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December 2022

December 10

‘Moral distress’ helped spur doctor’s hospice resignation

December 10, 2022

After at least five years of signing petitions and writing about his opposition to doctor-assisted suicide, Port Coquitlam, B.C., family physician Dr. Kevin Sclater finally decided to act.

December 11

Saskatoon Catholic schools ‘blessed’ by Ukrainian influx

December 11, 2022

After growth stagnation during the COVID-19 pandemic years, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools enrolment has bounced back and surpassed 20,000 students for the first time this school year.

God's Word on Sunday: Live a worthy life as we await the Lord

December 11, 2022

Third Sunday of Advent (Year A) Dec. 11 (Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11) Should we blame God for the dark and frightening state of the world? People tend to do that in one way or another. Either they blame God for “allowing” negative things to happen and then reject God, or they accuse God outright of being the perpetrator.

Diplomacy, Vatican-style: relationships key

December 11, 2022

Ken Hackett, former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, said he was advised early on that diplomacy with the Vatican was about relationships, not transactions.

December 13

Cardinal Ouellet announces lawsuit against woman who claimed assault

December 13, 2022

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet has launched a $100,000 defamation suit against a woman who accused him in a civil suit of sexually abusing her, the Associated Press is reporting.

December 14

Two more bishops named in class action against Quebec Archdiocese

December 14, 2022

Two more bishops, including one still serving, have been named in a new list of offenders filed in the class action against the Quebec Archdiocese.

Hackers planted false files implicating Indian Jesuit who died in prison

December 14, 2022

Catholic activists and priests want the Indian government to "take full responsibility" for the custodial death of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy after findings by U.S.-based digital forensic experts that false evidence was planted on the priest's computer.

Christmas Mass out from COVID shadow

December 14, 2022

Catholics, young and old, filling the pews with anticipatory energy. Choirs warming hearts and minds with joyful melodies. Parishioners joining together to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

Court strikes down Biden’s transgender mandate

December 14, 2022

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis Dec. 9 permanently blocked a transgender mandate the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had implemented as a revision to the Affordable Care Act.

Book delves into Vatican’s history of prohibiting books

December 14, 2022

The Catholic Church Index Librorum Prohibitorum (“List of Prohibited Books”), the list of publications deemed blasphemous or morally reprehensible in the view of the Sacred Congregation of the Index, is the subject of a new deep-dive academic research novel from St. Thomas University professor Dr. Robin Vose.

The devil is sneaky, so Christians must be watchful, Pope Francis says

December 14, 2022

Vigilance is an essential part of the spiritual life because the devil will try to sneak in when one is not paying attention or, especially, when a Christian thinks he or she is making a lot of progress on the road to holiness, Pope Francis said.

December 15

Activists urge action to protect biodiversity

December 15, 2022

With scientists warning that the loss of nature is accelerating at dangerous speeds, Catholic activists are urging nations at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal to act to protect life on Earth at all levels.

Russia says Vatican apologized for Pope Francis' remarks

December 15, 2022

The Vatican has had diplomatic contact with Russia regarding comments Pope Francis made about Russian minorities being responsible for the worst acts of cruelty in the country's war on Ukraine.

Post-pandemic we must be pro-solidarity

December 15, 2022

As the COVID pandemic began three years ago, many asked what the new normal might be once it subsided. In that question, there was an optimism, even hope, that a massive amount of suffering and death would smarten us up, spur us to become more concerned for the needs of others.

God! He just beats the devil

December 15, 2022

Fr. Gabriele Amorth, SSP (1925-2016) was the chief exorcist of the Vatican and a member of the Society of St. Paul (one of the congregations founded by Blessed Fr. James Alberione). I had the privilege of interviewing Fr. Amorth in 2011, while filming a documentary on Fr. Alberione (MediaApostle.com).

Editorial: Gaining Momentum

December 15, 2022

At this liturgical moment when Catholic eyes, hearts and minds focus on Mary as the mother who delivered our Lord and Saviour into the world, it’s fitting to also direct attention to the Canadian women behind Momentum.

Readers Speak Out: December 18, 2022

December 15, 2022

Martyrs’ blood Michael Swan’s “Red Wednesday” story in the Nov. 27 issue explains that persecution of Christians happens all over the world.

Making the stable a centre of stability

December 15, 2022

A simple stable is where God chooses to be born into the world, a helpless infant child. Many Christian households display creches with baby Jesus figurines as part of Advent preparations for Christmas. There is another kind of “stable” though where Jesus wants to be present as this particular Christmas approaches, the stabilization centres of Somalia.

Let’s get radical and profess our faith

December 15, 2022

Advent has always had a special importance to me, a type of monumental weight signalling what is unquestionably the most consequential moment for humanity: the arrival of Jesus. It is a time of waiting and preparation, marked by the gradual lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath.

Momentum builds to welcome single moms in Holy Mother Church

December 15, 2022

It was a humid August in Paris when Claire Brown learned she was pregnant. Working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute Curie, Brown was thousands of miles away from her family and friends in Canada. The father had already revealed himself as untrustworthy; he would later berate her for being “selfish” because she would not abort the child.