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February 2020

February 14

Power to the people: Giving India's poor the tools to fight for their rights

February 14, 2020

Even though a substantial number of people the Lok Manch organization serves are illiterate or never properly schooled, the easiest way to start a Lok Manch meeting is to have everyone stand up and recite the pre-amble to India’s constitution, said Jesuit lawyer Fr. Stanislaus Jebamalai.

Board caught in crossfire over Bill 21 fight

February 14, 2020

OTTAWA -- Montreal’s English language school board is vowing to continue its fight in the courts against Quebec’s secularism law Bill 21 even though it has decided not to accept funding from a federal court challenge program and the fact that the school board will soon cease to exist.

‘Somebody needs to step up’

February 14, 2020

OTTAWA -- As the federal government moves towards expanding who can access a legal medically-induced suicide, a vocal critic of state-sponsored death is demanding that conscience rights for doctors who don’t want to take part in what the Canadian government calls medical assistance in dying (MAiD) be protected by a federal law.

Ordinandi youth event sidelined

February 14, 2020

The youth event held each year in conjunction with the Serra Club’s annual Ordinandi Dinner in the Archdiocese of Toronto has fallen victim to the labour struggles between the province and its teachers’ unions.

Gerry Turcotte: Always room for prayer in life’s overflowing jar

February 14, 2020

A good friend of mine, a fellow scotch aficionado, sent me a story which is an adaptation of a well-known leadership story, popularized by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

February 15

For-profit welfare scheme draws concerns

February 15, 2020

The idea of a welfare system in Ontario run by multinational, for-profit corporations strikes Dr. Gary Bloch as a bit odd.

Senate takes on slave labour with bill

February 15, 2020

OTTAWA -- An organization associated with the Catholic Church in Canada is happy to see the issue of slave labour being addressed within the Canadian government, but says that a proposed bill introduced in the Canadian Senate falls short of taking meaningful steps to actually have a real impact.

Glen Argan: This piece of advice has stuck

February 15, 2020

When I was a young journalist, I joined the Volunteers, a group associated with the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (OMMI), a secular institute, and began to take part in their regular discussion groups. Early on, we discussed the five elements of the OMMI spirituality.

February 16

God's Word on Sunday: Survival depends on loving our neighbour

February 16, 2020

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 23 (Year A) Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48 God called the people of Israel to be holy, just as God is. In Old Testament language, however, “holy” meant “set apart” or “completely different.”

How far can advance care directive go?

February 16, 2020

A bioethicist who spent decades urging Catholics to plan for their last days by naming a substitute decision maker in an advance care directive is now incensed at the idea the government will likely allow the directive to be used to invoke euthanasia.

Youth day celebrates life and ministry of beloved priest

February 16, 2020

EDMONTON -- The life and legacy of Fr. Michael “Catfish” Mireau, who used pop culture references and Star Wars lightsabers to teach the faith, continue to stir hearts of young and old.

February 18

God's commandments lead to freedom, Pope Francis says

February 18, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- Jesus wants his followers to move from a formal observance of God's commands to an interior acceptance of them and, in that way, to no longer be slaves to sin and selfishness, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis: New Vatican finance laws are working

February 18, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- The decade-long process of updating the laws of Vatican City State is part of the Vatican's support for international commitments to protect people and safeguard vulnerable groups, who are "frequently the victims of new, odious forms of illegality," Pope Francis said.

Raphael's tapestries briefly return to Sistine Chapel

February 18, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- An artistic masterpiece conceived by the Renaissance master Raphael are on display for one week in the Sistine Chapel to help celebrate the 500th anniversary of the artist's death.

Vatican official denies use of charity money for London property deal

February 18, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- Italian Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, denied allegations that money earmarked for helping the poor was used to invest in a London property deal.

Feds request four-month extension for changes to assisted suicide

February 18, 2020

OTTAWA -- The federal government wants four more months to change Canada’s assisted suicide rules to comply with a Quebec court decision that came down in September that said the existing regulations are too restrictive.

February 19

‘Beloved Amazon’: Canadians can draw many parallels in exhortation

February 19, 2020

In his apostolic exhortation “Beloved Amazon” Pope Francis is talking about much more than just the Amazon.

Speaking Out: Vulgar language misses the point

February 19, 2020

It sometimes is interesting as to why God gave humans speech. I recently came across two YouTube videos from Ascension Presents, a Catholic apostolate, which tackles the issue of using obscenities, an area of improvement for myself. Like all of our gifts, we are called to use the virtue of modesty with this one as well.

Street Gospel videos engage wide audience

February 19, 2020

Reflecting on each week’s Gospel is more than a private experience for Catholic youth in Northern Ontario. It is a public witness.

Charles Lewis: Inspiring stories to feed our courage

February 19, 2020

How does tyranny arrive? And what does it look like once it has? At times it comes like a bomb that overturns all existing norms. Think of a military junta or the sudden collapse of order following massive protests and riots.