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February 2015

February 26

Where the Christians’ cries go unheard

February 26, 2015

Twenty-one Christians had their throats cut on a Libyan beach facing Europe — or so their murderers want us to think. Some shots may be faked — ocean and sand added with video tricks. Even so, the massacre was a message to Europe, meaning “You’re next.” The Islamic so-called State hopes to invade Rome and fly its black flag over St. Peter’s Basilica.

Politician calls for coalition airstrikes to help Syrian Christians

February 26, 2015

AMMAN, Jordan - A prominent Syrian Christian political leader has called for U.S.-led coalition forces to use airstrikes to aid fellow Christian and Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State militants following reports of flagrant abductions and church burnings in northwest Syria.

Welcoming nation

February 26, 2015

A splendid idea percolated last month out of Montreal, where Archbishop Christian Lepine and Mayor Denis Coderre invited Pope Francis to visit Quebec in 2017.

Britain legalizes modifying germ line to fight disease

February 26, 2015

MANCHESTER, England - Britain has become the first country in the world to legalize the genetic modification of the human germ line in an attempt to fight inherited diseases, but Catholic officials oppose the procedures.

Islamic State refugees grow disgruntled

February 26, 2015

SANLIURFA, Turkey - Hassan, a chain-smoking 20-year-old from Syria, sits in a cafe across the border from his homeland, one of thousands who escaped the clutches of the Islamic State group.

St. Francis Table is in dire need of volunteers

February 26, 2015

TORONTO - St. Francis Table is hungrier than ever for volunteers to feed those being starved by poverty.

February 27

My identity is defined in Christ

February 27, 2015

“What are you?” That is a great question — and it is not one that I am asked much. Honestly, I am glad people do not ask this of me often, because I rarely know what people want to know when they ask.

Antarctic youth expedition inspires profound revelation

February 27, 2015

Editor’s note: Robert Adragna, a 16-year-old student at Toronto’s Bishop Allen Academy, spent his Christmas break experiencing the beauty of Antarctica through the Students on Ice Antarctic Youth Expedition. Here he shares insights on his journey to the final southern frontier and how it relates to our Creator. Antarctica — the vast, white, mysterious continent at the farthest reaches of the southern hemisphere. Some see it as a land of untamed wilderness, others as a land of science and research. To me, the meaning of Antarctica transcends the boundaries of our physical world. It is a living testament to God’s almighty presence on Earth and a symbol of our obedient but benevolent relationship with Him.

Central African archbishop compares his people to Israelites in desert

February 27, 2015

BANGUI, Central African Republic - An archbishop in Central African Republic compared citizens of his country to the people of Israel wandering in the desert and urged them to use the Pope's planned autumn visit to escape from their "prolonged crisis."

Melkite, Orthodox patriarchs urge world to work to solve Syrian crisis

February 27, 2015

BEIRUT - Two Syrian-born patriarchs separately urged the international community to work together to address the crisis in Syria and the region.

Lenten fast for climate action

February 27, 2015

TORONTO - Catholics around the world are participating in a 40-day Lenten fast to pray for unity in the Catholic Church and among world leaders in addressing climate change.

Latvian Church officials wary of regional propaganda wars

February 27, 2015

WARSAW, Poland - Catholic officials in Latvia are trying to stay out of the region's ideological war with neighboUring Russia.

February 28

Losing their religion: More women join the unspiritual set

February 28, 2015

Nadia Bulkin, 27, the daughter of a Muslim father and a Christian mother, spends “zero time” thinking about God.

During shroud display, Turin reaches out to women who have aborted

February 28, 2015

ROME - With the aim of ensuring that the public display of the Shroud of Turin promotes conversion and healing, the archbishop of Turin has given priests throughout the archdiocese special faculties to offer absolution to women who confess to having had an abortion.

770-year-old papal bull purchased by UBC

February 28, 2015

VANCOUVER - The University of British Columbia has acquired a 770-year old papal bull signed and sealed by Pope Innocent IV that is thought to be the oldest existing papal document in Canada.

Seven Lenten steps to prepare for Christ

February 28, 2015

Lent should be a time for Catholics to spiritually prepare for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection and less about forgoing materialistic things.

Romero biography suffers through identity crisis

February 28, 2015

Oscar Romero: Love Must Win Out by Kevin Clarke (Novalis, 164 pages, softcover, $14.95). The life and death of Archbishop Oscar Romero raises questions as relevant to Catholics today as they were when Romero’s native El Salvador was struggling through years of violence and injustice. How and when should Church officials take sides in the political affairs of nations? What brings a person of privilege to a radical change of heart? How can such a person come to be in solidarity with the poor?

Adding faith to climate conversation

February 28, 2015

Fossil Free Faith has launched a new program recruiting youth to lead the conversation in their faith communities about divesting in fossil fuel companies.

Scattering ashes not the reverent way to treat remains

February 28, 2015

Scattering the ashes of the recently departed is a rising trend in Vancouver despite the practice breaking both civil and Canon Law.