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April 2022

April 6

Apology begins path to reconciliation

April 6, 2022

Never was a single sentence more longed for. In 40 years since survivors began to speak out, 16 years since the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and seven years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada delivered its final report, nations and peoples have waited for a Pope to speak.

April 7

Activists say fetuses from abortion clinic are 'proof of illegal abortions'

April 7, 2022

Two members of a group called Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising said April 5 that five fetuses taken by the police a week earlier from the Capitol Hill residence of one of the activists were "proof of illegal abortions" being performed at a Washington abortion clinic.

Apology but one step toward reconciliation

April 7, 2022

At the conclusion of the Lenten journey of Indigenous representatives to the Vatican, Pope Francis gave the delegation a laetare moment, a time to rejoice. The Pope’s poignant apology for the harm “members of the Catholic Church” did to Indigenous children in residential schools and his promise to visit Canada this summer is a major step toward healing a broken relationship.

Natural world must form human nature

April 7, 2022

St. Mary’s University in Calgary is situated on a sprawling 35-acre property adjacent to Fish Creek Park, the largest urban provincial park in Canada. As a result, our campus is often teaming with wildlife, and here I don’t just mean student parties.

Not all jokes are thigh slappers

April 7, 2022

It’s been dubbed “the slap heard around the world.” During the March 27 Academy Awards ceremony, Will Smith went on stage and struck comedian Chris Rock in the face after Rock made a joke referring to Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

Understanding children are perfect as they are

April 7, 2022

I recently read an article reporting the reduced incidence of live births of Down syndrome across multiple European countries, attributed to increased pre-natal screening. My youngest son was born with Down syndrome in 2015, so you may imagine this kind of statistic is difficult for someone like me to learn about.

Editorial: A time to stand

April 7, 2022

Two mercifully flown decades ago, Mr. Dan Brown foisted on the world from some printing presses the Luddites sadly missed smashing, a purported novel called The Da Vinci Code.

Readers Speak Out: April 10, 2022

April 7, 2022

Listening hearts I have never been more proud of the Catholic Church than when I heard Pope Francis’ response last week to our Indigenous community in Canada. It was not so much what he said, but an acknowledgement that he had listened.

After two years, Holy Week looking more familiar

April 7, 2022

Barring a dramatic reversal in pandemic fortune, the vast majority of Canadian Catholics will celebrate Holy Week as they did before COVID-19 infected society two years ago.

Galilee Centre keeps the healing fires burning

April 7, 2022

As the Indigenous delegations began meetings at the Vatican in Rome, a fire-lighting sunrise ceremony was taking place at the Galilee Centre in the small town of Arnprior, Ont., just 65 km west of downtown Ottawa.

Retreat explores powers within our natural world

April 7, 2022

A three-retreat series debuting on the Earth Day weekend will invite attendees to enter a more spiritual and mindful relationship with the nature God created.

April 8

Cardinal: Vatican looking at implications of possible papal visit to Kyiv

April 8, 2022

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said it appeared Ukraine could keep Pope Francis safe if he made a wartime trip to Kyiv, but the pope's safety was not the Vatican's only concern.

Rights league looks for more media responsibility

April 8, 2022

The executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League is urging media to be responsibile in its reporting in the wake of the historic meetings at the Vatican between Pope Francis and representatives of Canada’s First Nations.

Teens make their case to lower the voting age

April 8, 2022

Jacob Colatosti, a Grade 12 student at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School in Hannon, Ont., is one of 13 young Canadians who filed a court challenge in December to overturn Canada’s minimum voting change law.

April 9

Archdiocese to resettle refugees fleeing Ukraine

April 9, 2022

The Office for Refugees of the Archdiocese of Toronto (ORAT) is in discussion with Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Church officials to coordinate a program that would see Toronto parishioners host Ukrainian families fleeing the war in their homeland.

Call to Action ‘an exercise of love’

April 9, 2022

At this pivotal moment in Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, author and educator Kevin Lamoureux is encouraging those in the Church working to move beyond feelings of guilt to be part of the solution.

April 10

God's Word on Sunday: Jesus’ message is more vital than ever

April 10, 2022

Resurrection of the Lord (Year C) April 17 (Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18) The message that the apostle Peter preached after the Resurrection was short but powerful. He stuck to the facts, relating the many good things that Jesus had done and the souls He had helped. More importantly, Jesus was empowered by the Spirit and God was with Him.

Day-care deal leaves many behind, critics say

April 10, 2022

Ontario has signed a five-year, $10.2-billion deal with the federal government to cut child-care fees in the province in half by the end of the year, fulfilling the Liberal government’s promise to bring in $10-a-day child care across Canada.

April 11

Victory is not raising a flag on pile of rubble, Pope Francis says on Palm Sunday

April 11, 2022

Jesus obeyed the most challenging of commandments: to love one's enemies; and he invites humanity to do the same by breaking a vicious cycle of evil, sorrow and hatred with love and forgiveness, Pope Francis said on Palm Sunday.

Pontifical Academy of Sciences raises alarm about nuclear weapons

April 11, 2022

Russia's war on Ukraine frighteningly raises the possibility of the use of nuclear weapons, the unleashing of radioactive material from nuclear power plants and a new push to develop or acquire nuclear weapons, including by terrorists, said members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.