator of the parish in Toronto’s Beach area. He was now running the parish that he had grown up in. That was one of the highlights of Platt’s 60 years in the priesthood, which was celebrated June 8 at Corpus Christi Church. A Mass of celebration attended by Auxiliary Bishop Peter Hundt, current pastor Fr. Henry Menezes and his brother Fr. Phillip Wallace Platt, CSB, was celebrated and then about 400 friends and relatives joined in the parish hall to congratulate the 86-year old priest.

Reconciliation is essential to Eucharist

June 20, 2008

QUEBEC CITY - An international gathering of Catholics to focus on the Eucharist would be missing something essential if there were no sacrament of Reconciliation. To that end, Quebec City's exposition grounds, where the 49th International Eucharistic Congress is taking place all week, were turned into a massive “City of Forgiveness” June 19 in order to prepare the hearts of the faithful for the Eucharist. Hundreds of priests heard countless confessions, seated in nooks and crannies around the Expo City, and thousands of pilgrims availed themselves of the sacrament.

Catholic fervour of past recalled during procession

June 20, 2008

QUEBEC CITY - As many as 25,000 Catholics from around the world poured through the narrow streets of Quebec City June 19, accompanying the Blessed Sacrament in an outpouring of religious fervour absent from this city for at least half a century.

Those clerics are everywhere

June 20, 2008

Not that a Eucharistic Congress is a numbers game, but it has been readily apparent with anyone with eyes around here that the priesthood and hierarchy are very well represented indeed.