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May 2012

May 2

Censure highlights divisions in Irish Church

May 2, 2012

DUBLIN - A series of censures has brought to the fore the divisions within the Irish Church between those who seek a leaner and smaller Church that adheres more strictly to the magisterium and those who seek space to discuss Church issues. Up to 250 nuns, priests and laypeople held a silent protest outside the Vatican Embassy April 29 to protest the doctrinal congregation’s censure of five Irish priests over their stance on issues such as the ordination of women, the ban on artificial birth control and homosexuality.

Jesuits ready for Contact

May 2, 2012

TORONTO - Jesuits are taught to see God in all things. This makes Jesuit photography a little more intense than family snapshots. This year four Canadian Jesuits will show their photographs as part of the 17th annual Contact festival. With more than 1,000 venues spread around Toronto and as many as 1.8 million sets of eyeballs taking in the work of an international lineup of photographers through the month of May, Contact is the largest photography event in the world.

Shareholder motion against Goldcorp fails

May 2, 2012

An American community of Loretto Sisters and its allies lost a shareholder vote in South Porcupine, Ont., that would have forced Goldcorp Inc. to set aside almost $50 million to pay for post-mining clean-up at a major gold mine in Guatemala. Management at the Canadian mining giant had opposed the Loretto Sisters’ motion at the company’s Annual General Meeting April 26. The motion asked Goldcorp to revise its mine closure plans in San Marcos, Guatemala, in light of an independent study which pegged mine closure costs at $49 million.

Scholarship honours Collins’ elevation to College of Cardinals

May 2, 2012

TORONTO - Two university level student leaders, yet to be chosen, will soon be the first of many to benefit from the elevation of the Toronto’s archbishop to the College of Cardinals. The University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto has created a scholarship fund in honour of Cardinal Thomas Collins, as well as to recognize “all the work he has already done to bring the Church and the faith closer together,” the school said in a statement.

Closeness to God gives strength to withstand everything, pope says

May 2, 2012

VATICAN CITY -- The church's first martyr found the strength to face his accusers because of his close relationship with God, Pope Benedict XVI said. St. Stephen, who was accused of blasphemy and stoned to death, upheld the faith and gave witness to Christ as the righteous one proclaimed by the prophets, the pope said during the general audience in St. Peter's Square May 2.

Beauty queen doubles as rights activist

May 2, 2012

OTTAWA - Human rights activist and former beauty queen Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay told hundreds of religious leaders she felt blessed to be able to stand at a podium and share her faith without reprisals. “This is not the case in all parts of the world,” she said, noting that in her native Iran, “we would be facing persecution for gathering like this.”

Facelift for St. Mike’s hockey program

May 2, 2012

TORONTO - Toronto’s St. Michael’s College School is revamping its Senior Division 1 hockey program with the aim of improving student grades while maintaining a competitive hockey program. “The program we had, as it was, wasn’t working because the student athletes were asked to juggle too many commitments,” said Paul Forbes, the midtown Toronto private Catholic school’s athletic director, noting that many players were committed to the school team as well as their community team. “The reality of it is that they don’t really have time to play for two competitive teams in this day and age.”

We are God’s students

May 2, 2012

When I was little, I told myself that school was only for a little while. Afterwards, I would get a job, earn money and then live happily ever after. Of course, that was before I learned about recessions, resumes and retirement funds. Suddenly, my friends and I were looking for volunteer opportunities to put on our resumes that would get us jobs which could earn us money to pay for universities that give us degrees required for careers that would allow us to buy houses… and it goes on. Meanwhile, I still fall into the habit of telling myself after Masses, conferences and confessions that I’ve learned my lessons, that I’m clean, renewed and can be the perfect Catholic. Then I disappoint myself a week later and fall back into self-imposed depression.

Youth ‘desire to inspire’ at ACCESS Charity conference

May 2, 2012

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - As part of the Change the World campaign for National Volunteer Week, ACCESS Charity ran its fourth annual Youth Making A Difference Conference at the Blessed Trinity Catholic Centre in Mississauga. In line with the conference’s theme “Desire to Inspire,” the speakers shared their own stories as inspiration for the 180 students who took part in the April 26 event. ACCESS (Allowing Children a Chance at Education) is one of Southern Ontario’s largest youth-run charities.

York University honours former CFL coach Frank Cosentino

May 2, 2012

TORONTO - Frank Cosentino, who parlayed his start in coaching with the Catholic Youth Organization to the Canadian university ranks, will be honoured by York University for being the most successful football coach in school history. The Toronto university will be holding a dinner to honour Cosentino on May 11. “I’m honoured and very pleased that a group of people got together and thought I contributed something to their lives,” said Cosentino, a 10-year Canadian Football League quarterback, from his Eganville, Ont., home.

Canadian World Youth Day evaluations released

May 2, 2012

Lack of Holy Communion, the availability of water and a failed media structure were only some of the problems faced by Canadians at World Youth Day in Madrid, an evaluation from nearly 6,000 young Canadians, 24 bishops and more than 100 priests, deacons and religious found. “So it was fraught with logistical difficulties, some of which are linked to the fact of any large event, but some clearly to a lack of preparation and foresight,” said Fr. Thomas Rosica, who at the request of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops spearheaded the formal evaluation of the Spanish event in 2011.

Beatles tune on The Priests' playlist

May 2, 2012

TORONTO - If you were to ask someone to name a popular vocal group comprised of three male voices, it’s arguable that the answer wouldn’t be The Three Tenors, but rather The Priests. The group comprised of three Irish Catholic priests is currently on tour with a new album in hand, and looking forward to their May 4 concert in Toronto. "We are looking forward to bringing the music to as many people as possible, and of course there's a big Irish connection in Toronto as well. So we really are looking forward to it. Again, it's a place that has featured highly in our beginnings in this particular journey as The Priests. Toronto has featured highly and given us great support as well," Fr. Martin O’Hagan told The Catholic Register during a phone call from his Rhode Island hotel.

Ireland's Cardinal Brady defends role in 1975 abuse inquiry, says he won't resign

May 2, 2012

DUBLIN - The primate of All Ireland has said he will not resign despite criticism of his role in a 1975 canonical inquiry into a pedophile priest, Norbertine Father Brendan Smyth. In a statement issued in Armagh, Northern Ireland, May 2, Cardinal Sean Brady defended his involvement in the inquiry and accused the BBC documentary "The World: The Shame of the Catholic Church" of making a number of claims that overstated and misrepresented his role.

Former Thatcher adviser Lord Monckton defends reason in decision-making

May 2, 2012

LONDON, ONT. - It might seem perverse to think of someone so well connected and accomplished as Christopher Monckton, the third Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, as an “odd man out,” but he certainly does go his very own way. He is a British politician and world famous puzzlist, a newspaper editor, a millionaire, a former adviser to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a Cambridge-educated architect, a Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a member of the Royal Yachting Association, a lecturer and consultant who is on the payroll of no university, think tank, government or corporation. Monckton is regularly invited to address and take part in debates with university and political groups around the world (including the U.S. Congress), where he is valued and not infrequently reviled for the sturdy independence of his views.

May 3

Tell The Catholic Register why your mother matters

May 3, 2012

The deadline for submissions has now passed. - Last fall Catholic Register Books published Motherhood Matters: Inspirational Stories, Letters, Quotes & Prayers for Catholic Moms. Written by Register contributor Dorothy Pilarski, the book was praised for its “home-spun wisdom,” “inspirational vignettes” and “practical advice.” The lessons contained in Motherhood Matters apply year round, but are particularly poignant at Mother’s Day, on May 13 this year. So, in the spirit of Motherhood Matters, and to mark Mother’s Day, The Register is inviting readers to share personal vignettes about their mothers. We’re looking for fond memories, cherished words of advice, humourous anecdotes or any other reminiscence that shows the love, faith and dedication of Catholic moms.

Mexican 'Cristero' fight relevant to actor Andy Garcia's Cuban heritage

May 3, 2012

WASHINGTON - In the upcoming movie "For Greater Glory," Catholic actor Andy Garcia plays a Mexican Revolution-era general lured out of retirement a decade later to head the insurgent "Cristero" forces doing battle against their own government's severe curbing of religious freedoms, which included the murder of priests, the desecration of churches, and laws designed to reduce the visibility of the Catholic Church in the overwhelmingly Catholic country. It is a battle that the Cuban-born Garcia feels strongly about.

Progress brings problems without guidance from truth, faith, Pope says

May 3, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Excluding truth and the transcendent from scientific debate and research has impoverished modern thought and weakened the intellect's ability to understand reality, Pope Benedict XVI said. True intellectual and scientific progress requires an openness to dialogue with opposing views, rather than settling with the "mere repetition" of what one already knows, he added.

Africa's fortune lies in its future according to visiting Jesuit

May 3, 2012

TORONTO - Africans still want the kind of genuine partnership with Canadians the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has fostered over the last four decades, the provincial superior of the Jesuits in Eastern Africa said — even if CIDA has cancelled funding to every D&P partner in Africa outside of the Democratic Republic of Congo. "It matters," Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator told The Catholic Register. "It's not only about Canadians giving to Africa. There's an element of mutuality there. It's not just about the money. It is important to keep that contact."

May 4

Vatican strengthens oversight of Caritas Internationalis

May 4, 2012

VATICAN CITY - A Vatican decree established new statutes and norms for Caritas Internationalis, giving Vatican offices, including the Secretariat of State, greater authority over the work of the Vatican-based umbrella group of Catholic aid agencies. The decree strengthens the roles Vatican offices and the Pope play in working with the charity confederation, including naming and approving new board members and approving its texts, contracts with foreign governments and financial transactions.

Unwanted abortion debate respectful to date, says Woodworth

May 4, 2012

OTTAWA - Contentious issues about human rights, even those of unborn children, can be discussed in public in a civil, intelligent way, said Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth. And you need look no further than the recent debate in the House of Commons on his private member's Motion-312 for proof. On April 26, Woodworth was the only MP who spoke in favour of his motion that would establish a Parliamentary committee to examine the latest medical evidence on whether a child in the womb is a human being. Other MPs from across the political spectrum — including his own Conservative Party — spoke against it.