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December 2008

December 19

Christmas hospitality should be year-round

December 19, 2008

Early in the new year most people are winding down from Christmas socializing, including entertaining at home. Considerable preparation typically goes into hosting guests over the holidays: making lists, shopping, preparing food, de-cluttering, cleaning and decorating, and perhaps also doing minor repairs or even major redecorating or renovations. The goal, of course, is to create a hospitable atmosphere. Hospitality has many positive connotations: welcome, comfort, kindness, acceptance, attentiveness and generosity. For Christians, it extends well beyond laying out the welcome mat for guests to our home. It’s a year-round practice, a certain attitude towards everyone with whom we come in contact.

We must be open to God's light

December 19, 2008

Epiphany of the Lord (Year B) Jan. 4 (Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12) Light and darkness form a powerful biblical symbol for the contrast between God and humanity’s ignorance and sin. The symbol is especially poignant in our own time for we face more than the usual amount of darkness: violence and terrorism, severe economic hardship and a collective crisis of faith and meaning.

South African bishops say Mugabe must go

December 19, 2008

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe must be forced to step down, said the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference. "It is now time to isolate Mugabe completely and to remove all forms of moral, material or tacit support for him and his party," the conference said in a Dec. 18 statement issued by Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, conference spokesman.

December 22

Economic stress taking toll on mental health

December 22, 2008

TORONTO - The country's economic woes are causing more Canadians to seek counselling in recent months, says the Canadian Mental Health Association . Catholic Family Services of Toronto — one of several agencies across the country at the frontlines in helping people cope with individual or family breakdowns during the economic crisis — has seen the number of people seeking counselling increase, especially as people are faced with holiday and post-holiday stress.

December 24

Christmas greetings to our readers

December 24, 2008

During this blessed week, from the evening liturgies of Christmas Eve to the Epiphany, Christians around the world celebrate the Incarnation of God in the world, the birth of a baby named Jesus in a tiny village called Bethlehem, the fulfilment of God's promise to humanity. It is a time that is both solemn and joyful, full of song and silence, laughter and prayer. It is a time when families gather after long separation, when our hearts are opened to our less fortunate brothers and sisters, when we long for peace on Earth. On this most holy occasion, we at The Catholic Register extend our prayers and blessings to all our readers, including those of other religious traditions and beliefs with whom we share a common humanity. To all of you, we wish you a merry Christmas. Joseph Sinasac Publisher and Editor

Ignatieff's blind spots

December 24, 2008

In his first few weeks as Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff has been surefooted. He has exuded confidence, determination and a sense of what needs to be done. Canadians have seen a strong alternative to Prime Minister Stephen Harper if the country is forced into another federal election sooner rather than later. Still, we know very little about him, other than that he is the son of Russian aristocracy, a Harvard intellectual, author of both political treatises and novels and has been absent from the country for most of his adult life. He offers plenty of impressions but precious little about where he would like to lead the country.

December 25

Abraham's trust redemptive

December 25, 2008

Holy Family (Year B) Dec. 28 (Genesis 15:1-6; 17:3-5, 15-16; 21:1-7; Psalm 105; Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Luke 2:22-40) The future must have looked rather bleak for Abraham. He had left his homeland and all that was familiar to him because God asked him to. God promised in return that Abraham would have a land in which to dwell and he would be the father of a great nation. In a time in which descendents were the only way one achieved any sort of immortality, he had been promised a child to carry on his name.

December 26

Catholic agencies aid U.S. unemployed

December 26, 2008

WASHINGTON - More Americans are losing jobs, and Catholic agencies are trying their best to tide them over until they find new work. The United States shed 533,000 jobs in November, the most in any single month in 34 years. The national unemployment rate climbed to 6.7 per cent in December, a 15-year high, up from 6.5 per cent in October.

December 27

Chac gears up for challenging year

December 27, 2008

OTTAWA - The Catholic Health Association of Canada (CHAC) is strengthening its team to address looming ethical and policy challenges. The CHAC has appointed medical ethics educator Sr. Nuala Kenny as an ethics and policy advisor for 2009.

December 30

Eradicate unjust systems to ensure peace

December 30, 2008

VATICAN CITY - Building peace and eradicating poverty demand an overhaul of shortsighted financial policies and unjust economic and social structures, Pope Benedict XVI said. In his annual message for the Jan. 1 celebration of the World Day of Peace, the Pope said “peace can be built only if everyone is assured the possibility of reasonable growth: Sooner or later, the distortions produced by unjust systems have to be paid for by everyone.” The world of finance and commerce need global governance and a new ethical approach that can ensure that investments and development truly contribute to the common good and peace in the world, he said.