Browse › 2014 › July

July 2014

July 8

Vatican bank, preparing for new leaders, publishes final 2013 figures

July 8, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Preparing for big changes in its governance and structure, the Institute for the Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican bank, published its 2013 financial statement, reporting a nose dive in net profit.

Bill C-36: protection over exploitation

July 8, 2014

OTTAWA - The federal government had a choice with its new prostitution regulations, said Justice Minister Peter McKay: it could “condone the exploitation” of women and children “or protect them.”

Federal Court reinstates health coverage for refugees

July 8, 2014

Sam is a refugee from Pakistan and a cancer survivor thanks to Church fundraisers and the generosity of doctors and hospitals working for free. He said he thanked God when the Federal Court ruled on July 4 that he is now entitled to health coverage from the federal government.

July 9

Steubenville rocks Toronto

July 9, 2014

TORONTO - Hundreds of students lining up for reconciliation, kids playing Frisbee with the Sisters of Life, bishops sitting with teens rocking out to worship-and-praise music and thousands of young people on their knees adoring the Eucharist — scenes from Toronto’s first Steubenville youth conference.

Holy Land bishops criticize 'collective punishment' of Palestinians

July 9, 2014

JERUSALEM - Catholic leaders in the Holy Land called for an end to the cycle of violence and criticized Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its collective punishment of Palestinians.

Vatican names new bank president, restructures financial offices

July 9, 2014

VATICAN CITY - As the restructuring of Vatican financial institutions moves into high gear, "our ambition is to become something of a model of financial management rather than a cause for occasional scandal," said Cardinal George Pell, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.

Court may compel priest to break confessional seal in abuse case

July 9, 2014

BATON ROUGE, La. - Louisiana's Supreme Court has ruled that a priest may be compelled to testify as to what he heard in the confessional in 2008 concerning an abuse case.

July 10

ShareLife looking for push in final weeks

July 10, 2014

TORONTO - With less than a month left in the 2014 ShareLife parish campaign, the charitable fundraising arm of the Archdiocese of Toronto is still more than a million dollars shy of its $12.65-million goal.

Pope Francis reaches out to evangelical, charismatic leaders

July 10, 2014

OTTAWA - Pope Francis has taken the first steps towards forging unprecedented bonds with evangelical and charismatic Protestant groups, CCN has learned.

CNEWA pleads for help for Iraqi Christians

July 10, 2014

OTTAWA - The Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) has put out an urgent plea for help aiding Iraqi Christians targeted in a “brutal civil war.”

After Pope's condemnation of mafia, Italian bishop bans processions

July 10, 2014

VATICAN CITY - A bishop in Calabria has ordered an end to all religious processions in his diocese after 30 men carrying a large statue of Mary and hundreds of people accompanying the statue paused and bowed in front of the house of a presumed mafia boss.

July 11

Dignity for all

July 11, 2014

Providing care and showing compassion for society’s most vulnerable members is not an option. It’s an obligation. So says Pope Francis and the Federal Court of Canada.

A 50-50 proposition and Nova Scotia’s future

July 11, 2014

Like many Catholic parishes, our little flock smack in the middle of Nova Scotia is facing a financial crunch and Canada Day serves as one of our biggest moneymakers.

Resist being neutered

July 11, 2014

Should we be jubilant or alarmed that a Jewish kid from Calgary was the one who stood up for Canada’s Christians against a blatant act of political discrimination? Equal parts both.

Shunning the bad shepherd

July 11, 2014

How should malfeasant bishops be held accountable on matters of sexual abuse? Pope Francis, in his meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse this week, committed the Church to punishing bishops who have been negligent in removing from ministry abusive priests.

Malcolm Muggeridge’s words still ring true

July 11, 2014

In 1975 I was five years into a career teaching law and had written two law books. I had also struck up an improbable friendship with the internationally known British author and journalist Malcolm Muggeridge, who had recently written an unlikely bestseller called Jesus Rediscovered.

The Spirit guides

July 11, 2014

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) July 20 (Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Psalm 86; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43) The truly great and powerful are those who often choose not to fully exercise their power. Human cultures tend to follow those who can flex their muscles, bully and threaten and coerce others through fear. Even when displays of power are called for, these individuals are prone to using far more than necessary and often in ways that are unjust and lacking in compassion.

On being perpetually distracted

July 11, 2014

There’s a story in the Hindu tradition that runs something like this: God and a man are walking down a road. The man asks God: “What is the world like?” God answers: “I’d like to tell you, but my throat is parched. I need a cup of cold water. If you can go and get me a cup of cold water, I’ll tell you what the world is like.” The man heads off to the nearest house to ask for a cup of cold water. He knocks on the door and it is opened by a beautiful young woman. He asks for a cup of cold water. She answers: “I will gladly get it for you, but it’s just time for the noon meal, why don’t you come in first and eat.” He does.

Sisters invite young women to the ’hood

July 11, 2014

Young women from Toronto are heading to Nunapalooza this summer to check out the Sisterhood.

Meeting God at Steubenville

July 11, 2014

I had the honour of attending the very first Steubenville Conference in Toronto. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but as the weekend unfolded it was evident this wasn’t going to be an ordinary youth conference and that I was about to be changed spiritually. Together with young people from all over Ontario, I came face to face with God.