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May 2016

May 24

VatiLeaks: Investigator says consultant admitted leaking documents

May 24, 2016

VATICAN CITY – A former consultant to a pontifical commission who denied to a Vatican court that she leaked documents about the Vatican's financial reform to an Italian journalist had admitted to sending the documents when she was first interrogated, a Vatican policeman said.

May 25

Catholic agencies welcome new Office of Freedom and Human Rights

May 25, 2016

OTTAWA – The Office of Religious Freedom is gone but it has not been entirely forgotten by the government that closed it.

Drama, tears washed away at rededicated Toronto peace garden

May 25, 2016

TORONTO – The war over Toronto’s peace garden ended in sunshine, spring flowers and paper cranes from Hiroshima.

Former religious freedom ambassador embarks on new Cardus role

May 25, 2016

OTTAWA – Canadians must be willing to reject a growing perception that religion is a strictly private matter and instead be unafraid to publicly affirm their faith, said Canada’s former Religious Freedom Ambassador Andrew Bennett.

Ottawa archbishop shaken by ‘enormity of evil’ in sex cases

May 25, 2016

OTTAWA – In response to news stories that chronicled several past cases of sexual abuse in the Ottawa archdiocese, archbishop Terrence Prendergast has acknowledged “the enormity of the evil” and pledged greater vigilance in the future.

World organizations make education for child refugees a priority

May 25, 2016

Inspired by the Syrian crisis, a global fund for education for refugee children, announced at the World Humanitarian Summit, was welcomed by aid groups, including Catholic organizations.

St. Mike’s Pontifical Institute honours Muslim leader

May 25, 2016

Muslims and Christians came together May 20 to acknowledge their common history and ancient bonds as Toronto’s Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies awarded His Highness the Aga Khan with its highest degree.

Constitutional lawyers debate limitations of euthanasia bill

May 25, 2016

It’s a question that elicits conflicting opinions from constitutional lawyers who oppose euthanasia and assisted-suicide. They are divided on whether passing Bill C-14 without further amendments is preferable to no bill at all. The Supreme Court has given the government until June 6 to pass a law.

Prayer is no magic wand; it strengthens faith in tough times, pope says

May 25, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Prayer is not a magic wand that fulfills your desires, but it is what helps you keep the faith when you don't understand God's will, Pope Francis said.

Newfoundland's Sisters of Mercy challenge Potash Corp in board room

May 25, 2016

The Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland lost a vote at the May 11 Annual General Meeting of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Inc., but they won attention from the mining giant’s management.

Slovak nun who died in Kenya to be buried in South Sudan, where she served

May 25, 2016

NAIROBI, Kenya – The body of Holy Spirit Missionary Sister Veronika Theresia Rackova, 58, director of St. Bakhita Medical Center in Yei, South Sudan, will be interred in Yei, not in Kenya as earlier planned.

Vatican bank supervisory members step down over management differences

May 25, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Two members of the Vatican bank's board of supervisors handed in their resignation over a difference in opinion concerning the bank's management.

Senators want changes to assisted suicide Bill C-14 before Parliament votes

May 25, 2016

OTTAWA – A Senate committee has recommended that the government amend its controversial assisted-suicide bill to limit access to the terminally ill and to imbed conscience rights for institutions and health workers before the legislation is put to a vote in Parliament.

May 26

Pain, suffering draw us closer to the one who suffered for us

May 26, 2016

It is all but impossible to discuss the multi-dimensional aspects of assisted suicide and euthanasia without a discussion of suffering. Suffering is the underlying factor around which the discussion on euthanasia ultimately takes place.

Mercy puts a credible face on God

May 26, 2016

Among the Ten Commandments, one begins with the word “remember”: “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.” There are commandments of mercy written into our very DNA. We know them, but need to remember them more explicitly. What are they?

God is near to all of us

May 26, 2016

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) June 5 (1 Kings 17:17-21a, 22-24; Psalm 30; Galatians 1:11-19; Luke 7:11-17) Should we ever reproach God for human suffering? People have usually been reluctant to do so, and they spend a lot of effort try to vindicate God.

Youth Rally igniting the flame of mercy with young people

May 26, 2016

Hundreds of youth between Grades 7-12 from across Southwestern Ontario gathered on May 21at C.Y.O. Camp Brebeuf in Rockton, Ont. for the first annual youth rally organized by the Diocese of Hamilton.

Bill C-14 a total mess

May 26, 2016

Just when you thought the slide into assisted suicide couldn’t get worse, the Prime Minister elbowed into the fray to underscore, once again, the madness of Parliament’s dizzy sprint to pass a new law as if MPs were working on a 30-minute deadline to deliver a pizza.

In Eucharist, find strength to share bread, faith with others, pope says

May 26, 2016

ROME – A Corpus Christi procession should honor Christ's gift of himself in the Eucharist, but also should be a pledge to share bread and faith with the people of the cities and towns where the processions take place, Pope Francis said.

Visiting Auschwitz changed my life

May 26, 2016

Life has a knack for continuously shaping our perspectives, for changing how we view the world through exposure to new experiences and ideas. These changes can be gradual or arrive in a sudden rush of mind-blowing revelation, as happened when my life was changed by my visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.