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April 2012

April 10

I’m sorry, this column is about the blame game

April 10, 2012

When it comes to apologizing, Canadians need not be modest. Of course, we have competition because we live in a global village of apologies. Australians have apologized to aboriginal peoples for having taken their land. Brits have apologized to half the world for colonialization. Canada has not only apologized for the experiment known as residential schools, but (at a cost of billions) has created a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is currently parading around the country hearing tales of abuse from both those who suffered and from those who recognize the sound of a bandwagon passing by.

D&P’s funding woes a perfect chance to get back to its roots

April 10, 2012

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) recently issued a statement saying they are “extremely disappointed” with the news that the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace had its latest government funding come in much lower than expected. I for one couldn’t be happier. Well, actually, I would be happier if D&P lost all of its government funding, but dropping from a request of $49 million over five years to just $14 million over five years is a step in the right direction.

Happy 85th to Pope Benedict XVI

April 10, 2012

When he turns 85 on April16 Pope Benedict XVI will be just the sixth pope to reach that milestone age and the oldest pontiff in 109 years. Last month, the Pope warmly told former Cuban president Fidel Castro, who is eight months Benedict’s senior, “Yes, I’m old, but I can still carry out my duties.” Benedict was described as a transitional figure when he became pontiff seven years ago. He was 78. It had been 300 years since the Vatican welcomed a new pope that old. But although less robust than on the day he ascended the throne of Peter, Benedict is still keeping a busy schedule and serving the Church with faith and distinction. Some transition.

Trampling on rights

April 10, 2012

Something unsettling is happening when conscience becomes a dirty word in a liberal democracy. Yet most Canadians seem unfazed by the increasing tendency to treat our fundamental right to freedom of conscience as if it were some unspeakable anti-social offence. The denial of conscience rights to marriage commissioners in Saskatchewan, the obliteration of parental rights in Quebec, the imposition of state sexual ideology on Catholic schools in Ontario — these should all be causing deep concern. In none of these cases, after all, have the aggrieved parties taken the law into their own hands. They have not shouted fire in a crowded theatre, the time-honoured test of the limit of free speech. All they have sought is their Charter-protected right to be exempted from legal or regulatory obligations that violate their deepest and most sincerely held beliefs.

A nation’s story is not told only in politics

April 10, 2012

OTTAWA - About a month ago it was cardinals’ week here in the nation’s capital. Our chaplaincy at Queen’s University was hosting the visit to Canada of the archbishop of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias. Given that it was his first visit to our country, and that he was flying into Ottawa, it was arranged that he would visit Parliament. The Speaker of the Senate, Noel Kinsella, received him and gave him a tour of the red chamber and the speaker’s offices. Afterward, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Andrew Scheer, hosted a dinner in Cardinal Gracias’ honour.

Government shuts down Rights & Democracy

April 10, 2012

OTTAWA - The Conservative government’s elimination of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development has put an underlying ideological debate about human rights into the spotlight. Created in 1988, the agency known as Rights and Democracy has been embroiled in controversy described in the news media largely as a conflict between human rights advocates on the staff and Conservative appointees on the Montreal-based agency’s board. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird cited “challenges” within the organization as the reason why he decided to close it.

Holy Week fast for D&P

April 10, 2012

A week without solid food isn’t going to fill the $5-million hole in the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace’s budget, but Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikkatt felt she had to take on a Holy Week fast to protest CIDA cuts to the Catholic movement. The 22-year-old Carleton University student lived on nothing but tea, water and juice until Easter Sunday even while working on her graduating thesis in the global politics program. By mid-week her protest had raised almost $1,400 for D&P. “The fact that these cuts took place, or we heard tell of them, during Lent is really telling,” Kannikkatt told The Catholic Register. “Being that time of year, it provided an opportunity for the (D&P) membership across the country to get in touch with this issue in a more spiritual and connected way.” On Good Friday, Kannikkatt was joined on her fast by almost 300 people who vowed to dedicate their fast to D&P. They will give money they would otherwise have spent on food to the Canadian bishops’ development agency while also writing letters to the government to protest a 65-per-cent cut in CIDA funding for 2011 to 2016. The member actions have inspired the agency’s 60-plus employees, said D&P program co-ordinator Siobhan Rowan. “It’s been quite incredible and very heartening,” Rowan said. “And it makes it all the harder to think of what we’re going to lose.” Kannikkatt has written letters to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda asking for reasons behind the funding cut, but has yet to receive a reply. “Fasting throughout the centuries has been used as a really powerful means of resistance,” said Kannikkatt. Citing Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi, Kannikkatt doesn’t believe fasting can be easily classified as either political or spiritual. “Hundreds of members across the country are going to be joining me in this fast,” she said. “Fasting together, in solidarity with each other, I think that is an incredible example of the Spirit moving through the people involved in this organization as well as making a powerful statement about the politics behind it.” Kannikkatt’s final paper is about how a corporate social responsibility program run by a Canadian mining company in Guatemala is affecting development prospects for the local community. After graduation she is travelling with a D&P delegation to the Rio+20 United Nations conference in June. The idea that the current government is more interested in charity than justice, more interested in corporate image repair than democratic change has the employees of D&P calling for action to confront the Conservatives on their development policy, said Rowan. There’s no way of knowing precisely how many people working with HIV-positive slum dwellers in Africa or helping poor farmers in Haiti are about to lose their jobs because D&P funding has dried up, said Rowan. In many cases laying off the workers in partner organizations will dismantle years of patient, slow work and throw skilled people on the street in countries with no social safety net, she said. In Ottawa, Kannikkatt isn’t complaining about hunger pangs. She’s thinking about the future of the movement. “It means we’re going to have to start seeing how we can work differently with our allied organizations in the ecumenical world and in the secular world — see how we can combine our efforts a little bit more,” she said. “Also we have to see how we can speak out with a more collective voice against this trend in the government away from good, solid, trusted development work that organizations like Development and Peace do to something much more problematic.”

April 11

Loretto Abbey ties one on for Sudan school

April 11, 2012

TORONTO - Although Loretto Abbey’s 4th Annual Charity Cup Hockey Game ended in a 5-5 tie, there was a winner at the end — the girls in Sudan who will benefit from the $4,860 raised at the event. “We’re going to give it to the Loretto Sisters who are trying to build a school, a high school, for girls in South Sudan,” said Loretto Abbey principal Alda Bassani. “This year all our efforts for charity are going to that cause.” About 450 tickets were purchased for the April 4 hockey game at North Toronto Arena which pitted the school team against a staff squad. At $10 apiece, ticket sales raised the bulk of the money. Additional funds came from t-shirt sales, a Chuck-the-Puck contest and the sale of raffle tickets.

Finding fellowship on a Bronx service trip

April 11, 2012

When you tell people you’re going on a service trip to New York, many question the nature of the trip. The connotation of a service trip can lead one to think of trips to Vietnam or Uganda, working in Third World countries to help the most recognizable poor. The struggles faced by the people living in the Bronx are often overlooked. But this wasn’t the case when I travelled to New York with classmates from my high school.

Kintore College to offer a spiritual space at the University of Toronto

April 11, 2012

TORONTO - It can be difficult for students to maintain a healthy balance between studies and personal spiritual growth. Kintore College, a women’s university residence to be run by Opus Dei in downtown Toronto, hopes it will help students find that balance. “While Kintore will certainly provide a serious study atmosphere for its residents, we do believe that a healthy lifestyle includes all aspects of the human person: the social, cultural, spiritual, physical and emotional,” said Crystal Mason, the college’s director. Officially opening Sept. 1, 2012, the college is located on the St. George campus at the University of Toronto. However, the residence is open to students from different universities and colleges such as Ryerson, explained Mason. Combined with a 13-storey high-rise condominium, the four-floor residence promises future residents not only a beautiful place to live but a warm atmosphere as well. “The building was designed to maximize the use of sunlight and makes for a beautiful and warm home away from home,” said Miriam Hyginus, a second-year student at the University of Toronto. Although Hyginus will not be living at the college due to a prior commitment, she is very excited for the college’s opening. “Personally, I find it inspiring to see students who are committed to advancing both academically and spiritually,” she said. “These are women who are serious about getting into both grad school and heaven.” The property was purchased by Pro-Edu-Val (PEV) in 1997, a charity organization whose mission is “to foster the education of women of all ages and backgrounds in order to promote their unique influence in the shaping of society through their family life, professional work and community,” explained Virginia Nanouris, Kintore’s project manager and an employee of PEV. The leadership of Kintore is given to members of Opus Dei, a Catholic organization helping people seek holiness in their everyday lives. The college is open to people of all faiths and religions, but promises a vibrant spiritual life for students who choose to take part in it. For example, Hyginus noted that Holy Mass will be celebrated every day and there will be opportunities for confession, talks on different topics and classes about the faith. “Far from taking emphasis away from having a relationship with God, Kintore promotes this with the variety of activities it offers. It’s a great place to challenge your mind, nourish your body and strengthen your soul.” To give students more time to study and to participate in the various social and spiritual activities, Kintore will offer a healthy meal plan and full cleaning and laundry services, said Mason. Mason also hopes that the residents and members of the management team will feel like a family. For Hyginus, this welcoming atmosphere might help prevent anti-social behaviour that arises from too much studying and stress. “University years are one of the most precious times in one’s life and a moment for forging friendships that will last a lifetime,” said Mason. “We want these years to be truly formative and energizing for students.” Kintore College is currently accepting applications. “We are receiving and reviewing applications as we speak. We have not yet made any offers of admission but we plan to do so very soon.” (Thien-An Nguyen, 19, is a second-year history and political science student at the University of Ottawa.)

The Vatican's Justice council targets business leaders

April 11, 2012

TORONTO - Though we all participate in the global economy by buying things and services, it’s pretty hard to take personal responsibility for globalization — but somebody has to, says the Vatican. The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has issued a kind of digest of Pope Benedict XVI’s latest encyclical and aimed it squarely at business leaders. “The Vocation of the Business Leader” is a 30-page booklet aimed at business professionals mentoring young employees and professors in business schools. It extensively quotes and summarize Benedict’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate.

More youth, young adults facing long-term debt crisis

April 11, 2012

Canadians need to pay attention to increasingly high levels of youth and senior debt, said Nora Spinks, CEO of the Vanier Institute of the Family. The Institute highlighted a looming crisis in its recently published report “The Current State of Canadian Family Finances.” The study looks at family incomes and expenses, family savings and debt and family wealth and net worth. “We’ve got the young adults and young families with high levels of debt trying to make ends meet and then we have seniors who are declaring bankruptcy and that leaves those in the middle supporting their young adult children and their parents.”

St. Robert’s takes robotics title

April 11, 2012

THORNHILL, ONT. - In their FIRST Robotics Competition debut, the St. Robert’s RetroRams mechanically orchestrated a regional championship while earning the rookie all-star award at the annual competition. FIRST Robotics hosts high school regional championships and invites winners, and select teams, to the world championships, to be held this year in St. Louis. At the Toronto West Regional competition on the last weekend of March, 52 teams packed the Hershey Centre in Mississauga for a Rebound Rumble showdown where three-team alliances hit the hardwood.

Religious freedom office ambassador coming soon

April 11, 2012

OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert expects the Canadian government will soon name an ambassador to head the Office of Religious Freedom. Dechert, who has been overseeing consultations for the new office that have been taking place across Canada, told the Second Parliamentary Forum on Religious Freedom and Governance April 2 the Canadian government is committed to making religious freedom a pillar of foreign policy. He did not announce a date for the office’s establishment, but said it will have an initial budget of $5 million.

Clergy seek higher taxes — for themselves

April 11, 2012

The clergy have never been an outstanding revenue source for governments, yet some clergy are volunteering to pay more taxes. Rabbi Stephen Wise of Shaarei-Beth El Congregation in Oakville, Ont., is forming Faith Leaders for Fair Taxation. Modeled after Doctors for Fair Taxation and Lawyers for Fair Taxation, Wise wants to provide a platform for all clergy to ask governments to increase taxes. People have to stop thinking of taxes as a dirty word, said Wise.

Suicide rates rising among Canadian girls

April 11, 2012

Suicide rates in girls between the ages of 10 and 19 have increased 54 per cent over the past 30 years, says a recent study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Researchers from the Public Health Agency of Canada reported that 50 females between ages 10 and 19 committed suicide in Canada in 1980, compared to 77 in 2008. Conversely, suicide rates among young males declined from 249 suicides to 156, a 37 per cent decrease. “It’s hugely disturbing, but not surprising,” said Sr. Susan Glaab, a campus minister and spiritual director at King’s University College.

This year’s ShareLife contributions are on the rise - up by $160,000

April 11, 2012

TORONTO - Things are looking optimistic for the 2012 ShareLife parish campaign as contributions are up compared to last year after the first ShareLife Sunday on March 29. “The initial results are in and they’re slightly ahead of last year which is optimistic,” said Arthur Peters, ShareLife’s executive director. Before noon on April 5 the campaign total sat at $4,316,550, about a $160,000 increase from the previous year. Money collected supports more than 40 social agencies which benefit 250,000- plus people in need.

Cardinal Aponte, church's only Puerto Rican cardinal, dead at age 89

April 11, 2012

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CNS) -- Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez, the second Puerto Rican to be ordained a bishop and the only Puerto Rican cardinal, died April 10 at Hospital Espanol Auxilio Mutuo in San Juan after a long illness. He was 89. The head of the San Juan Archdiocese for nearly 30 years, he retired in 1999. Cardinal Aponte participated in the two 1978 conclaves that elected Pope John Paul I and Blessed John Paul II, but he was already over 80 and ineligible to vote by the time Pope Benedict XVI was chosen. Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuno declared five days of official mourning for the cardinal, who died on the 62nd anniversary of his priestly ordination.

Encounter the risen Lord in the Scriptures, Eucharist, Pope says

April 11, 2012

VATICAN CITY - With Easter flowers and blossoming trees still decorating St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI held his weekly general audience and encouraged Catholics to let the risen Lord into their hearts and to share his peace with the world. As he did with the disciples after Easter, "even today the risen Lord can enter into our homes and hearts even if, sometimes, the doors are closed," the Pope said April 11. "He alone can roll back the burial stone that man often puts over his feelings, relationships and behavior; stones that sanction death, division, hatred, anger, jealousy, mistrust, indifference," Pope Benedict said.

Archbishop Bzdel was metropolitan for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada

April 11, 2012

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Archbishop Michael Bzdel, who served as metropolitan for Ukrainian Catholics in Canada for nearly 13 years, died April 3 at his home in Winnipeg. He was 81. He became metropolitan after his ordination as archbishop March 9, 1993. He served in the position until his retirement in January 2006. Born to Ukrainian immigrants in Wishart, Saskatchewan, July 21, 1930, Archbishop Bzdel was the 11 of 14 children in his family.