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July 2011

July 13

Scottish legislators target sectarianism

July 13, 2011

It’s July in Scotland, season of mists and mild fruitiness as men in black bowlers and orange sashes travel from town to town to celebrate the defeat of a British Catholic king in 1690 by a Dutch Protestant one. I wrote elsewhere that the Orangemen are not native to eastern Scotland, and a Catholic priest south-east of me e-mailed to say that he had been warned by police that 4,000 of them would be marching past his church that afternoon. I do not know if the Orangemen who congregate upon eastern Scotland — or, for that matter, in Toronto’s Moss Park Armoury — deliberately mean offense by marching past Catholic churches. It could be that the best and safest parade routes coincidentally lead past Catholic churches. The Orangemen might not wish to provoke anybody, and those that march through Scotland might be saddened that my priest correspondent might prefer to stay indoors than to cheer them on. After all, it’s not like Scotland is scrambling to put together emergency anti-sectarian legislation. Oh, wait a minute. It is.

Buy a beautiful missal

July 13, 2011

A few weeks back I wrote in these pages that the new Roman Missal, which will come into effect this Advent, should be beautiful, worthy of being on the altar during Mass. The missal is the book used by the priest which contains all the Mass prayers. A new English translation of the missal has been done, and so new missals are required in every Catholic parish. The current missal produced by the publications service of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is most unworthy, lacking even the creative design of a low-end recipe book. Canadian priests were hoping that the new missal published this fall would be a true work of art, not a mere functional instruction manual. We saw that publishers in England, Australia and the United States had sample pages posted online, drawing upon the long tradition of Catholic art adorning the altar missal. I wrote that if the CCCB version was as unimaginatively plain as their existing work, Canadian parishes should consider buying a British or American missal. All the prayers are exactly the same and the minor adaptations for Canada — local saints and variations in the rubrics for Mass — are easily enough obtained elsewhere.

Common sense is the victim of discrimination

July 13, 2011

We have reached a consensus in the western world that discrimination is a bad thing. Obviously we misuse the word, but in general we mean treating one person differently to another due to their gender, race, religion or disability. Actually, so confused have we become concerning the meaning of “discrimination” that we clumsily exploit it to advance various radical sexual and political agendas. Still, at heart there is agreement that to prejudge negatively is wrong. So wrong that it is illegal in Canada, Britain and much of the developed world. Someone can be fined or even imprisoned for discrimination. What, then, should be the penalty for discriminating to such a gruesome excess that you kill someone who is different? Something extremely severe, one would have thought. But not so, as I was reminded when reading of my home country’s attitude towards disability and handicap, even of a mild and minor nature. In 2010 in the United Kingdom there were 2,290 abortions due to what is euphemistically known as “fetal medical problems,” and since 2002, a staggering 26 unborn babies have been aborted because there were fears that they might suffer from a cleft palate. Last year, 482 of the babies killed were Down’s syndrome, and a further 181 died because they had a club foot.

South Sudan’s first steps

July 13, 2011

The world’s 193rd nation entered the world on July 9 as predominantly Christian, optimistically democratic, oppressively poor and facing a tenuous future. The Republic of South Sudan became a sovereign state with the inauguration of a new constitution and the swearing in of its first president, Gen. Salva Kiir, a Catholic. Kiir had fought for independence since Sudan’s Islamic government imposed Sharia Law in 1983 on the predominantly Christian south. That edict sparked a 22-year civil war, Sudan’s second since 1956, that resulted in some 1.5 million deaths. It saw the Muslim north accused of murder and torture of men, women and children on orders from Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Sadly, atrocities are not new to the former colonies of Africa. Much less common is the type of conciliatory response Kiir is advocating now that the guns are silent.

There is no shortcut to God’s kingdom

July 13, 2011

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) July 24 (1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52) What can you give someone who appears to have everything? God solves the problem by giving Solomon a heavenly gift certificate — he can cash it in for anything he wants. God asks what Solomon wants and suggests the usual suspects: wealth, long life and the demise of his enemies. But the burdens of his office of king are weighing heavily on Solomon and he feels grossly inadequate for the job. That alone sets him apart: run of the mill despots would not have felt inadequate and wouldn’t have cared in the first place. Solomon asks for an understanding mind fit to govern others and the ability to discern between good and evil. God is immensely impressed and grants him those qualities to a superlative degree. There will never be another like him. We can only hope that those in positions of responsibility and authority would make similar requests of God. Being granted wishes (usually three) by some superhuman or divine power is a familiar theme in the stories and legends of many of the world’s cultures. The fascination is seeing what the person will ask for and imagining what we would ask for in similar circumstances. The answer to that question probably reveals more about the individual’s character than we would care to admit. But this is not a story of the fulfilment of wishful fantasies nor is God in the business of granting wishes. It is about focusing on and maintaining a high ideal. Solomon’s ideal was wisdom, sound judgement and good leadership. We can ask God to grant us the grace to fulfill and live by our highest ideals. But this must be kept alive and maintained in the heart and mind consistently.

Journey towards the heart of the Father

July 13, 2011

When I was 17, I took my first pilgrimage to Antigonish, N.S., for the Steubenville Atlantic Catholic Youth Conference. I had never been on a pilgrimage before so I really didn’t know what to expect. Would it really make a difference in my life or just turn out to be a fun trip to Nova Scotia? I soon discovered that not only would the pilgrimage have a huge impact on my life, but it would also help me come alive in my faith and act as a stepping stone on my journey to knowing God more closely. My pilgrimage to Nova Scotia was more than just an outward physical journey; it was also an inward spiritual journey toward the heart of the Father. It gave me an opportunity to step back from the business of everyday life, refocus my priorities, gain a different perspective on life and look deeper within myself than I normally would. It called me to conversion and challenged me to take greater steps to both learn about and grow in my faith.

Greek crisis could derail Church social projects

July 13, 2011

OXFORD, England — Greece’s Catholic Church faces disaster because the current economic crisis is forcing it to end vital social and charitable projects, said Archbishop Nikolaos Foskolos of Athens. “This crisis could be the worst in our history,” said Foskolos. “There’s corruption everywhere, especially among our politicians. We get no help from the state or other Western churches, and our faithful can’t give any more. Our parishes and dioceses are in deep trouble, and in a few months we won’t be able to support our staffers and employees.” The archbishop voiced the concerns as European Union finance ministers released emergency funding to rescue the faltering Greek economy. Amid violent street protests the Greek legislature approved tough austerity measures and tax increases June 29, paving the way for the EU action. The archbishop said the higher taxes would have more impact on the Catholic Church than on the country’s predominant state-supported Orthodox Church. But the Orthodox Church still faced “serious problems” after being told its clergy’s state-paid salaries would be cut by half, he said.

German court upholds conviction of Holocaust-denying bishop

July 13, 2011

BERLIN — A German appeals court has upheld the conviction of a traditionalist bishop for denying the Holocaust. On July 11, the court ruled against British Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of the Society of St. Pius X, who in a 2009 TV interview said that the Holocaust was exaggerated and that no Jews died in Nazi gas chambers. The interview was aired by a Swedish TV network the same day the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI had lifted the excommunication of Williamson and three other of the society's bishops in an effort to reconcile with the traditionalist group.

Dr. Holmes helped found Campaign Life

July 13, 2011

TORONTO — He was a man of principle who wasn’t afraid to stand up for the rights of the unborn, say friends of long-time Toronto pro-life activist Dr. Ray Holmes. Dr. Holmes, 93, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on July 8. His funeral was held July 11 at St. Joseph’s Church in Brampton, Ont. Campaign Life Coalition national president Jim Hughes called Dr. Holmes a friend and mentor for over 30 years and a “generous and kind man.” During his last hours, Hughes and his wife visited Dr. Holmes where his family gathered to pray for him. “He clenched my hand just as strongly as he had the first time I met him. He was a man of determination and faith,” Hughes said.

Serra honours Ordinandi Dinner founder

July 13, 2011

TORONTO — After more than 30 years with Serra Club, Mario Biscardi has been awarded the Harry J. O’Haire Award for exemplary dedication to the organization and its mission of promoting and fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The award, the club’s highest honour presented annually to one member of Serra International, pays homage to Biscardi for more than three decades of service to the club, which includes the formation of five different Serra Clubs and the founding of the annual Ordinandi Dinner in Toronto, among other accomplishments. Biscardi received the award, named after the first president of the Serra Club, on July 8 in Ottawa during this year’s Serra International convention. “It was just a tremendous shock,” said Biscardi, who lives in Toronto. “It’s a real honour and privilege. But you can’t help but feel humbled and modest.

Belfast bishop urges Catholics, Protestants to show restraint

July 13, 2011

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — The bishop of Belfast appealed for Catholic and Protestant residents to prove to the world they can live together in peace after fresh sectarian violence flared during the region's contentious Protestant marching season. Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor appealed to both sides to show restraint and respect toward police after 22 police officers were injured July 11. Treanor appealed for both communities to "show the world that here in Northern Ireland we can live and let live in peace." "Let us prove to ourselves and the world that we can celebrate our diversity in a manner that affirms our common dignity and future. Let us show that, when confronted with conflicting rights and traditions, we can make pathways of diversity and peace," he said. On July 12, the traditional "Orangeman's day," Loyalist demonstrations commemorate the 1690 defeat of the Catholic King James II by the Protestant Prince William of Orange that definitively installed Protestantism as the religion of the British monarchy.

Pope makes three bishop appointments in Quebec

July 13, 2011

MONTREAL — Montreal Auxiliary Bishop André Gazaille has been named the new bishop of Nicolet, Que., south of Trois-Rivieres. Gazaille, who was named bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on July 11, fills the post vacated by Bishop Raymond St-Gelais who resigned due to age after 22 years at the helm of the diocese, in accordance with the Code of Canon Law. Born in Montreal, Gazaille studied theology and pastoral ministry at the Montreal Grand Séminaire and at the University of Montreal. He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Montreal in 1971. Gazaille was ordained bishop in March 2006 and has since served as an auxiliary bishop in Montreal. The diocese of Nicolet has 119 diocesan priests, 15 priests who are members of societies of apostolic life, 386 religious brothers and sisters, and 26 permanent pastoral agents serving 200,000 Catholics in 65 parishes and missions.

July 14

Seeing Jesus in the people on Gospel Roads Service Trip

July 14, 2011

NEWARK, N.J. - It was just past 10 p.m. when a dozen young adults pulled up in two minivans at Newark Penn Station. Nervously, they began to walk around the station, bagged meals in hand, saying “midnight run” to anyone who looked like they could use one. For Meg Fraino, the organizer of this group of young Catholics on Salesian Gospel Roads (GR), the poverty in Newark was a new yet familiar site — she began her work with the Salesians in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Between Newark, New Orleans, Haiti and other sites, Fraino has attended or directed eight different Gospel Roads programs, week-long service retreats for young people. The latest was GR Newark, which ran from June 25 to July 3 and hosted 15 university aged young adults from Toronto and across the United States. Gospel Roads is a three-stage program that has grown from a single service trip in South Orange, N.J., in 2001. The first stage is offered about six times a year across the United States for high school students as an introduction to service, while the second is a smaller, more refined experience for university aged youth offered twice a year. The third level takes place in Haiti and Mexico, where the service is needed most.

Celebrating diversity at Community Cup

July 14, 2011

OTTAWA - Helping others and loving your neighbour is an important message in the Bible — one that was seen in action at the Catholic Immigration Centre of Ottawa’s 7th annual Community Cup. The Community Cup revolves around a recreational soccer tournament where newcomers to Canada and residents meet to develop relationships and celebrate diversity while an international food bazaar, live music and kids activities serve as a backdrop to the day. “As a community, we have the ability to ease this transition for newcomers — by making sure that our neighbours feel welcome, that they have support when needed and that they know that they belong,” said Carl Nicholson, executive director of the Catholic Immigration Centre.

Vatican newspaper says Harry Potter film champions values

July 14, 2011

VATICAN CITY — The last battle of the almost-grownup Harry Potter may be too scary for young viewers, but it champions the values of friendship and sacrifice, the Vatican newspaper said. "The atmosphere of the last few episodes, which had become increasingly dark and ominous, reaches its pinnacle," said one of two reviews of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 printed July 12 in the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. The darkness "may disturb younger audiences," said reviewer Gaetano Vallini. "Death, which was a rare occurrence (in the previous Harry Potter films) is the protagonist here," which is another reason the film may not be appropriate for everyone, he said. "As for the content, evil is never presented as fascinating or attractive in the saga, but the values of friendship and of sacrifice are highlighted. In a unique and long story of formation, through painful passages of dealing with death and loss, the hero and his companions mature from the lightheartedness of infancy to the complex reality of adulthood," he said.

Lahey sentencing postponed again

July 14, 2011

OTTAWA — Bishop Raymond Lahey will have to wait several more months in jail before his sentencing on charges of importing child pornography. Already postponed from June to early August, the sentencing hearing will continue into December because the forensic psychiatrist who examined Lahey is not available on the Aug. 4 and 5 dates that have been set aside. According to the Ottawa Citizen, the Crown wants to cross-examine Dr. John Bradford on his sexual behaviours' assessment of the former Antigonish bishop, but he was unavailable for the August dates. An additional day has been added to for his testimony in December to accommodate Bradford's testimony.

Harry Potter goes out in style

July 14, 2011

One of the most successful movie franchises of all time goes out in style with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Warner Bros.). Though this eighth installment in the series that began with 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone may bewilder newcomers — if there are any of the uninitiated left, they will not find themselves mollycoddled by patient exposition — director David Yates provides a gratifying wrap-up to a decade of blockbuster adaptations. Based, like its immediate predecessor, on the last volume of J.K. Rowling's run of phenomenal best-sellers, Yates' fantasy is too intense for the youngest viewers. But scenes of combat, although frequent, are mostly bloodless, while the dialogue is marked by only one mildly improper turn of phrase, making this climatic adventure acceptable for most other age groups.

July 15

Indian bishops call for unity against terrorism after Mumbai bombings

July 15, 2011

VATICAN CITY — Indian bishops called for unity in the country's fight against terrorism in the wake of three bombs in Mumbai July 13 that left at least 17 people dead and more than 140 injured. "We believe this is a moment in which the entire nation needs to be united in order to face terrorism with the greatest resolve. United in the spirit of brotherhood, we will be able to overcome the powers that are trying to destabilize our country," said a July 14 statement from the Indian bishops' conference. The statement, published by the Vatican missionary news agency Fides, condemned the bomb attacks as "shameful acts." The explosions struck three crowded sites in Mumbai almost simultaneously during the evening rush hour. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.

A marriage guide for a ‘wedding crazy’ world

July 15, 2011

TORONTO — In Catholic Marriage: An Intimate Community of Life and Love, Dr. Patricia Murphy presents a booklet to help engaged couples preparing for the sacrament of Marriage. “Sometimes it seems that the world has gone wedding crazy. Turn on the TV any evening and there is a good chance you will find a reality show dedicated to some aspect of planning the perfect wedding,” writes Murphy, an assistant professor of moral theology at Toronto’s St. Augustine’s Seminary. The book invites engaged couples to look “beyond ‘Bridezilla’ ” and the myth of the “perfect wedding.” Instead, couples can look forward to their preparation for marriage by discussing important issues such as their future family and building a strong foundation for a lifetime commitment rooted in love and faith. Murphy talks about marriage as a Christian vocation and life-long “commitment to love.” She also introduces couples to the beauty of the Catholic Church’s teachings on family and marriage as an “intimate community of life and love.”

July 16

Aboriginals try to reconnect with a stolen past

July 16, 2011

INUVIK, N.W.T. — Pictures tell stories. Stories tell us who we are. For 15-year-old Mary Masazumi the story falls into the category of mystery. Her father Alfred is dead and there are no family photo albums at home in Fort Good Hope that stretch back into her father’s childhood. Mary hoped to fill that gap pouring through binders of photos from the archives of the diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. The diocese came to Inuvik for the Northern National Event of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada June 28 to July 1 with as many photos of students as could be found. Visitors could take home up to five copies. The photos were the most popular attraction outside the commission hearings. Masazumi’s father went to school at the Immaculate Conception residential school in Aklavik — at least she thinks it was Aklavik. “He hasn’t told me about residential school,” she said.