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October 2013

October 1

Furthering transparency efforts, Vatican bank publishes annual report

October 1, 2013

VATICAN CITY - As part of its continuing efforts to promote transparency and to demonstrate its stability and adherence to industry standards, the Vatican bank published its annual report for the first time in its history.

Humility, service attract people to church, not power, pride, Pope says

October 1, 2013

VATICAN CITY - As a series of consultations aimed at the reform of the Vatican bureaucracy began, Pope Francis told his group of cardinal advisers that humility and service attract people to the church, not power and pride.

Syria's Armenians risk a winter without food, shelter in ancestral home

October 1, 2013

YEREVAN, Armenia - Thousands of previously middle-class Syrians now stranded in Armenia are rapidly running out of resources and could soon have no shelter, food or medicine, said an international aid group official.

Group seeks greater lay voice in Church affairs

October 1, 2013

TORONTO - Several Toronto Catholics, including Redemptorist Father Paul Hansen, have joined an international organization that seeks to open the Vatican corridors of power beyond the clergy.

October 2

Catholic, other religious leaders decry U.S. government shutdown

October 2, 2013

WASHINGTON - Anticipating the worst, American religious leaders gathered the day before the federal government shut down to denounce what they called "political brinkmanship."

Duty to protect defenseless is not a licence for war, archbishop tells UN

October 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - An international obligation to intervene in situations of war or widespread violations of human rights does not mean a country or group of countries can decide to take military action in another nation, said the Vatican's foreign minister.

Pope and advisory council discuss synod reform on first day

October 2, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and his eight cardinal advisers on Church governance spent much of their first day together discussing reform of the Synod of Bishops, but the Vatican downplayed expectations that their discussions would lead to major changes in the near future.

Fiddler on the Roof shows simplicity in prayer

October 2, 2013

At the end of October, one of the Stratford Festival’s popular and loveable musicals will close for the season. Fiddler on the Roof had a magical run since April, enchanting its audience with its warm lustre and honest portrayals. It captured us at the first note of the fiddle, the first appearance of believable characters, and the first song-and-dance number, “Tradition!”

October 3

Respect creation

October 3, 2013

In their darkest warning yet, world scientists have predicted an inevitable increase in storms, droughts, heat waves, floods and, ultimately, deaths due to global warming which they boldly now confirm is caused by humans.

My life has been blessed by friendships with religious

October 3, 2013

A heavenly joy filled my heart during a Mass last month at Toronto’s Holy Angels Church. My family had arranged our schedules to be there as Fr. Peter Gioppato, the pastor, celebrated 50 years in religious life.

Concrete, bricks and hard feelings

October 3, 2013

Sharon sat on one side of it, James on the other. It was too tall to climb, too thick to break, too endless to go around. They couldn’t hear each other through its mass. The morning sun coming through the window shone on them both, but they were looking at the floor. Each felt alone, abandoned, angry and a little afraid, sitting some distance away from that wall, unmoving. Her arms were folded on her chest. He was sunk into his chair like a reprimanded six-year-old. Given its immense size and the innumerable ways it affected their lives, it’s surprising they could get so used to the invisible wall. And it ran right down the middle of their marriage.

The slow, imperceptible march of goodness

October 3, 2013

God writes straight with crooked lines. That axiom sounds clever, but is there real truth or depth to it? Can good ever really arise out of evil? Do love, truth and justice ever work out through hatred, lies and injustice?

We are all worthy of God’s mercy

October 3, 2013

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) Oct. 13 (2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19) Faith almost always played an important role in biblical healing, even among those who belonged to another people and religion. There were countless instances of God’s grace being extended to those considered to be on the outside.

Creation finds fullness in Christ

October 3, 2013

Francis of Assisi is one of the saints in the Catholic calendar honoured by different religions around the world. And with the election of our new Pope, people everywhere are hearing the name Francis now more than ever.

Meet the new faith, same as the old faith

October 3, 2013

I found myself unwittingly joining in a fun new Catholic game last week. Ever since Pope Francis’ interview with La Civilta Cattolica was published in Jesuit journals around the world, there has been both within and without the Church great huzzahs that under the new Holy Father everything will be, well, new, new, new! So here and there more knowledgeable Catholics than one would find at, say The New York Times, or for that matter, at some of those same Jesuit publications, have highlighted this or that revolutionary quotation from the interview, only to reveal that it in fact was said five years ago by Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Francis is courageously facing real issues head on

October 3, 2013

Pope Francis has been in the news following a three-part interview in which he commented on moral issues that have always generated much heat — homosexual relationships, abortion and contraception.

Forget emotional appeal, let’s have rational debate

October 3, 2013

A YouTube video issued by the family of the late Dr. Donald Low, in which the doctor argued passionately for a law that would allow assisted suicide in Canada for the terminally ill, has re-ignited the public debate about euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Author Tom Clancy was huge supporter of Catholic education

October 3, 2013

BALTIMORE - Even after Tom Clancy became an international best-selling novelist whose fans included the likes of President Ronald Reagan, the Baltimore-born writer never forgot the role his hometown Catholic education played in giving him the tools to his success.

Diocese tackling racism

October 3, 2013

The archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas is taking steps to help curb the anti-aboriginal racism that irunsrampant in northern Saskatchewan.

Pope, cardinal advisers looking at major overhaul of Roman Curia

October 3, 2013

Updated: 10/03/13 VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals are laying out plans to completely overhaul the Roman Curia, underlining its role of "service to the universal church and the local churches," the Vatican spokesman said.