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July 2015

July 18

No reason to celebrate as same-sex marriage turns 10

July 18, 2015

OTTAWA - On July 20, 2005 same-sex marriage became legal in Canada. Ten years later, Canada has experienced a steady erosion of religious freedom and conscience rights, undergone negative changes in sex education and parental rights, while also seeing a shift in the rights of children, according to several observers.

July 19

Prayers, sympathy shared after Tennessee shootings

July 19, 2015

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - An outpouring of sympathy and prayer washed over Tennessee for the victims of the July 16 shootings that left four Marines and the shooter dead.

Planned Parenthood video 'horrifying, heartbreaking,' says U.S. congresswoman

July 19, 2015

WASHINGTON - A video of a Planned Parenthood physician describing her procedures for keeping fetal organs intact during an abortion is "horrifying and heartbreaking," said U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Missouri.

Vancouver mayor to meet Pope at climate conference

July 19, 2015

VANCOUVER - Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is to meet with Pope Francis July 21 to discuss climate change.

Respected educator Kostoff stepping down

July 19, 2015

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - After spending the better part of four decades with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, John Kostoff will soon be saying goodbye.

Ukrainian priest says his emotional captivity was worse than physical

July 19, 2015

LVIV, Ukraine - Ukrainian Catholic Father Tykhon Kulbaka was headed to the chapel in the room rented by the local Catholic community. En route, he stopped at a grocery store, where four men grabbed him, blindfolded him and made him breathe chloroform.

Angela Kirby fighting MS around the world, 5 km at a time

July 19, 2015

PICKERING, ONT. - Angela Kirby believes in living life to its fullest and won’t let the challenges of multiple sclerosis get in her way. Diagnosed with MS at the age of 50, she never felt deterred from hiking up mountains and travelling the world.

Good Shepherd beneficiary of doctor’s tri-province Atlantic swim

July 19, 2015

Swimming is fun. So why not do it 22 to 26 hours in 16-to-20-degree water with jellyfish, possible high winds and ocean tides pulling you in various directions? Not every 58-year-old psychiatrist is crazy enough to try it.

Mover and shaker just wanted to be a parish priest

July 19, 2015

TORONTO - Msgr. Ken Robitaille had one ambition — to be a parish priest. It wasn’t to be a mover and shaker behind the scenes setting up the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, or the bishops’ point man negotiating details of full funding for Ontario’s Catholic high schools, or to be rector of one of the busiest cathedrals in North America. He did all those things, and more. His sole ambition was to be a parish priest.

Christians grow weary over rising threat of kidnapping in Syria, Iraq

July 19, 2015

AMMAN, Jordan - Arab Christians are viewing with growing concern and revulsion an uptick in kidnappings of both their clergy and civilians as violence worsens in Syria and Iraq.

July 20

Cardinal Pell takes a swing at Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical

July 20, 2015

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican’s financial chief, Cardinal George Pell, has taken the unusual step of criticizing Pope Francis’ groundbreaking environmental encyclical, arguing the Catholic Church has “no particular expertise in science.”

Francis’ South Korean trip still bearing fruit, says Korean Bishop

July 20, 2015

OTTAWA - A year later, Pope Francis' visit to South Korea continues to bear fruit in the Asian nation, said Daejeon Bishop Lazzaro You.

California governor says Laudato Si' was necessary wake-up call

July 20, 2015

ROME - Elections, like profit reports, have regular short-term rhythms, which is why Pope Francis' encyclical letter on the environment was so "appropriate and absolutely essential" for waking people up to the dangers of climate change, said California Gov. Jerry Brown.

German cardinal says arson attacks on immigrant hostels 'sow hatred'

July 20, 2015

MUNICH - A German Catholic Church leader condemned an arson attack that destroyed a reception centre for asylum seekers.

World travelling Fr. Doyle called Toronto home

July 20, 2015

TORONTO - Fr. Michael Doyle, a Spiritan priest who served around the world but called Toronto home, has died. He was 82.

Philippine archbishop: Protecting environment benefits poorest nations

July 20, 2015

MANILA, Philippines - The president of the Philippine bishops' conference called climate change a matter of social justice and said that caring for Earth should not just be a goal to benefit this generation but also future generations.

July 21

Priest finds frustrations build among Christians in Iraq camp

July 21, 2015

MANCHESTER, England - When the Islamic State overran the Iraqi town of Qaraqosh last August, one of the priests there jumped into his car and joined the exodus of Christians on the road east in the hope of reaching the safety of Kurdish-controlled territory.

Fr. Robert Barron, one of three auxiliary bishops named for Los Angeles

July 21, 2015

WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has named three auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles including Fr. Robert Barron, creator of the Catholicism television series.

World's mayors head to Vatican, vow to tackle climate change, poverty

July 21, 2015

VATICAN CITY - After decades of world leaders trying to set global goals to address climate change and extreme poverty, city mayors gathered at the Vatican to pledge they will take real action and lead the fight on their streets.

July 22

African clergy to protest Obama’s gay-rights ‘agenda’ on trip

July 22, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - Anti-gay activists, including conservative clerics, traditional elders and politicians, are threatening to resist any push by U.S. President Barack Obama for gay rights during his Kenya visit this week, with tactics that range from throwing rotten eggs to marching naked and boycotting his speeches.