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June 2021

June 20

Sarah Twomey: Educators play key role in reconciliation

June 20, 2021

I am a fifth-generation Irish descendent from Southern Ontario, and a third-generation teacher.

June 21

Prayer created for National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 21, 2021

To mark the 25th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada on June 21, the Canadian Conference Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have released a prayer titled “Prayer for Tolerance, Forgiveness, Reconciliation.”

U.N. investigators call on church to do more to stop abuse

June 21, 2021

VATICAN CITY -- While acknowledging Vatican-mandated reforms in the handling of clerical sexual abuse, four U.N. special rapporteurs urged the Vatican to make it mandatory that church officials everywhere report abuse allegations to civil authorities.

June 22

Cardinal keeps limits on private Masses in St. Peter's, allows exceptions

June 22, 2021

VATICAN CITY -- Reaffirming the principles that led the Vatican to severely limit private celebrations of Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the early morning, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, the new archpriest of the basilica, said exceptions would be made for "groups with particular and legitimate needs."

Vatican expresses concern about proposed Italian law on homophobia

June 22, 2021

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican has informed Italy that a draft law to fight homophobia and discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity could violate the freedom of Catholics to teach and practice their faith.

June 24

Catholics look for action and answers

June 24, 2021

As the country continues to wake up to the truth that there has been little or no reconciliation with Indigenous people, Catholics are also questioning their Church’s record.

Sr. Helena Burns: Searching for meaning of love

June 24, 2021

Catchy slogans are fun and helpful: shorthand for complex concepts — except when they’re not.

‘Meaning of Eucharist’ document sparks bishops’ debate

June 24, 2021

WASHINGTON -- After a lengthy debate, the U.S. bishops have given the green light to a draft a document on the “meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the Church.”

Speaking Out: Let’s get real on Indigenous support

June 24, 2021

Over the past few weeks, social media has exploded with anger, sadness and shock as the bodies of hundreds of Indigenous children have been found buried at several former residential schools across Canada.

Formation program builds pandemic bonds

June 24, 2021

Jim Anderson faced two options when COVID-19 first hit back in March 2020. The director of formation and acting registrar of the St. Therese Institute in Bruno, Sask., could have closed the doors for the duration of the pandemic — or he could devise a way to forge forward. He chose the latter.

Editorial: CWL: faith in action

June 24, 2021

A century ago this month, on June 1, 1921, about 400 women from across Canada gathered at Columbus Hall in Toronto for the first national convention of the Catholic Women’s League. The First World War had ended just two and a half years earlier. Arthur Meighen was prime minister, George V was still on the throne and Canada — 8.7-million strong — was a month away from its 54th birthday.

Readers Speak Out: June 27, 2021

June 24, 2021

No closure Re: Lets set record straight on papal apologies (June 16): Fr. Raymond De Souza correctly reports that Chief Phil Fontaine, a residential school survivor and three- time leader of the Assembly of First Nations, met with Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 and spoke positively about the conciliatory and compassionate words of regret expressed by this pope.

Expansion plans to Providence Healthcare include quality of life

June 24, 2021

Adding 180 new long-term care beds and a whole new building to Unity Health’s Providence Healthcare site is just the beginning of the Catholic hospital’s plans for seniors in Toronto’s east end.

Parliamentary interfaith caucus established to foster dialogue in Ottawa

June 24, 2021

OTTAWA -- You can learn a lot about Islam, Judaism, Christianity and other faiths in books, but the best way to really understand another faith is through personal relationships.

Hundreds of graves discovered at Saskatchewan residential school site

June 24, 2021

The Cowessess First Nation will put a name to each of the hundreds of bodies found at the unmarked graves on the former Marieval Indian Residential School, vows Chief Cadmus Delorme.

June 25

Missing Indigenous women spawn hope

June 25, 2021

When Ojibwe jingle dress dancer Patience Commanda decided to use her art form to bring awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG), she never imagined she would receive hope in return.

Campaign Life seeks support in New Brunswick abortion battle

June 25, 2021

OTTAWA -- Campaign Life Coalition is calling on pro-life Canadians to show support for New Brunswick’s provincial government in a legal fight over funding and access to abortion services in the east coast province.

Fr. Raymond de Souza: A reconciliation path of renewed encounter

June 25, 2021

The shortest night of the year allows only a few hours of darkness in which to set churches on fire. It was time enough for two Catholic churches to be burned to the ground before dawn on June 21, 2021, National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Bethlehem looks to expand economy beyond tourism

June 25, 2021

BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Graduating in July as part of Bethlehem University’s first software engineering class, students Marianna Bannoura, Oriana Sabat and Mariam Qumsieh already have a market-ready app under their belts.

Anger, right or wrong, aimed squarely at the Church

June 25, 2021

Half the country is mad and three-quarters of Canadians are depressed by the discovery of 215 children in unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School.