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July 2013

July 8

Patchwork of murky laws emerges as more U.S. states OK use of marijuana

July 8, 2013

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Somewhere among the skateboarders, weightlifters, street artisans and moms pushing strollers at California's Venice Beach may be a high concentration of seriously ill Californians seeking alternative pain relief.

Pope calls for repentance over treatment of migrants

July 8, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Before saying a word publicly, Pope Francis made the sign of the cross and tossed a wreath of white and yellow flowers into the Mediterranean Sea in memory of the estimated 20,000 African immigrants who have died in the past 25 years trying to reach a new life in Europe.

Archbishop says pope told him Quebec must 'rise again'

July 8, 2013

MONTREAL - Quebec must "rise again" and recover its traditional faith, Pope Francis told Quebec Archbishop Gerald Lacroix, who recently visited Rome.

Pope consecrates Vatican City to St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel

July 8, 2013

VATICAN CITY - With retired Pope Benedict XVI sitting next to him, Pope Francis formally recited separate prayers to consecrate Vatican City to St. Joseph and to St. Michael the Archangel.

Petition to support John Paul II Day launched

July 8, 2013

OTTAWA - Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has launched a petition in support of a bill now before the Senate to create Pope John Paul II Day.

July 9

Pope sends apostolic blessing to residents of Lac-Mégantic

July 9, 2013

Ottawa, Ontario - Pope Francis offered prayers for the people touched by the tragic July 6 train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, said the Vatican secretary of state.

In Timbuktu, majority Muslims, minority Christians reject extremists

July 9, 2013

TIMBUKTU, Mali - In this ancient city that has become synonymous with the ends of the earth, the recent terrorism of Islamist extremists belies long years of peaceful Muslim-Christian coexistence.

July 10

Vatican announces indulgences for World Youth Day

July 10, 2013

VATICAN CITY - To help encourage prayers for a spiritually fruitful World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, the Vatican announced July 9 that Pope Francis authorized a special indulgence for those who attend the event's liturgies and prayer services or follow along online in the proper spirit of prayer and contrition.

Double canonization united by Vatican II

July 10, 2013

Two generations of Canadians will be united in the canonization of the pope who called the Second Vatican Council and the one who interpreted it for 27 years.

July 11

St. Michael's Hospital on board with safe injection site

July 11, 2013

TORONTO - St. Michael’s Hospital doesn’t want people to inject street drugs. But Toronto’s largest Catholic hospital believes some addicts should have access to a community-based safe injection site.

Finding love trapped in a maze

July 11, 2013

“Why am I alive and on this Earth? Why doesn’t anyone care about me? I can see why nobody cares about me, but why must I end up alone? What’s the point of my life?” These questions are interspersed through my friend’s conversation, as though looking for an answer but not really expecting one. It’s just as well, as I have none, none.

Treat all as if they were angels

July 11, 2013

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) July 21 (Genesis 18:1-10; Psalm 15; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42)

A Church united

July 11, 2013

On July 5 Pope Francis released his first encyclical, a newsworthy event in itself, but then he knocked himself from the headlines by approving the sainthood causes of two of his renowned predecessors. If the rapid-fire announcements seemed unusual, well, that should come as no surprise from a Pope who keeps doing things his way.

Quebec’s Bill 52 is not about care, it’s about death

July 11, 2013

On June 12, in another of the seemingly inexorable movements in the developed world to normalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, Quebec tabled Bill 52, “An act respecting end-of-life care.” Given that only 16-30 per cent of Canadians have access to comprehensive, quality end-of-life care, according to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, we ought to receive news of efforts to improve care at this crucially important and vulnerable time for dying persons and their loved ones with universal enthusiasm. But what vision of “end-of-life care” is presented here?

Faith provides comfort

July 11, 2013

To read the coverage and study the ghastly pictures from the Quebec village of Lac Mégantic is to know that hearts must be asking where was God during this tragedy.

Holiness requires no balancing

July 11, 2013

KRAKOW, POLAND - The approval by Pope Francis of a miracle worked through the intercession of Blessed John Paul II was met with great joy in the Polish pope’s hometown, where nary a church can be found without an image of the blessed. Indeed, just last month the John Paul II Be Not Afraid Centre — a religious, educational and cultural complex on the grounds of the Divine Mercy shrine — was dedicated, the crypt chapel of which already contains the relics of John Paul II. So there was joy at the announcement, but not much surprise, even though at less than nine years after his death John Paul’s canonization will set a modern record.

The gender gap in current affairs

July 11, 2013

In research described as “sure to inflame the gender wars,” a study funded by the U.K. government suggests women around the world, and especially in Canada, are significantly more ignorant of current affairs and politics than men.

World Youth Day officials plan ways to help pilgrims with special needs

July 11, 2013

SAO PAULO - More than 200 World Youth Day volunteers will be dedicated to helping pilgrims with special needs during the July 23-28 event in Rio de Janeiro.

Vatican updates laws; Pope expands jurisdiction of Vatican court

July 11, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has approved a major updating of the criminal laws of Vatican City State, including in areas dealing with child abuse and terrorism financing, and has ruled that any Vatican employee can be tried by the Vatican court for violating those laws.

July 12

Society of the Sacred Heart unifies Canadian, U.S. provinces

July 12, 2013

ST. LOUIS - The Society of the Sacred Heart, an international congregation of women religious, has unified its provinces in Canada and the United States to form the Province of the United States-Canada. Its headquarters will be based in St. Louis. The change became effective July 8.