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June 1, 2016
OTTAWA – A coalition representing vulnerable Canadians believes the lives of the disabled will be at risk due to a looming legal vacuum caused by the probable failure of the government’s assisted suicide Bill C-14 to be enacted by June 6.
OTTAWA – A new poll by Cardus Family reveals most Canadians still value marriage highly, but trends show an increase in those who see it as an outdated institution.
MONTREAL – The time has come for the Roman Catholic Church to rethink its patriarchal structure and build a stronger relationship with women, a prominent Benedictine monk from South America told delegates, comprising mostly nuns, at the assembly of the Canadian Religious Conference.
OTTAWA – The Liberal government's assisted suicide legislation, which Canada's bishops describe as "fundamentally unjust" and an "affront to human dignity," easily passed third and final reading in the House of Commons May 31 and was sent to the Senate for final approval.
Despite Bill C-14 providing no conscience protection for institutions, Catholic health-care providers expect governments will respect their right to opt out of assisted suicide.
June 2, 2016
OTTAWA – Hundreds of people gathered on Parliament Hill to protest against euthanasia June 1, the day after Parliament passed Bill C-14 to legalize the practice and sent it on to the Senate for royal assent.
It can be easy to feel lost and lonely in church; and that’s twice as lost and lonely as anywhere else.
A common soldier dies without fear, yet Jesus died afraid.
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) June 12 (2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13; Psalm 32; Galatians 2:16, 19-21; Luke 7:36-8:3) We usually think of a “flash of recognition” in positive terms — a form of enlightenment. But David’s experience of this recognition was disturbing and even devastating. His climb to the top of the heap as king of Israel had been successful but not pretty. It had involved a lot of questionable decisions and actions, but he seemed disinclined to quibble — after all, it had worked. He had almost unlimited power and wealth — what more could one want?
In the government’s rush to push Bill C-14, the medically assisted dying legislation, through the House of Commons, Canadians have been left very much on the sidelines.
MANCHESTER, England – European funding for Catholic aid agencies based in the U.K. could be withdrawn if the British people vote to leave the EU in late June, said an English bishop.
OTTAWA – At their recent policy convention held May 26-28 in Vancouver, the Conservative Party removed the traditional definition of marriage from its official policy, leaving social conservatives divided.
Much ado followed a recent impromptu promise by Pope Francis to study the role of women deacons in Church history. His simple pledge to convene a commission to look into what Francis called an “obscure” historical question was widely — and wildly — interpreted as a thumbs up for a female diaconate.
NEW YORK – It was hardly a typical New York City summer street fair.
June 3, 2016
TORONTO – Anti-euthanasia activist Alex Schadenberg has been honoured with the Archbishop Adam Exner Award for Catholic Excellence in Public Life by the Catholic Civil Rights League for his ongoing advocacy against euthanasia and assisted suicide.
On Friday 3 June, Pope Francis celebrated Holy Mass with priests in St Peter's Square as part of a special Jubilee of Mercy for Priests.
Imagine yourself as a tree. We all start off as small little seeds and the water is all of the blessings and gifts the Lord grants us in order to grow. Slowly over time, we grow into a tall, strong and beautiful tree. The fruits that we bear are everything that we have to offer to others and to the Lord.
VATICAN CITY – Like the Good Shepherd, good priests do not privatize their time and demand to be left alone, but rather are always willing to risk everything in search of the lost sheep, Pope Francis said at the closing Mass of the Jubilee for Priests and Seminarians.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has requested a special study session at the Vatican to look at how to solve the growing problem of drug abuse, especially narcotics.
MONTREAL – Taking its cue from Scripture which warns against polluting the Earth or muddying clear water, a mission began 10 years ago in Montreal for a “Green Churches movement.”