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September 2016

September 15

Sharing the expertise: Papal advisors on abuse expand reach, influence

September 15, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Though it has no juridical power, Pope Francis' committee on protecting children has discovered it has consultative punch.

We are always our brother’s keeper

September 15, 2016

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) Sept. 25 (Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31) The absence of love is indifference, and it is indifference that will bring our world low if we are not more heedful of divine law.

For 160 years, St. Basil’s has bridged two worlds

September 15, 2016

TORONTO – For many of its 160 years, St. Basil’s parish has been a meeting place between the financial district represented by Bay Street and the collegiate atmosphere of the University of St. Michael’s College campus at the University of Toronto.

Estate of dead man files lawsuit against Ottawa archdiocese for sexual abuse

September 15, 2016

OTTAWA – The Archdiocese of Ottawa is withholding comment on a $2-million lawsuit launched by the estate of a man who, according to his wife, claimed on his death bed that he had been sexually abused by a priest in the 1960s.

Mary is our Mother, who defends us

September 15, 2016

In a “world that suffers the crisis of a great orphanhood,” we have a Mother that accompanies and defends us. That was the message of Pope Francis during the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Vatican: Abortion, attempted suicide always obstacles to ordination

September 15, 2016

VATICAN CITY – The sacredness of human life is so absolute that performing or helping procure an abortion or attempting suicide is an obstacle to ordination as a Catholic priest, even if the man was not Catholic at the time the events occurred, said a new Vatican ruling.

Suicide fantasy

September 15, 2016

When Canada legalized assisted suicide earlier this year, the National Post’s coolly analytical Andrew Coyne wondered in a column whether we haven’t lost our way as a country. Barely two months after the legislation’s passage, a marker of how lost we are shows up in our insistence on going both ways at once.

Step it up again

September 15, 2016

As traumatized civilians in war-torn Syria face little near-term hope of returning to their homes, Canada’s refugee resettlement program is running on low battery and needs to be re-charged.

Changing canon law, Pope brings Latin and Eastern practices closer

September 15, 2016

VATICAN CITY – In a change to church law, Latin-rite Catholic deacons may not preside at a wedding when one or both of the new spouses are members of an Eastern Catholic church.

Philippine bishops' head issues strong 'no' on restoring death penalty

September 15, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The head of the Philippine bishops' conference set "ethical guidelines" against proposals to reinstate the death penalty as the country's war on drugs continues, with body counts increasing daily.

September 16

New program helps young refugees develop job skills and overcome barriers

September 16, 2016

Refugee youth in Calgary are learning essential job skills through a new program run by the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS).

Catholics, Orthodox meet to discuss synodality, papal primacy

September 16, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Leading Catholic and Orthodox bishops were meeting in Italy to continue discussions on the key issue keeping their Churches apart: the role of the bishop of Rome, the pope.

In tough election year, U.S. Catholics urged to avoid cynicism, work for change

September 16, 2016

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – In his 50 years of voting in U.S. elections, Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said he has never seen the two major parties offer "two such deeply flawed" presidential nominees "at the same time."

Austrian cardinal clarifies: It’s not ‘Islamic conquest’ but Christian surrender

September 16, 2016

ROME – Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, a close ally of Pope Francis, is trying to clarify a provocative warning he made that Europe was at risk of an “Islamic conquest” because it had squandered its Christian heritage.

‘Logic’ of the Christian faith

September 16, 2016

Pope Francis said Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta on Friday. In remarks to the faithful following the readings of the day, the Holy Father reflected on the “logic” of Christian faith – the fundamental way of thinking that arises from real assent to the truth claims that Christianity advances – a logic he described as one of “the day after tomorrow” – a logic that looks forward to the resurrection of the body.

World religions reject fanaticism, terrorism in religion’s name at Montreal conference

September 16, 2016

MONTREAL – A landmark declaration which rejects fanaticism and terrorism in the name of religion was adopted in Montreal at the third global conference on the world's religions.

Boulad: Syria’s good will eventually overcome evil

September 16, 2016

TORONTO – For those looking to understand the situation in Syria as war continues to ravage the country, Fr. Henri Boulad suggests turning to the final book of the Bible.

To D&P, food is ‘At the Heart of the Action’

September 16, 2016

For almost 50 years solidarity with those in greatest need has been the central, driving purpose of the Canadian bishops’ Catholic development agency.

Opening of school helps bring sense of normalcy to Fort McMurray

September 16, 2016

Returning to the classroom after four months away is providing a sense of normalcy to the Catholic education community in Fort McMurray.

September 17

Liturgical seasons as seen through a believer’s perspective

September 17, 2016

In a short volume consisting not of formal theology but rather of informal musings on faith in our Canadian society, Gerry Turcotte offers us an eminently readable collection of brief essays.