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January 2019

January 16

Calgary priest charged with sexual assault

January 16, 2019

A Calgary priest has been charged in connection to alleged sexual assaults dating back to 2012.

Pope Francis wants sex abuse summit to lead to accountability, prevention

January 16, 2019

VATICAN – At the upcoming meeting on protecting minors, Pope Francis wants leaders of the world's bishops' conferences to clearly understand what must be done to prevent abuse, care for victims and ensure no case is whitewashed or covered up.

Summer Jobs attestation language concerns bishops, despite 'step in right direction'

January 16, 2019

OTTAWA – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is welcoming the revisions to the Canada Summer Jobs application, but not without reservations.

Doug Ford's free speech policy misses pro-lifers, advocates say

January 16, 2019

OTTAWA – Doug Ford’s free speech policy for Ontario universities may not stem the censorship and even violence against pro-life expression on campuses, say pro-life activists.

Cardinal Wuerl apologizes for 'lapse of memory', now recalls McCarrick abuse allegation

January 16, 2019

WASHINGTON – In a second letter issued in mid-January about what he knew and didn't regarding abuse allegations involving his predecessor, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, Washington's retired archbishop, apologized Jan. 15 for what he called a "lapse of memory," clarifying that he knew of at least one abuse allegation against former U.S. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, but he had "forgotten" about it.

January 17

African bishops, Canada’s D&P charge Congo election results of ‘monumental cheating’

January 17, 2019

Who really won the election in Congo matters immensely to the Congolese people, but it also matters to Canada’s Catholic development agency, which spent the last three years helping ordinary Congolese get ready to vote.

Canadian pilgrims ready to absorb ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience of World Youth Day

January 17, 2019

José Murillo is the only one in his family who hasn’t been back to Panama City since they immigrated to Canada about 12 years ago.

Vatican summit to help nations lagging on abuse policies, moderator says

January 17, 2019

VATICAN – Only about half of the national bishops' conferences in the world have adopted complete, Vatican-approved guidelines for handling accusations of clerical sexual abuse and promoting child protection, said the Jesuit named to moderate the Vatican's February summit on abuse.

Idea of having women deacons is for church 'crying for ministry', not 'power', speaker says

January 17, 2019

NEW YORK – Ordaining women to the permanent diaconate now, when the church is "crying for ministry," is a logical way to fulfill its obligation to bring the Gospel to all people, according to panelists at a Jan 15 event at Jesuit-run Fordham University in New York.

Vatican releases pastoral guide to help church fight human trafficking

January 17, 2019

VATICAN – The Vatican has created a set of pastoral guidelines to inspire and improve the church's work in addressing the crime of human trafficking and the care of its victims worldwide.

Physician conscience rights campaign being launched in Ontario, Alberta

January 17, 2019

Canadian Physicians for Life is mobilizing its members for a grassroots appeal to politicians to protect doctors who do not wish to participate in any way in the assisted suicide of patients.

Dancing for the Pope in Panama, 17 years after dancing for pope in Toronto

January 17, 2019

Myriam Guevara Mann still remembers looking out to a crowd of 800,000 people before she danced the biggest show of her life.

Panama pilgrims packing plenty of anticipation

January 17, 2019

EDMONTON – A much smaller group of pilgrims than usual is heading off to World Youth Day from Edmonton this week. But the anticipation is huge.

January 18

Brazil's new firearm decree worries poor neighbourhood in Sao Paulo

January 18, 2019

SAO PAULO – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed a decree in mid-January making it easier for Brazilians to purchase firearms. The decision sparked criticism from several groups in Brazilian society, including some in the Catholic Church.

A whole other world outside World Youth Day

January 18, 2019

PANAMA CITY Panama City will be packed during World Youth Day, especially along the “Cinta Costera,” where most events will be held.

It's a 'grave sin' to despise God's gifts to fellow Christians, Pope Francis says

January 18, 2019

ROME – Just as divisions in society grow when wealth is not shared, divisions within Christianity grow when the richness of gifts God has given to one Christian church or community are not recognized and shared, Pope Francis said.

U.S. nuncio says youth at Washington's Mass for Life is 'hope for the future'

January 18, 2019

WASHINGTON – They came from near and far, and even from Down Under, united in prayer and in standing together for life at the Archdiocese of Washington's annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life, held Jan. 18 at the Capital One Arena in Washington.

Speaking Out: Don't try to make me feel better

January 18, 2019

I can’t stand it when someone says, “I believe in Jesus, not people.”

Latin American young adults go home for World Youth Day

January 18, 2019

When 27-year-old David Figueroa found out this year’s World Youth Day was going to be hosted in Panama, so close to his home country of Colombia, he was more than excited to be a part of the event.

Joe Gunn ready for next step in social justice with Oblate Centre

January 18, 2019

OTTAWA – After 10 years at the helm of Citizens for Public Justice, Joe Gunn, 64, is leaving Feb. 11 to head up the new Oblate Centre at Saint Paul University in Ottawa.