Browse › 2014 › May

May 2014

May 20

Soldiers lay down weapons for rosaries as they pray, pay homage to Mary

May 20, 2014

LOURDES, France - It looked like any other military parade with bands playing, flags waving and thousands of men and women marching in colorful uniforms decorated with medals and ribbons.

Brazil's religions promote peace with events during World Cup

May 20, 2014

SAO PAULO - Less than a month from the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, leaders of several religions gathered at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro to kick off what they are calling the World Peace Cup.

Catholics in public life must adhere to Catholic teachings, says Prendegast

May 20, 2014

OTTAWA - Catholics in public life must take positions coherent with the Catholic faith, says Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, and that includes not only what they believe but how they vote.

Site of Jesus’ Last Supper a point of contention for some Israeli Jews

May 20, 2014

JERUSALEM - Ahead of Pope Francis’ visit, Jewish religious and nationalist groups plan to demonstrate May 22 to demand that the Israeli government not cede sovereignty or control of the Cenacle, traditionally considered the site of Jesus’ Last Supper.

Collins receives outpouring of support for Trudeau letter

May 20, 2014

TORONTO - Cardinal Thomas Collins has been receiving an unprecedented outpouring of support in the wake of his open letter that urged Liberal leader Justin Trudeau to reconsider an inflexible stand against pro-life supporters.

Slain Alberta priest remembered as a good shepherd

May 20, 2014

ST. PAUL, ALTA. - Fr. Gilbert Dasna was slain in the rectory of the St. Paul Cathedral after answering a doorbell that others would have ignored, said St. Paul Bishop Paul Terrio.

Day 9: Youth ask leaders to give peace a chance

May 20, 2014

While Pope Francis says Mass in Manger Square, Bethlehem there will be peace talks in the Middle East.

May 21

Rulings on same-sex marriage called 'mistake,' 'travesty of justice'

May 21, 2014

PHILADELPHIA - The 1996 Pennsylvania law that recognizes marriage between one man and one woman is unconstitutional, a U.S. federal judge ruled May 20, clearing the way for same-sex marriage in the state.

Nigerian archbishop condemns twin bombings as setback for peace

May 21, 2014

LAGOS, Nigeria - Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos condemned twin bombings that claimed more than 100 lives in his city, saying they were setbacks to peace efforts.

A caring Church

May 21, 2014

The archdiocese of Toronto’s $105 million fundraising drive is unprecedented in the Canadian Church. But the ambitious campaign is about much more than asking parishioners how much can they give. It’s asking them how much do they care.

Les glorieux Catholic

May 21, 2014

A colleague and good friend of mine is an intractable Leafs fan, meaning he is generally unaware that NHL hockey exists after the palest first quarter moon of April.

Justin’s pro-life solution

May 21, 2014

Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau interrupted the first long weekend of the summer to issue a “personal reflection” on his decree, announced on May 7, that pro-life candidates would be barred from contesting Liberal Party nominations.

Pope’s Holy Land visit not your ordinary pilgrimage

May 21, 2014

The “principle purpose” of the May 24-26 visit of Pope Francis to the Holy Land is not a conventional pilgrimage, as conducted by John Paul II and Benedict XVI. It is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the meeting between Pope Paul VI and the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I.

Business as usual in Catholic schools

May 21, 2014

Jesse Jackson once said, “Text without context is pretext.” His comment applies to the recent discussions around an Ontario Divisional Court decision that clearly is pretext taken out of any contextual understanding.

No shortcuts to the Lord

May 21, 2014

Ascension of the Lord (Year A) June 1 (Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20) The people who witnessed the ascension of Jesus didn’t really understand what God was up to and they were not exactly in sync with the mind and heart of God. We perhaps share more with them than we care to admit.

Dying into safe hands

May 21, 2014

It’s hard to say something consoling in the face of death, even when the person who died lived a full life and died in the best of circumstances. It’s especially hard when the one who’s died is a young person, still in need of nurturing and care in this life, and when that young person dies in less-than-ideal circumstances.

May 22

Day 10: The Bridgettines Sisters

May 22, 2014

I have been living this last week in a convent with habited nuns who describe themselves as semi-contemplative. They are Bridgettine Sisters, a 20th century American revival of a Medieval Swedish order.

Former Vatican No. 2 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone denies financial wrongdoing

May 22, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The Italian cardinal who served as the Vatican’s No. 2 official under Pope Benedict XVI has rejected allegations that he mishandled 15 million euros ($20 million) from Vatican bank accounts.

Retired Gatineau Bishop Charbonneau dies at 92

May 22, 2014

OTTAWA - Bishop Paul-Émile Charbonneau, the bishop emeritus of Gatineau, Que., passed away May 21. He was 92.

Cardinal Lacroix gets new role at Vatican

May 22, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Three months after he gave 19 new cardinals their red hats, Pope Francis gave new responsibilities to the 16 who are under the age of 80, including Quebec's Cardinal Gerald Lacroix.