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November 2014

November 6

Bonhoeffer’s conscience condemned him to a martyrs’ death

November 6, 2014

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor executed by the Nazis in the dying days of the Second World War, has been recognized (perhaps by Protestant more than Catholic theologians) as one of the leading Christian thinkers of the 20th century. He was that, but he was much more: visionary, prophet, spy and martyr.

A Catholic education is a unique education

November 6, 2014

Recently I had the opportunity to meet with some parents who were looking at enrolling their children in a Catholic school. They made that decision because of their own experiences of Catholic education, but also because of their participation in a program run by a number of our school boards called “We’ve Been Waiting For You.”

Church protests beating deaths of Pakistani Christian couple accused of blasphemy

November 6, 2014

THRISSUR, India - Catholic leaders in Pakistan protested the Nov. 4 beatings and burning of a young Christian couple accused of desecrating the Quran.

Priest among five convicted of bishop's 2005 slaying in Kenya

November 6, 2014

NAIROBI, Kenya - A Catholic priest was among five people found guilty and sentenced to death for the 2005 slaying of Italian Bishop Luigi Locati.

November 7

First encounter with the ‘Final Embrace’

November 7, 2014

On Oct. 20, I visited the World Press Photo exhibit at Brookfield Place in Toronto. The exhibition had prize-winning photographs assembled by World Press Photo, the organizers of “the world’s largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest.” As an amateur photographer, I went looking for inspiration. I received so much more than that.

Catholic matchmaking

November 7, 2014

TORONTO - Matthew Sanders is calling the young and the Catholic to the Newman Centre for the re-launch of Catholic Singles Socials.

Del Grande back in his ‘true vocation’

November 7, 2014

TORONTO - Michael Del Grande has come full circle, reclaiming his old seat as a trustee with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, and plans to use his connections to tap into funds that are there for the asking.

Catholics, Anglicans to bring ‘Pilgrims Together’

November 7, 2014

TORONTO - Convinced that Church unity can only be the result of devout prayer and serious thinking, Anglicans and Catholics are getting together to do both at St. James Anglican Cathedral in Toronto Nov. 9.

Be awake to spiritual opportunities

November 7, 2014

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Nov. 16 (Proverbs 31:10-13, 16-18, 20, 26, 28-31; Psalm 128; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30) The job description of a good wife in the Book of Proverbs is daunting. The described individual is a combination of social worker, business woman, mother and companion. One can only hope that equal standards apply to the husband in question.

The unhappy cost of resentment

November 7, 2014

It’s not only love that makes the world go round. Resentment too is prominent in stirring the drink. In so many ways our world is drowning in resentment. Everywhere you look, it seems, someone is bitter about something and breathing out resentment.

Archbishop says Nigeria must find political will to stop Islamist militants

November 7, 2014

MANCHESTER, England - The president of the Nigerian bishops' conference said his country's government could defeat the Boko Haram Islamist militant group if it could muster the same political will it found to fight Ebola.

Skepticism greets update to Live-in Caregivers Program

November 7, 2014

TORONTO - Months of closed-door conversations, community consultations and a lack of follow-up communication leaves Faye Arellano skeptical about the federal government’s intentions to clear up the Live-in Caregivers Program’s backlog.

Backers of Tennessee abortion measure credit prayer, Church support for passage

November 7, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Supporters of Amendment 1 said the measure to restore Tennessee lawmakers' authority to regulate abortion passed Nov. 4 because of the backing by Catholic and other religious leaders and their churches.

Former Kingston priest nine new sex assault charges

November 7, 2014

A former priest of the Archdiocese of Kingston faced nine additional sexual assault charges when he appeared Nov. 5 in a Kingston court on previous sex charges.

Cardinal delivers message of joy to packed audience

November 7, 2014

TORONTO - Christians must pay attention to the reality of evil but do so with hope-filled joy, Cardinal Thomas Collins told a packed hall at the annual Cardinal's dinner.

November 8

Christ as the centre of life

November 8, 2014

Soul of Christ: Meditations on a Timeless Prayer, Sr. Marie Paul Curley (Pauline Books & Media, 161 pages, $17.50). Your relationship with Christ is not just for Sunday, says Sr. Marie Paul Curley.

Need for Out of the Cold spreads

November 8, 2014

TORONTO - It’s Out of The Cold season in Toronto. That means thousands of volunteers working in church basements, mosques and synagogues over the cold winter months to keep the homeless safe.

Preparations underway for next Synod

November 8, 2014

With another, bigger Synod coming next October to discuss Christian family life, Canadian bishops are beginning to ask themselves: “What next?”

November 9

When puppets meet Syrian refugees, healing begins for children

November 9, 2014

BEIRUT - Syrian children who have seen their houses bombed and family members killed are using string, glue, socks, beads and other odds and ends to help put their lives back together.

To heart of Europe: Pope expected to talk dignity, jobs, family life

November 9, 2014

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis, who has called the Catholic Church to go out to the peripheries and who described himself as coming from "the end of the Earth," will visit the heart of European secular and economic power: the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.