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January 2015

January 29

Teach all peoples, of all nationalities, the word of God [2015 Friars' Essay 3rd place]

January 29, 2015

Editor’s note: this is the third place essay in the annual contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sponsored by The Catholic Register and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor. Michael Bellucci is a student at Toronto's Bishop Allen Academy. The passage of John 4: 1-42 tells us how Jesus travelled to Samaria and did an almost unspeakable thing for that time. He associated himself with a Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans had a long-standing prejudice towards each other and they never got along. When Jesus went to a well to get water, He spoke with a woman who was not only a Samaritan, but had five husbands and was looked down upon in her community. When Jesus spoke to the woman, even she was astonished He was talking to her.

Division hurts the Christian body [2015 Friars' Essay 2nd place]

January 29, 2015

Editor’s note: this is the second-place essay in the annual contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sponsored by The Catholic Register and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor. Veronica Marie Carswell is a student at Toronto's Don Bosco Secondary School. In a good world, everyone would be accepted and respected despite their differences. In a perfect world, everyone would be accepted and respected because of their differences.

A call to unity [2015 winning entry for the Friars' Essay Contest]

January 29, 2015

Editor’s note: this is the winning essay in the annual contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sponsored by The Catholic Register and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor. Angela Grace Tabucan is in Grade 12 at St. Brother André Catholic High School in Markham, Ont. Often in our world Catholics tend to have a great discomfort when talking about or communicating with those of other Christian denominations. John 4:1-42 tells of Jesus and the woman of Samaria, and shows Jesus reaching out of His own Jewish community to speak with this woman. Christ is always found seeking community with others and when we embrace Christian unity we further grow in communion, strength and in love with Him.

Each family has its differences

January 29, 2015

When the U.S. Supreme Court declared it will rule in the coming weeks whether same-sex marriage will be extended nationwide, the esteemed New York Times and others called the issue “one of the great civil rights questions of the age.”

In Fr. McBrien’s passing, the Church’s liberal standard bearer moves on

January 29, 2015

The ranks of the priest-columnists are not few, but we are one fewer with the death of Fr. Richard McBrien on Jan. 26. He had both great longevity — more than four decades of syndicated weekly columns, with his home at the National Catholic Reporter — and great influence. In the 1980s, he was the go-to source for Catholic stories. The chairman of the theology department at the University of Notre Dame, he appeared constantly in the leading American newspapers and on television, an influence that extended into Canada.

More relativism, denial

January 29, 2015

So there I was in Tampa, Florida, a couple of weeks ago between speaking engagements for Legatus, the organization for Catholic business people. I was killing some time flicking through TV news channels and soon discovered that most of the hosts and guests were uttering complete nonsense about the Islamist slaughters in France and evincing an ignorance of Islam that was only rivalled by their ignorance of Europe. Then, on CNN, appeared a Canadian: Zarqa Nawaz, creator of the CBC sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie. Still, at least she was a Canadian, so I sat back and listened.

Mary Wagner’s bravery is in not minding her own business

January 29, 2015

On Dec. 27, 1989, I was arrested outside a Toronto abortion business, thrown into a police van and locked in a cell for hours. So were about 74 other people, including at least one priest. The CBC reported 80.

Combat racism

January 29, 2015

A recent cover story in Maclean’s magazine christened Winnipeg as Canada’s most racist city. Even if it were possible to prove that claim — that Winnipeg is more bigoted than Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, etc. — censuring one Canadian city that way is an unworthy exercise.

Christian unity opens minds [2015 Friars' Essay Contest]

January 29, 2015

TORONTO - At one point in her life, Angela Tabucan didn’t believe in Christian unity. But now she has seen the light.

Why we bother with Lent

January 29, 2015

How do you climb a sheer rock face, 900 metres tall (that’s almost two CN Towers), with one difficult section stacked on another all the way up? Why would you climb it? And with whom?

God’s love embraces all denominations

January 29, 2015

Christian de Cherge, the Trappist Abbott who was martyred in Algeria in 1996, was fond of sharing this story: He had a very close Muslim friend, Mohammed, and the two of them used to pray together, even as they remained aware of their differences, as Muslim and Christian.

Hope, perseverance will see us through

January 29, 2015

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Feb. 8 (Job 7:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39) When things go reasonably well and we are basically happy, then life itself seems positive and even joyful. But when illness, personal failures, pain and misfortunes make their appearance, our world can change in an instant. Life can seem negative, painful, dreary and futile. Even the things that used to bring us joy lose their lustre.

Archbishop welcomes Greece's new government, hopes for changes

January 29, 2015

WARSAW, Poland - A Greek Catholic leader welcomed his country's new anti-austerity government and predicted Catholics would benefit from changes.

San Francisco priest bars altar girls, sparks another controversy

January 29, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO - A Catholic priest who recently took charge of a San Francisco parish has said only boys can be altar servers, a move that is sparking both criticism and praise and comes amid a wider debate over conservative concerns that the Catholic Church has become too “feminized.”

Covenant House partners with city to aid sex-trade workers

January 29, 2015

TORONTO - Covenant House is stepping up to give young women and girls caught in the grip of the sex trade a way out.

Feed my sheep: Archbishops to receive palliums at home with their flock

January 29, 2015

VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis celebrates the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in June, he will set aside an element that has been part of the Mass for the past 32 years; the Vatican confirmed he will not confer the pallium on new archbishops during the liturgy.

January 30

Income splitting, child benefit likely safe bets

January 30, 2015

OTTAWA - A drop in oil prices has played havoc with federal government financial projections and raised doubts whether the federal government can balance the budget, but observers say election promises that would benefit families are unlikely to be affected.

Ecumenism means theological dialogue, joint work for peace, Pope says

January 30, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Even as their theological dialogues continue in the search for full agreement on doctrinal issues, divided Christians are called to work together for justice and peace, especially in the Middle East, Pope Francis said.

January 31

Family of Faith is bringing pastor closer to his flock

January 31, 2015

MARKHAM, ONT. - Fr. Francis Chong admits he was nervous about asking his parishioners for $490,000. Today he is delighted at how his prayers were answered to the tune of $1.5 million — and counting.