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September 2008

September 10

Duceppe attacks Opus Dei candidate

September 10, 2008

Stung by losing one of his own MPs, controversial priest Fr. Raymond Gravel, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe has attacked the Conservatives for having a Montreal-area candidate who is a member of Opus Dei.

Canadian bishops ponder politics

September 10, 2008

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has a draft of a statement on the 2008 federal election, and the bishops plan to discuss it before going public perhaps as early as next week.

Let's talk about euthanasia

September 10, 2008

It's unlikely you'll hear political candidates talking about doctor-assisted suicide or euthanasia in this federal election campaign. But that doesn't mean it isn't a serious issue, or that federal politicians have a duty to deal with it.

September 11

Real news flash: Globe defends Opus Dei

September 11, 2008

I almost spilled my morning coffee all over my desk this morning as I turned to the Globe and Mail's editorial page. There before my eyes was an editorial defending Opus Dei. I had to read it twice, and pinch myself, to prove this wasn't a dream.

Afghanistan promise not good enough

September 11, 2008

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's promise to get Canadian troops out of Afghanistan at the end of 2011 is good, but not good enough for Catholics for Peace – Toronto.

D&P seeks donations to help rebuild Haiti

September 11, 2008

MONTREAL - Canadian Catholics are being asked to help the tiny nation of Haiti that has borne the brunt of the storms during this hurricane season. The latest storm to hit the impoverished Caribbean island was Hurricane Ike, which struck Haiti Sept. 7. The city of Gonaives was particularly hard hit by Ike, after already seeing severe flooding from previous hurricanes Hanna, Fay and Gustav.

Gratitude keeps our society human

September 11, 2008

TORONTO - Margaret Visser is much too civilized to tell about the incident which sparked her new book, The Gift of Thanks: The Roots, Persistence and Paradoxical Meanings of a Social Ritual. “There is a story, but I’m not telling it because it’s so horrible,” she told The Catholic Register.

Cardinal Turcotte returns Order of Canada

September 11, 2008

Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, archbishop of Montreal, is returning his Order of Canada to protest the decision to honour Dr. Henry Morgantaler with Canada's highest civilian award.

September 12

Life issues

September 12, 2008

Even before this federal election campaign started, those who believe in the sanctity of human life were bound to be disappointed. There is no political party that officially supports the pro-life position and few political leaders that even want to talk about it.

Celebrating St. Paul Ecumenically

September 12, 2008

Ecumenists were particularly delighted when, in his first address to the College of Cardinals following his election, Benedict XVI clearly put the Roman Catholic Church on notice that he would work without sparing energy to bring about the unity of the Christian church. It proved nothing short of embracing ecumenical continuity, giving testimony to an endeared legacy of his predecessor Pope John Paul II. To date evidence of that energy has clearly manifested itself throughout the early years of Benedict’s active pontificate.

A postcard from Montreal

September 12, 2008

I got the call at 6:30 on Sunday morning. “The baby is coming,” said my brother, his voice low and edged with sleeplessness. “Apparently he is really small. They have kicked me out of the room.” “Oh,” I cried. “Wonderful! Thank you for sharing this moment with me, George. God bless you!”

We are truly alive in Christ

September 12, 2008

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Sept. 21 (Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16) Isaiah’s plea to seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near leaves one with the impression that God is going somewhere. But God is not about to check out or disappear.

Pope e-mails 30,000 from WYD

September 12, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI sent an e-mail to more than 30,000 people registered with the World Youth Day (WYD) official networking site, inviting them to pray for the young people of France. The Pope was to visit France Sept. 12-15. The web site, www.Xt3.com, was designed to help WYD pilgrims stay in touch through online discussions while also providing a means to search for Catholic events worldwide, post and share photos with other users. Anyone can sign up to the web site regardless of having attended WYD in Sydney, Australia, or not.

Tailoring kids hurts society

September 12, 2008

Bioethics. What does it matter? What does it mean to live in a generation where people are born through assisted reproductive technologies, where the sperm and the egg are artificially fused instead of being joined through the natural union of a man and a woman?

Toronto school supervisor chops board deficit

September 12, 2008

TORONTO - In an effort to regain the public’s trust and confidence, the Toronto Catholic District School Board will be making large cuts to trustee expenses and reducing the board’s overall budget deficit by $8 million, according to a new report by provincial government-appointed supervisor Norbert Hartmann. In an Aug. 26 report, Hartmann said the board’s accumulated deficit will be less than $10.2 million next year compared to $18.8 million last August.

Police presence stepped up for eight Catholic schools

September 12, 2008

TORONTO - Eight police officers will be stationed at Catholic high schools across Toronto starting this October. The Toronto Catholic District School Board said police officers would be placed at Archbishop Romero, Bishop Marroco/Thomas Merton, Cardinal Newman, Don Bosco, James Cardinal McGuigan, Mary Ward, Michael Power/St. Joseph and St. Patrick Catholic High Schools.

Police presence stepped up for eight Catholic schools

September 12, 2008

Tridentine mission in the works

September 12, 2008

TORONTO - One year after implementing the papal decree paving the way for celebration of the traditional Latin Mass, the archdiocese of Toronto has invited the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter to help pave the way for the first mission parish for the Tridentine Mass in the archdiocese. Fr. Howard Venette, a member of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, is the new chaplain for the Tridentine Mass community at St. Theresa’s parish and Holy Cross parish. Venette said he hopes the Mass will be accessible to all those interested in the old rite.

McKenna to chair Cardinal's Dinner

September 12, 2008

TORONTO - Frank McKenna, the former premier of New Brunswick and ambassador to the United States, will be chairman for this year’s Cardinal’s Dinner, to be held Oct. 30 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Conference examines church response to abuse of women

September 12, 2008

TORONTO - Living without fear is the theme of Toronto’s first Catholic Conference on Awareness of Abuse Against Women, to be held Oct. 18 Workshops for both youth and adults will provide a chance to reflect and learn about woman abuse and the Catholic Church’s response. Conference organizer Virginia Koehler told The Catholic Register the event is a day of information for everyone in the community.