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October 2014

October 15

Euthanasia opposition needs to be framed in non-religious terms

October 15, 2014

TORONTO - In the fight against legalized euthanasia, Margaret Somerville said pro-lifers must “sanitize” their language, mostly by framing the debate in non-religious terms.

Archbishop hopes Synod's final report will 'refine and clarify'

October 15, 2014

VATICAN CITY - U.S. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz said he hoped the final report of the Synod of Bishops on the family would improve on the assembly's midterm report in celebrating exemplary families, encouraging missionary outreach and emphasizing that the Church's pastoral efforts must be grounded in Scripture and Catholic teaching.

October 16

‘The Gospel without joy is not the Gospel’

October 16, 2014

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Oct. 26 (Exodus 22:21-27; Psalm 18; 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40) Remember who you were and what it felt like to be abused and oppressed. Exodus addressed this admonition and guidance to the Israelites but it is also meant for us. The people of Israel were reminded to remember the bitterness and suffering of slavery in Egypt in all of their dealings with other people. It is a variation on the Golden Rule — if you didn’t like the way you were treated, then don’t treat others in the same manner.

Anglican, Lutheran delegates say Synod's concerns are theirs, too

October 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Upholding the Christian ideal of marriage and family life while also reaching out to those whose lives do not reflect that ideal is a pastoral challenge faced by all Christian communities, said the Anglican representative to the Synod of Bishops.

Model Canadians

October 16, 2014

The year-long celebration of the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Quebec reached into the Vatican on Oct. 12 with a papal Mass to honour Canada’s two newest saints.

Perhaps the actors should stick to acting

October 16, 2014

I always remember Ben Affleck in that grotesquely inadequate movie Pearl Harbour, in which his character, before beating the entire Japanese military, volunteers to fight for the RAF in the Battle of Britain. The RAF, of course, that was in 1940 composed of a mere handful of Americans but thousands of British, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Poles and Czechs. Ben in this movie is the best of the best, shows the others how to fly and, to the incredulity of the awe-struck Scottish fitter of Ben’s Spitfire — the wrong model for 1940 but we’ll let that pass — takes off to defeat the Luftwaffe even though he’s outnumbered and sure to die. That’s Ben though, heroic all through.

Supreme Court's ruling on assisted suicide two decades ago 'still good law'

October 16, 2014

OTTAWA - The lawyer arguing the Attorney General of Canada's case against legalization of assisted suicide said the court has already spoken on the matter and its previous decision "is still good law."

The money debate: root of evil or springboard to happiness?

October 16, 2014

In a recent column, I mentioned the old biblical warning that money is the root of all evil and that sure set off a lively debate with my wife.

Solution for divorced Catholics is already there

October 16, 2014

There just needs to be more attention paid to annulments

Fatherless at the depth of our being

October 16, 2014

Anthropologists tell us that father hunger, a frustrated desire to be blessed by our own fathers, is one of the deepest hungers in the world today, especially among men. Millions of people sense that they have not received their father’s blessing. Robert Bly, Robert Moore, Richard Rohr and James Hillman, among others, offer some rich insights into this.

Cardinal says balancing truth, mercy always difficult, always needed

October 16, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna, one of the Catholic Church's best known cardinal-theologians, said the Catholic Church must hold together truth and mercy, even if it is criticized for its attempt.

St. Joseph's Health Centre aims to extend legacy of its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph

October 16, 2014

TORONTO - Over the next five years, St. Joseph’s Health Centre plans to do its job better by including patients in decisions, consulting its diverse community and connecting people to the services that will make them healthier.

October 17

Canadian saints example of missionary good

October 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY - At a Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of Canada’s two newest saints, Pope Francis said missionaries do enormous good for the Church by bringing God’s love to the far corners of the Earth and by keeping the Church healthy and fruitful.

Faith still food for the stage

October 17, 2014

TORONTO - I expected much worse when I sat down recently to watch The Book of Mormon musical at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre.

Faith on campus a recruiting asset

October 17, 2014

TORONTO - As due dates for university applications are fast approaching, many Catholic students are taking time to consider faith before making any final decisions.

Bishops’ debate over gays: Lost in translation?

October 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The tug-of-war at the Vatican over calls for the Catholic Church to be more open to gays and cohabiting couples intensified Oct. 16 as conservative bishops sought to rein in or renounce draft language they feared might condone lifestyles not in accord with Church teachings.

Synod working groups emphasize beauty of marriage, church teaching

October 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY - The extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family must put greater focus on the beauty of the Christian vision of marriage and not let an approach of "welcoming" and mercy override the Church's duty to call people to turn away from sin, according to a number of reports from the Synod's small groups.

Synod says no to 'secular agenda,' Cardinal Pell says

October 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Cardinal George Pell said working-group reports from the Synod of Bishops on the family finally give a true picture of the assembly's views, counteracting what he characterized as a misleading midterm report.

Hunger in a world of wasted food is a tragic paradox, Pope says

October 17, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Providing food aid to people in need is not enough to eradicate world hunger, Pope Francis said.

October 18

Catholic family loses deporation battle

October 18, 2014

MONTREAL - A Catholic family from Cameroon has been deported after losing an emotional appeal to remain in Canada where two of their children were born. They were put on a plane Oct. 11 to Yaounde, the capital of the West African nation.