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December 2015

December 1

Palestinian Authority limits Christmas celebrations in West Bank

December 1, 2015

BETHLEHEM, West Bank - The Palestinian Authority has asked municipalities to tone down their public Christmas celebrations this year amid escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis.

Climate deal must be transformative, papal envoy tells leaders in Paris

December 1, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Heads of state discussing carbon emission limits must create a global and "transformative" agreement built on justice, solidarity and fairness, a papal representative told the U.N. climate conference in Paris.

African bishops praise caregivers of people with HIV, AIDS

December 1, 2015

ACCRA, Ghana - As the Year of Mercy neared, the bishops of Africa and Madagascar held up the work of families and local faith communities in caring for people with AIDS as a strong example of unconditional love.

Northern Ireland's bishops call court ruling on abortion 'disquieting'

December 1, 2015

DUBLIN - The Catholic bishops of Northern Ireland have described as "profoundly disquieting" a ruling by the High Court that the region's ban on abortion in all but very limited circumstances breaches human rights legislation.

December 2

Pope Francis reflects on his trip to Africa and the importance of missionary work

December 2, 2015

In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis told those present about his recent trip to Africa and spoke about the importance of missionary work. Speaking in St Peter's Square on Wednesday morning, he emphasized the value of living one’s life in the way of Christ by helping others.

Judge puts Quebec euthanasia law on hold

December 2, 2015

MONTREAL - Quebec’s right to die legislation has been put on hold.

Potential terrorists threatened Pope, say police in Italy, Kosovo

December 2, 2015

BRESCIA, Italy - Italian State Police in Brescia, working with their counterparts in Kosovo, announced Dec. 1 that they had taken action against four Kosovars they believed to be terrorist risks and who, police said, made threats on social media against Pope Francis.

Homeless, poor get star treatment at Vatican movie premiere

December 2, 2015

VATICAN CITY - The usual fanfare that comes with the world premiere of a movie is pretty standard: the lights and cameras, the celebrities walking down the red carpet and screaming fans trying to catch a glimpse of their favourite actors.

December 3

Thousands rally for a ‘Climate of Change’

December 3, 2015

OTTAWA - A message was delivered loud and clear from parishes to Paris in a global wave of protests Nov. 29.

Mass murder and the problem with prayer

December 3, 2015

By now, everyone with an internet connection knows about the San Bernardino, California shooting that claimed the lives of at least 14 people.

Let’s keep Advent in Christmas

December 3, 2015

I spent the eve of Advent polishing the makeshift communion rail in our little wooden church. All around me parishioners vacuumed the rafters or cleaned the windows or mopped the floors. Someone had decided that this year we should clean the church for Christmas, and I thought that a great idea.

Africa rising

December 3, 2015

Pope Francis is the fourth pope in almost 50 years to visit Africa but his recent three-nation trip was the first by a pontiff from the global south, which meant he could speak both from his heart and from shared experience.

Gentle Revolution: Pope wants Year of Mercy to tenderly transform world

December 3, 2015

VATICAN CITY - When Pope Francis planned the Year of Mercy and the opening of the Holy Door, he did not mean to give the starting signal for a frenzied wave of pilgrims to Rome.

In El Salvador, families say U.S. churchwomen's work lives on

December 3, 2015

SANTIAGO NONUALCO, El Salvador - North Americans and Salvadorans gathered Dec. 2 at the precise spot where four churchwomen were killed 35 years ago to emphasize that their work for the country's poor remains alive.

Why thoughts and prayers don’t belong on Twitter

December 3, 2015

The mass shooting in San Bernardino, CA, has killed at least 14 people and wounded 17. It’s one of the deadlier mass shootings of this year, which is an absurd sentence to even have to type, and in the wake of it many people have been doing what comes naturally: taking to Twitter. In some strange ways, it feels like the big room we all want to be in, to mourn and get information and express the opinions we can’t share with our co-workers or family members or the bus driver.

San Bernardino bishop urges prayers for unity, healing after shootings

December 3, 2015

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - San Bernardino Bishop Gerald Barnes urged people to pray for unity and healing after the mass shooting in San Bernardino Dec. 2 that left 14 people dead and 21 others wounded.

Canadian aid to refugees expected to top $1 billion

December 3, 2015

Another $100 million in federal government aid to Syrian refugees fleeing their nation’s civil war brings Canada’s spending on the refugee crisis so far to nearly $1 billion. But a dollar-for-dollar matching fund open until Dec. 31 with approved charities is certain to push Canada’s aid to the region well past that mark.

December 4

The Virgin Mary’s powerful example

December 4, 2015

National Geographic recently named the Virgin Mary as the world’s most powerful woman. What an honour as Catholics to have our Mother seen to hold such a beautiful and mighty role on Earth, and to get this recognition from the secular world.

Choir school marks 50 years of Christmas at Massey

December 4, 2015

TORONTO - For many Torontonians, regardless of religion, the St. Michael’s Choir School Christmas concert marks the beginning of the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Christmas season.

Churches ahead of government in resettling Syrian refugees

December 4, 2015

The federal government has rewritten its timeline to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada this year and acknowledges that to resettle them here by the end of February is an enormous challenge.