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April 2014

April 14

Pope: During Holy Week, ask which Gospel character you resemble

April 14, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Preceded by young people and clergy waving tall palm branches, Pope Francis began his Holy Week liturgies by encouraging people to ask themselves which personality in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection they resemble most.

Board mulls appeal of exemption for non-Catholic students from religion

April 14, 2014

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. - A court ruling that exempts a non-Catholic student with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board from attending religious festivities could rock the Catholicity of Ontario's Catholic education system.

Obama praises Pope Francis at Easter breakfast

April 14, 2014

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama praised Francis during an Easter prayer breakfast at the White House, April 14.

Pope to remember abused, violated in Station of the Cross

April 14, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The often silent plight of sexually abused children, victims of domestic violence, prisoners, the abandoned elderly, the unemployed and immigrants facing hostility will be given a powerful voice during the Stations of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum.

April 15

Killings at Jewish community center mourned; Catholic woman among dead

April 15, 2014

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Outpourings of grief and support came in response to the murder of three people at two Jewish-run facilities in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park April 13, the day before the Jewish feast of Passover was to begin.

Priests on front line in Italy's battle against Mafias

April 15, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis' dramatic appearance at a March prayer vigil with the families of Mafia victims, where he said he would plead on bended knee with Mafia bosses to "stop doing evil," has highlighted the Catholic Church's role in combatting Italian organized crime.

Vatican was not ordered to appear before U.N. committee, spokesman says

April 15, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican's scheduled May appearance before a United Nations committee monitoring adherence to an anti-torture treaty is being done willingly and not because church officials were ordered to appear for questioning, the Vatican spokesman said.

April 16

Syrian Christian refugees fleeing to Jordan on the rise, Caritas says

April 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The influx of Syrian Christian refugees into Jordan is on the rise, said the head of Caritas Jordan.

Flaherty’s Catholic heritage shaped his political thinking

April 16, 2014

OTTAWA - Jim Flaherty was buried out of Toronto’s Anglican St. James Cathedral in a state funeral on April 16 but the political life of the former Finance Minister was shaped by his Catholic upbringing, said former colleagues.

OECTA wrong to join Pride Parade

April 16, 2014

TORONTO - The union representing Ontario’s Catholic teachers is wrong to join in the World Pride Parade and its decision demonstrates an “inadequate and mistaken understanding of their faith,” said Cardinal Thomas Collins.

Jesus wants everyone to serve others with love, Pope Francis says

April 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - In the humble act of washing his disciples' feet, Jesus is showing all Christians how he wants them to serve others with love, Pope Francis said.

April 17

Pope offers support as Catholic agencies assist Chilean fire victims

April 17, 2014

With fire still raging in parts of the historic city of Valparaiso, Chile, Caritas Chile and the Diocese of Valparaiso opened a bank account to help more than 10,000 people forced from their homes.

Nigerian Church condemns bombing that claimed at least 71 lives

April 17, 2014

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Catholic Church in Nigeria condemned the morning rush hour bombing of a bus station near the capital of Abuja that killed at least 71 people and injured dozens more April 14.

Easter’s promise

April 17, 2014

Easter, said Pope Francis, reminds us that God’s love is stronger than evil and stronger even than death itself.

Who is this man?

April 17, 2014

Palm Sunday this year began with the fundamental question being asked in Matthew 21: “And when He entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, ‘Who is this?’ ”

Zealots kill the message

April 17, 2014

As someone who has championed the pro-life cause in mass media for more than 20 years now, I can testify to how challenging it can be and how hard one has to struggle to be heard. Lately, however, we’ve been making some genuine breakthroughs; sometimes in spite of rather than because of so-called allies. But every time we take a step forward there is always someone who tries to pull us back. Witness Peter LeBarbera, president of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), who was invited to speak to the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association in Weyburn in mid-April.

God transcends the human limitation of gender

April 17, 2014

There’s a new document on the Vatican web site called “From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Reformation in 2017.” It was quoted on Facebook by a friend who took umbrage at the following sentence:

New take on ‘Hallelujah’ a new Easter tradition

April 17, 2014

With the kids well into their teenage years, I was looking for an Easter tradition to replace the old Easter egg hunt that evaporated some years ago.

No substitutes for the Lord

April 17, 2014

Second Sunday of Easter (Year A) April 27 (Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31) The Church had very simple beginnings. There were no impressive church buildings or elaborate liturgies. In those first generations of the faith, believers met together in their homes. Their new faith was not just a religion but a new way of life lived together and in common. The presence of the Spirit and their shared, unified life were the source of energy and power. There was no “mine and thine” attitude, for they shared all that they had, ensuring that no one was deprived of the basics of life. Their shared ideals and union of minds and hearts bound them together in what they called the body of Christ. This resulted in a community in which the trust and support level was very high. But far more powerful was the observation that they ate their shared meals with “glad and generous hearts.”

Resurrection reveals God as redeemer, not rescuer

April 17, 2014

Before you get serious about Jesus, first consider how good you are going to look on wood!