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September 2008

September 18

The spirituality of politics

September 18, 2008

TORONTO - Guidance for participation in Canadian political life can be found in the church’s social teachings, but that doesn’t mean there is a simple formula for voting, according to Catholic observers interviewed by The Catholic Register in advance of the Oct. 14 federal election. “We do not believe people are just individuals. We really are about working for the common good,” explains Ottawa-based Jesuit Father William Ryan. “That’s the basic premise. We’re social beings. . . . We believe that you’re social by nature, and for that reason you’re political.”

Archbishop's dinner to aid youth ministry

September 18, 2008

Ottawa will host its first annual Archbishop’s Charity Dinner Oct. 28 with proceeds going to support youth ministry. Jules Dagenais, director of Stewardship and Planned Giving of the Ottawa archdiocese , said the dinner supports something that Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., considers vital to church community growth.

Stewardship on school's curriculum

September 18, 2008

TORONTO - Grade 12 religion students at Neil McNeil Catholic High School will get a taste of stewardship this year with a curriculum designed to get them outside the classroom. Instead of sticking to the usual textbook curriculum, teacher Linton Soares has started following the “ShareLife ” curriculum, something he developed with the help of ShareLife and the Office of Stewardship of the Toronto archdiocese , to make learning more hands-on through guest presentations and field trips to different centres with service opportunities. ShareLife is the charitable fund-raising arm of the archdiocese.

Hiring our politicians

September 18, 2008

Why can’t Canadians, especially new voters like myself, be as passionate for politics as our counterparts to the south? For weeks now, my spare time has been consumed with watching CNN and other American news sources and I have been fixated on Barack Obama and his inspirational quest for the United States presidency.

CRTC accused on anti-Christian bias

September 18, 2008

TORONTO - Less than two weeks after approving an Alberta-based pornographic channel, the CRTC ’s decision to deny the application of two Ottawa-area Christian radio stations is drawing mixed reactions, with some groups alleging there is an anti-Christian bias. Ottawa’s CHRI Radio was proposing a new FM station featuring Christian talk radio with traditional worship music aimed at an older audience. And Gatineau, Que., resident Fiston Kalabay Mutombo put forward a proposal for a French-language Christian music station.

Canadian religious leaders challenge conscience rights' decision

September 18, 2008

OTTAWA - Two of Ottawa’s best known religious leaders have issued a joint declaration challenging a move to force Ontario’s physicians to set aside their own conscience and religious beliefs when they conflict with a patient’s request. Roman Catholic Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., and Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka said Sept. 11 that they are “deeply disturbed” by a new policy being considered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. This policy could require doctors to perform abortions or other types of treatments even if they contradict their own beliefs.

Pope shows French dimensions of his ministry

September 18, 2008

LOURDES, France - Being Pope is not a one-dimensional job, a fact that was clearly evident during Pope Benedict XVI’s four-day visit to France. Arriving in Paris Sept. 12, the Pope first engaged in an important political encounter that attempted to build on the new openness shown the church by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Praising God in song

September 18, 2008

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - The 19th International Festival of Religious Song in Mississauga will bring both professional and amateur performances to the stage in competitions this year. The festival, originally started by members of the Polish Catholic community and promoted by Catholic Radio Toronto, is meant to encourage musical talent, especially for use in praising God. The new professional category this year will provide a place for more established Catholic musicians to compete, whereas everyone previously competed on the same level.

Pro-life conference coming to Toronto

September 18, 2008

TORONTO - Close to 500 people are expected at an upcoming international pro-life conference in Toronto. The conference, entitled “Creating a Culture of Life Around the Globe,” will run from Oct. 2 to 4 and is sponsored by Campaign Life Coalition .

September 22

Cardinal George named Saint Paul U's alumnus of the year

September 22, 2008

OTTAWA - Cardinal Francis George had never studied French before attending Saint Paul University as an Oblate scholastic 40 years ago, but he found the language necessary “if you wanted to eat,” he joked at a banquet Sept. 19 at the bilingual university.

September 23

Hearing from other faith voices

September 23, 2008

Religion and politics are constant bedfellows, so it's no surprise that Catholics aren't the only ones weighing in on this election. Among the religious voices raised in the early going of the short, six-week campaign, Muslims and Jews each have their concerns.

Ecumenical coalition scolds Conservatives

September 23, 2008

The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition isn't shy about criticizing the federal Conservatives while the election is on. In an editorial in it's September newsletter the Ontario coalition of faith communities takes the Conservatives to task.

September 24

Tough-on-crime approach won't work, says church advocacy group

September 24, 2008

Tough-on-crime election promises released this week by the Conservative Party don't much impress the Church Council on Justice and Corrections.

First Nations chief calls for reconciliation with Catholic Church

September 24, 2008

CORNWALL, Ont. - Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine made an historic plea for reconciliation with the Catholic Church while speaking to a gathering of Catholic bishops here Sept. 22. “What I want to talk about here is the future,” Fontaine told about 80 bishops attending the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual plenary.

September 25

Rabbi's synod invite a message of hope

September 25, 2008

JERUSALEM - The Vatican invitation to participate in the upcoming world Synod of Bishops on the Bible is a “signal of hope,” said Israeli Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen, who will lead a one-day discussion on the Jewish interpretation of the Scriptures. Cohen, co-chairman of the Israeli-Vatican dialogue commission and chief rabbi of Haifa, is the first non-Christian ever invited to address the world Synod of Bishops. He will speak the second day of the Oct. 5-26 synod at the Vatican.

Afghanistan goals need to be made clear

September 25, 2008

CORNWALL, Ont. - The president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops raised concerns about the war in Afghanistan and the Canadian government’s not making clear the goals of the mission there in his annual report to the bishops’ plenary here. “If these goals are not articulated, it is difficult to determine bench marks, and almost impossible to evaluate successes and failures,” said Archbishop James Weisgerber.

Fine line between politics and faith

September 25, 2008

TORONTO - When he was 23, Liberal Party candidate Gerard Kennedy read Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, touted as the document marking the birth of Catholic social teaching. In it, the pope wrote about the church’s duty to intervene in social matters and help the poor, as well as the state’s responsibility to help those who suffered the most from the economic system.

JSI performs well pre-market meltdown

September 25, 2008

TORONTO - The pre-Wall Street meltdown market was a calm, even dull affair for Canadian ethical investors judging by the Jantzi Social Index results for August. The JSI rose 1.4 per cent in August, keeping pace with the best known conventional indexes.

Devoted to St. Theresa for 75 years

September 25, 2008

TORONTO - Mary White-Reel remembers when St. Theresa’s Shrine of the Little Flower parish was the only parish in her area. In fact, she had to be baptized at St. Augustine’s Seminary because the church was not yet built. “I remember when we first came here, there were only three or four families (in the parish),” she said.

St. Joseph's retains its small town feel

September 25, 2008

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - All eight of Helen Steffler’s children celebrated their First Communion and Confirmation at St. Joseph’s Church in Mississauga, Ont., just a few of the thousands who have done the same over the parish’s 150-year history. The parish was to mark its 150th anniversary with an Oct. 5 Mass celebrated by Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins.