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February 2012

February 22

Mum, dad showed me that love is forever

February 22, 2012

So, Valentine’s Day came and went, and the world didn’t seem to be left in a more loving or lovable state. Hardly a surprise of course, and Valentine’s Day has long and perhaps always been a time when we celebrated cheap cards and cheaper sentiment. Real love and real marriage are deeper than that however, and last far longer than a mere and single day. My parents were married for more than 50 years, and they were devoted to one another. They had their rough moments, they sometimes argued (they were in love, not robotic!) but they knew that the love was absolute and forever. Rock and steel, not the flimsy, flowery stuff we see today. Divorce was for other people, now it’s for all people.

Beat the seven deadly sins by keeping busy

February 22, 2012

The seven deadly sins plague people every day. Whether it is lust, greed, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth or pride, Catholic youth need to do their best to overcome them. To do this, the seven cardinal virtues of temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, chastity and humility can be helpful.

Nightfever comes to Canada

February 22, 2012

HALIFAX, N.S. - Catholic youth took to the streets Feb. 10 to spread a fever. A Nightfever, that is. Held for the first time in North America, more than 135 people took part in Nightfever Halifax, with at least 70 to 80 people coming in off the streets, said Chris O’Hara, president of the Canadian Catholic Students’ Association.

Memorial to honour slain Pakistani minister Shahbaz Bhatti

February 22, 2012

TORONTO - Assassinated Pakistani minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti gave his life for human rights, freedom and democracy. And to mark the one-year anniversary of his death, family, friends and supporters will gather to mark his legacy. On March 2, International Christian Voice — the Toronto-based human rights organization run by Peter Bhatti, Shahbaz’s brother — is holding a memorial dinner at the Woodbine Banquet and Convention Centre in Toronto. Among those expected to be in attendance are Cardinal Thomas Collins, retired Pakistani Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, who now lives in Toronto, and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, along with representatives from human rights organizations and community leaders.

Fr. Andrew Britz, editor of The Prairie Messenger, dies aged 71

February 22, 2012

SASKATOON - Fr. Andrew Britz, OSB, longtime editor of The Prairie Messenger, died Feb. 14 at the age of 71 years. The Benedictine monk and priest, who edited The Prairie Messenger from 1983 to 2004, was known for his strong editorial voice in the Catholic weekly newspaper published by St. Peter’s Abbey in Muenster, Sask.

London Catholic board seeking input on values, mission

February 22, 2012

The London District Catholic School Board will be holding an input session Feb. 29 allowing community members a voice on the values, vision and mission of the Catholic education system. “We thought the best way to see if we are on track was to go back to our various constituencies and let them tell us how they think we are doing,” said Philip Squire, chair of the London Catholic board. “The challenge will be to talk to people about expectation versus what reality is.”

KAIROS chooses new leader

February 22, 2012

TORONTO - As she takes over as executive director of KAIROS, Jennifer Henry’s priority is keeping the ecumenical social justice organization close to its roots in Canada’s churches. “My commitment is to preserve the ecumenical character of this organization and I think that’s also the commitment of people around the board table,” Henry told The Catholic Register.

Investigation targets Antigonish priest Fr. Paul Abbass

February 22, 2012

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - An Antigonish, N.S., priest who served as spokesman for the diocese in the wake of child pornography charges against then Bishop Raymond Lahey is under investigation by the addictions treatment centre where he has been executive director for the last 17 years. Fr. Paul Abbass has stepped down from his duties at Talbot House just outside Sydney, N.S., and suspended his work as a parish priest and as episcopal vicar and director of pastoral services for the diocese of Antigonish.

Ontario's teachers, trustees brace for cuts after Drummond report

February 22, 2012

TORONTO - Full-day kindergarten may be off limits to the Drummond chainsaw, but Ontario’s Catholic schools are still bracing for a lean season. The Drummond Commission On the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services was commissioned by Premier Dalton McGuinty and released Feb. 15. In it, TD Bank chief economist Don Drummond recommends dozens of cuts to education funding. That’s never good news for Catholic schools, said Paul Whitehead, Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association senior policy advisor for finance. Less money means less flexibility for school boards.

Multi-party support for anti-suicide bill

February 22, 2012

OTTAWA - A bill to create a national suicide-prevention strategy received overwhelming multi-party support Feb. 15, sailing through a second reading vote 285-3 in the House of Commons. Bill C-300: An Act Respecting a Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention, now goes to committee for further study. A national suicide prevention strategy was among the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Palliative and Compassionate Care that the bill’s sponsor, Conservative MP Harold Albrecht, chaired with NDP MP Joe Comartin.

To his sisters, Cardinal Collins will remain ‘T’

February 22, 2012

ROME - The first thing that went through the minds of Catherine and Patricia Collins when they saw their little brother in the full regalia of a cardinal was: “Wow, he really stands out now!” They said that with love and pride shortly after Pope Benedict XVI made His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins the 16th cardinal in Canadian history. The sisters were at their brother’s side at several events during the days leading up to the Feb. 18 consistory, but nothing topped the moment when Collins joined the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal Collins’ Irish roots come in handy for his titular parish in Rome

February 22, 2012

ROME - For the first time in its 100-year history, St. Patrick’s Irish National Church in Rome has a Cardinal Protector who is not Irish. But in Cardinal Thomas Collins the congregation figures it has been blessed with the next best thing. “He has Irish roots,” said Fr. Tony Finn. “So there’s still an Irish connection. We’re delighted.” When the Pope welcomes new members into the College of Cardinals they are made a titular pastor of a church in Rome. As such, they are entitled to vote in a papal conclave in keeping with the centuries-old tradition that the clergy of Rome elect the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Collins learned that he was awarded St. Patrick’s a few days before the consistory but was sworn to secrecy until the Pope’s announcement.

‘We are called to live for Christ’ - Cardinal Collins

February 22, 2012

ROME - Canada’s newest cardinal, resplendent in shimmering scarlet vestments, was still adjusting to his new look on Feb. 18 when he arrived at a reception in his honour. Barely two hours earlier he had become His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins after Pope Benedict XVI welcomed Toronto’s archbishop into the College of Cardinals on a sunny Saturday morning. “These robes are very bright,” quipped Collins. “I’ll certainly stick out in a crowd.”

Torontonians show great interest in Collins’ step up in the Church

February 22, 2012

TORONTO - Cardinal Thomas Collins was big news over the two weeks leading up to his elevation to the College of Cardinals. Every major news organization in Canada covered the event in Rome with news reports, analysis, feature interviews, photos, videos and live blogging. Canada’s largest newspaper kicked its coverage off with a two-part profile of Collins that ate up pages of precious newsprint. “It was acres, wasn’t it?” said Toronto Star associate editor Alison Uncles. “It was thousands of words.”

Lenten ashes are call to repentance, humility, Pope says at Mass

February 22, 2012

ROME - Receiving ashes at the beginning of Lent is a call to repentance and humility and a sign that believers know that death will not have the final word in their lives, Pope Benedict XVI said. The Pope's Ash Wednesday Mass Feb. 22 was preceded by a procession from Rome's Church of St. Anselm to the Church of Santa Sabina. Unlike last year, when Pope Benedict walked the block between the two churches, this year he rode in a golf cart modified to be a mini-Popemobile. Pope Benedict, 84, has been using a mobile platform to process into St. Peter's Basilica since last October. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said then that use of the platform was to help the Pope conserve his energy and that Pope Benedict had no serious health problems.

Lent a time of action at Marshall McLuhan

February 22, 2012

TORONTO - Students at Marshall McLuhan Catholic Secondary School in Toronto began Lent with a purpose. The 1,000-plus students at the midtown school are raising money to combat child sexual slavery. Jesuit Father Len Altilia told the students Lent should make us want to reach out to the helpless, particularly the women and children who suffer most from violence and sexual exploitation. "It's not just an act of charity," said Altilia. "It is an act of faith and an act of justice."

February 23

Benghazi bishop recalls Libyan revolution, looks ahead to rebuilding

February 23, 2012

BENGHAZI, Libya - As Benghazi residents marked the anniversary of Libya's revolution, the head of the city's diminished Catholic community spoke of a need to rebuild his congregation and of the uncertainties ahead. "Thank God everything passed peacefully" on the anniversary, Bishop Sylvester Magro said after the Feb. 19 Mass attended by just a few dozen, mainly Filipino, worshippers. "After such a prolonged war you are always in doubt of what might happen next," the bishop said.

Spokesman defends record as Polish bishops prepare to adopt guidelines

February 23, 2012

WARSAW, Poland - The spokesman for the Polish bishops' conference defended its handling of sexual abuse accusations against Catholic clergy as the bishops prepared to adopt guidelines on the issue. "The church is the only institution in Poland systematically dealing with this -- no one else is," said Father Jozef Kloch, conference spokesman. "Although we're being used as a whipping boy, we know from data there's a much lower incidence of pedophilia among Catholic priests than clergy from other denominations, as well as teachers, home care employees, sports coaches and, unfortunately, parents and relatives."

Celibacy should be seen as 'gift of grace,' not burden, speakers say

February 23, 2012

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Priestly celibacy must be seen as "a freely accepted commitment and a gift of grace," not simply a functional discipline that frees a man for ministry, the keynote speaker at a University of Notre Dame symposium said Feb. 15. Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, opened the Feb. 15-17 symposium with a call for a deeper understanding of celibacy based on biblical and theological roots.

Chapter and verse: Pope uses Bible reflection to address 'his' priests

February 23, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Speaking 38 minutes without a prepared text, Pope Benedict XVI gave priests of the Diocese of Rome a look not only at how he approaches Scripture, but also at his priorities and personality. Addressing the Rome priests as "my clergy," the Pope led them Feb. 23 in a reflection on faith, truth, hope and humility.