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April 2016

April 27

Church did not ‘weasel’ out of residential school settlement

April 27, 2016

A $21-million shortfall on a $25-million fundraising campaign was a fiasco, but it wasn’t an attempt to weasel out of the legal or moral obligations Catholics have in the wake of the residential schools tragedy, Grouard-McLennan Archibishop Gerard Pettipas told The Catholic Register.

Austrian bishop says 'no' to border fence on Church property

April 27, 2016

VIENNA – An Austrian bishop said the government may not use Church property to build a border fence to keep out refugees.

Abortion drug to be available by July

April 27, 2016

OTTAWA – With Health Canada expected to make an abortion drug available in July, pro-life groups and doctors are concerned with how it will change perceptions surrounding abortion.

Pro-life MPs face quandary over assisted-suicide bill

April 27, 2016

OTTAWA – Pro-life MPs are accepting that the battle against assisted suicide is one that can’t be won, but are looking at ways they can help implement protections for vulnerable people.

Pope advances sainthood causes of Irish Jesuit, Albanian martyrs

April 27, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis advanced the sainthood cause of an Irish Jesuit, who was raised Anglican, and dedicated his life to the sick and the dying as well as the cause of 38 Albanian martyrs killed during the communist persecution of Christians.

We all have a role in God’s divine plan

April 27, 2016

Ascension of the Lord (Year C) May 8 (Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:17-23; Luke 24:46-53) What is it like to ascend to the heavens? The sight of astronauts floating effortlessly around a space station or outside on a repair mission has become so commonplace that it doesn’t even elicit much comment. When we read the account of the Ascension in Acts, it seems to pale in comparison to the accomplishments of our own time.

Good always triumphs over evil

April 27, 2016

The stone which rolled away from the tomb of Jesus continues to roll away from every sort of grave. Goodness cannot be held, captured or put to death. It evades its pursuers, escapes capture, slips away, hides out, even leaves the churches sometimes, but forever rises, again and again, all over the world. Such is the meaning of the Resurrection.

April 28

German cardinal tarred as ‘Antichrist’ for defending Muslims

April 28, 2016

A German Catholic leader’s defense of religious freedom has triggered a backlash following anti-Muslim statements by far-right politicians in the country.

Vatican finance watchdog notes jump in reports of suspicious activity

April 28, 2016

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican's financial watchdog agency reported a huge jump in the number of financial transactions flagged as "suspicious" and in the value of assets it has blocked or frozen. During 2015, the Financial Intelligence Authority "received 544 reports of suspicious activities — almost three times as many as 2014," it said in its annual report, released April 28.

Russia's Catholic, Orthodox to rebuild church buildings in Syria

April 28, 2016

WARSAW, Poland – Russia's Catholic Church has launched a joint project with Russian Orthodox leaders to rebuild churches and monasteries destroyed during the war in Syria.

There is always resistance in the Church to surprises of the Spirit

April 28, 2016

There is always resistance to the surprises of the Spirit, but it’s the Spirit who continues to lead the Church forward. That was Pope Francis’ message at Mass on Thursday at the Santa Marta chapel as he reflected on the reading about division and resistance within the early Church in Jerusalem.

Church is no longer a ’Church of the poor,’ says Indian theologian

April 28, 2016

COCHIN, India – One of the prominent female Catholic theologians in India said the Church has lost its identity as “Church of the poor.”

Protect health workers

April 28, 2016

The federal government’s assisted-suicide legislation is chilling both for what it says and what it doesn’t say.

Lebanese cardinal calls for EU to help end Mideast conflicts

April 28, 2016

BRUSSELS – Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai urged the international community and the European Parliament to stop the wars in the Middle East through dialogue, and he called for a return of the displaced to their countries of origin.

April 29

In Newfoundland, hope is on the rise

April 29, 2016

ST. JOHN’S, NFLD. – There it was, on the front page of the St. John’s Telegram, a detailed discussion of the sacramental seal of the confessional, and rather fairly done too.

Priest pleas for mercy for Windsor high school student found to be 29

April 29, 2016

WINDSOR, ONT. – Fr. Nichola Mauro-Iko of Windsor’s St. Alphonsus parish is pleading for mercy from Canadian authorities for a 29-year-old South Sudanese man in custody for portraying himself as a 17-year-old high school student to remain in Canada.

Suspects arrested in alleged plot against Vatican, Israeli embassy

April 29, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Italian authorities arrested six suspects who allegedly received orders from the Islamic State terrorist group to attack the Vatican and the Israeli embassy in Rome.

Vatican prosecution witnesses testify at 'VatiLeaks' trial

April 29, 2016

VATICAN CITY – The first witnesses called by the Vatican prosecution in a case involving leaked documents testified about suspicious secret meetings and excessive photocopying of sensitive documents.

Pope meets American vice president Biden

April 29, 2016

When U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is honoured next month at the University of Notre Dame, the icon of Catholic higher education in the United States, he will arrive amid sharp criticisms over his appearance.

Toronto conference to explore women and diaconate

April 29, 2016

TORONTO – If a woman comes down the aisle carrying the book of the Gospels, and if she later stands at the ambo to read the Gospel and preach on it, would your parish cease to be Catholic?