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August 2014

August 13

Cloud removed from Caledonia pastor as computer porn suspicions prove false

August 13, 2014

Two months after the OPP seized a computer from St. Patrick’s parish in Caledonia, Ont., looking for child porn, police have returned the computer and closed the investigation — no child porn, just annoying pop-up advertising the computer’s firewalls were not equipped to block.

Redemptorists to pay $20-million in Quebec abuse suit

August 13, 2014

The Redemptorists of Canada have agreed to pay $20 million to settle claims from a sexual-abuse lawsuit filed in Quebec.

Pope Francis to U.N.: Act to end the tragedy in Iraq

August 13, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis formally asked U.N. agencies and the entire international community "to take action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway" in northeastern Iraq.

Healing after black teen's shooting 'in Jesus' hands'

August 13, 2014

FERGUSON, Mo. - Against the backdrop of demonstrations and unrest, some of it violent, that has followed the Aug. 9 killing of an unarmed black teenager by police in Ferguson, members of a local Catholic parish did perhaps the only thing they could — they prayed.

U.S. must ‘destroy’ Islamic State, say religious conservatives

August 13, 2014

A coalition of more than 50 U.S. religious leaders, led by mostly conservative Catholic, evangelical and Jewish activists, is calling on President Barack Obama to sharply escalate military action against Islamic extremists in Iraq. They say “nothing short of the destruction” of the Islamic State can protect Christians and religious minorities now being subjected to “a campaign of genocide.”

August 14

Families of Korean ferry accident appeal to Pope for justice

August 14, 2014

SEOUL, South Korea - Families of the victims of the April Sewol ferry accident appealed directly to Pope Francis for justice on the eve of his Aug. 14-18 Korean visit.

In South Korea, Pope Francis calls for peace, democracy and social justice

August 14, 2014

SEOUL, South Korea - Starting his first visit to Asia, Pope Francis urged South Korean political and civic leaders to seek peace on their divided peninsula and strengthen their nation's commitment to democracy and social justice.

No favourites, only justice, compassion

August 14, 2014

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Aug. 24 (Isaiah 22:15, 19-23; Psalm 138; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20) No one has an absolute right to a position of trust and authority. Along with authority there is responsibility and accountability, and however slowly the wheels of justice turn they grind exceedingly fine. Shebna discovered this to his chagrin when he was fired by one against whom there is no appeal — God. The people of Israel believed God raised up individuals to govern the nation, but they were also positive God could and would dismiss anyone who abused that trust.

Finding meaning is essential to life

August 14, 2014

Jesse is in a tough spot. Having lost his business after personal troubles, he lives on a small pension. His grown-up children visit once in a while, bringing the grandkids, but he has few social contacts and seems unneeded in the world. How has he coped? “Faith in God” is his ready response to this question. Yet he’s angry with God, too, with himself, and with the systems that didn’t rescue him.

Iraqi minorities need more than material aid, cardinal says

August 14, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The one thing Iraqi Church leaders and aid workers, foreign charities and governments cannot do for the displaced and terrorized people of northeastern Iraq is answer their question, "What will become of us?" said Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the Pope's envoy to the region.

Western leaders press governments to help Iraqi minorities

August 14, 2014

WASHINGTON - Western leaders pressed their governments to increase humanitarian efforts on behalf of persecuted Christians and other minorities in northern Iraq.

August 15

Aid agencies try to 'pick up the pieces' in Gaza

August 15, 2014

AMMAN, Jordan - A senior Catholic aid official said humanitarian agencies are "trying to pick up the pieces" of Gaza's badly destroyed infrastructure, desperately hoping that the declared truce between Israel and the militant Hamas will hold.

At stadium Mass, pope tells Koreans to resist materialism

August 15, 2014

SEOUL, South Korea - Celebrating Mass before some 50,000 people, Pope Francis prayed that Christian values overcome demoralization in economically successful societies.

Pope says forgiveness key to reconciling divided Korea

August 15, 2014

SEOUL, South Korea - Addressing young people from Korea and other Asian countries on their concerns about the future, Pope Francis said the best hope for reunification of the divided Korean peninsula lay in brotherly love and a spirit of forgiveness.

August 16

Martin Scorsese to direct movie about Jesuit mission to 17th-century Japan

August 16, 2014

Although evangelical moviemakers have been in the spotlight lately with features such as Son of God and God’s Not Dead, at least one other prominent, mainstream director is also turning — or returning — to religion.

Canadians pack Quebec cathedral for funeral of Father Raymond Gravel

August 16, 2014

JOLIETTE, Quebec - St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral was packed as Bishop Gilles Lussier and several priests concelebrated the funeral of Father Raymond Gravel, an outspoken social activist and advocate for Quebec independence.

800,000 watch as Pope Francis moves 124 Korean martyrs closer to sainthood

August 16, 2014

SEOUL, South Korea - Pope Francis placed 124 Korean martyrs on the last step toward sainthood in a beatification Mass Aug. 16 that brought elation to the 800,000 people in attendance.

August 17

Robin Williams' death reignites questions about suicide

August 17, 2014

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - After 35 years of providing counseling and a Catholic outreach to families with a loved one who died by suicide, Fr. Charles Rubey has consulted on more than his share of the resulting funerals or wakes.

Pope Francis calls on Catholics to dialogue with China, other Asian societies

August 17, 2014

SEOUL, South Korea - Speaking at the execution site of anonymous Korean martyrs, Pope Francis told Catholic bishops and young laypeople from across Asia to evangelize their continent through dialogue and openness, even with others suspicious or intolerant of the church. But he also urged them to challenge aspects of their cultures incompatible with Christian values.

August 18

New evangelization program launched at Saint Paul's University

August 18, 2014

OTTAWA - A summer course on new evangelization at Saint Paul University has given Shauna Healey lessons and confidence to better know and share her faith.