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March 2019

March 5

Gerry Turcotte: Books mark the many pages of our lives

March 5, 2019

I was recently tagged on a Twitter post in what has been called the Book Challenge. If invited, the recipient is asked to post a cover of an all-time favourite book, with no explanation or description of the choice. Just seven covers over seven days, and with each post the recipient is asked to nominate someone new to take up the challenge — a chain letter, of sorts, for the 21st century.

Church works as bridge between Muslims, Christians, Nigerian archbishop says

March 5, 2019

NEW YORK – The Catholic Church is working to bridge the divide between Muslims and Christians in a country where the divide between the groups is fraught with large and small issues, said a Nigerian archbishop.

Fr. Yaw Acheampong: Lent is an invitation to a fruitful stewardship

March 5, 2019

The start of every new season is exciting and full of possibilities. Think of how happy people are when they see the first signs of spring, or, when the first day of school arrives, or, for baseball fans, the excitement they feel on the day of the season opener.

Mary Marrocco: The gift of tears unlocks healing spirit

March 5, 2019

Her body is thin and tense. It carries the anguish, the hurts and false steps, of years. Her face does not as yet reveal the pain she’s known in her young life. She doesn’t cry. Alone, sometimes, she has bursts of uncontrollable stormy tears. Never the gentle kind and never for long.

Church leaders treat them as outcasts after going public, nuns in Indian rape case say

March 5, 2019

COCHIN, India – As the Vatican grapples to devise stronger protocols and responses following a historic summit focused on clergy sex abuse of minors, five nuns in India complain of church repression for their support of a former superior general who was allegedly raped by a bishop.

Johanne Brownrigg: Who has the courage to follow Jody Wilson-Raybould's path?

March 5, 2019

Catholics have been reminded repeatedly they must separate Church and State. In government, medicine, law, public policy or discourse, we are expected to leave Him who shapes our life and our conscience at home.

March 6

Lent begins with reminder of all that fades away, Pope Francis says

March 6, 2019

ROME – Marked with ashes, Christians set off on a Lenten journey where they strive to leave behind everything that will turn to dust and instead focus on drawing closer to God and God's promise of eternal life, Pope Francis said.

Cardinal Pell's appeal is fast-tracked to June, may wait three months behind bars

March 6, 2019

SYDNEY – Australian Cardinal George Pell, the highest-ranked Catholic clergyman to be found guilty of child sexual abuse, has had his appeal process fast-tracked and might spend only three more months behind bars before it is heard.

Cardinal Collins sends a message of giving for Lent

March 6, 2019

Cardinal Thomas Collins is calling on Catholics to remember the importance of almsgiving this Lenten season.

Salt + Light board stands behind Fr. Rosica

March 6, 2019

Fr. Thomas Rosica has maintained the support of the board of directors of Salt and Light Media Foundation despite admitting to widespread plagiarism.

Number of priests down for the first time in a decade, Vatican says

March 6, 2019

VATICAN – The percentage of Catholics in the world has remained steady, while the number of priests has decreased for the first time in almost a decade, according to Vatican statistics.

Dr. Barrie deVeber, founder of bioethics institute, dies at 90

March 6, 2019

If it was up to Dr. Barrie deVeber, his name would not be on the institution dedicated to researching all aspects of human life.

Mexican bishops present five objectives for action on clergy abuse

March 6, 2019

MEXICO CITY – The Mexican bishops' conference has presented an action plan for protecting minors from sexual abuse by clergy and pastoral agents.

Activists push for Asia Bibi to join family in Canada

March 6, 2019

More than a month after Pakistan’s Supreme Court announced that it had confirmed its decision to acquit Asia Bibi, the 51-year-old Catholic woman is still in Pakistan under protective custody despite an offer of asylum from Canada.

Editorial: Justice isn’t easy

March 6, 2019

The immediate reaction to the mid-February news that Australian Cardinal George Pell was found guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choir boys was that, in addition to any sentence the courts pronounce, the Vatican should move quickly to expel him from the priesthood.

Therapy dogs bring some comforting four-legged medicine into the lives of hospital patients

March 6, 2019

When Harley travels the halls at Providence Healthcare, he gets the rock star treatment.

Glen Argan: Conscience and truth walk hand in hand

March 6, 2019

Former federal justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has become a Canadian hero for her courage in resisting political pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office to interfere in a court case against the Montreal-based contractor SNC-Lavalin.

March 7

Migrants from Central America surprised to find long wait to apply for asylum in U.S.

March 7, 2019

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – A trio of Honduran migrants arrived at the diocesan migrant shelter in this Mexican border city in the predawn hours, hoping to rest up before approaching the U.S. border and making an asylum claim.

Indian police arrest one of 26 men accused in 1998 rape of four nuns

March 7, 2019

BHOPAL, India – A man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the mass rape of four Catholic nuns that occurred more than two decades ago in central India.

French cardinal convicted for sex abuse cover-up

March 7, 2019

VATICAN – A French cardinal was given a six-month suspended sentence at a civil trial after he was found guilty of covering up abuses committed decades ago by a priest.