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July 2023

July 1

Organ restoration latest phase in Assumption renos

July 1, 2023

The latest phase in the restoration of historic Our Lady of the Assumption Church here includes the dismantling of the 104-year-old pipe organ.

July 4

Pope Francis' ambassador: Staying in Ukraine during war a 'big, big grace' amid fears, frustrations

July 4, 2023

As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine hit the 493-day mark June 30, OSV News sat down with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, papal nuncio to Ukraine, to discuss his experiences of the war. Based in Kyiv, Visvaldas was visiting Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv for a conference and commencement exercises.

Food aid stoppage brings hunger 'beyond human imagination' in Ethiopia's Tigray region

July 4, 2023

Stopping food aid in Ethiopia from the United States and United Nations caused severe hunger that has killed hundreds of people in the northern Tigray region in recent weeks, and one local bishop said the situation is "beyond human imagination."

July 5

Vatican aims to return Ukrainian children, not mediate war, says cardinal

July 5, 2023

The Vatican is developing a plan to return to Ukraine children illegally deported to Russia but is not jockeying to mediate the war, Pope Francis' peace envoy said upon his return from his mission to Moscow.

Just commentary

July 5, 2023

The penny has finally dropped and I now realize that you are actually not a Christian paper at all but rather a sort of political and intellectual commentary upon things Catholic.

July 6

Clerical correction required

July 6, 2023

The Catholic community in Canada needs better leadership. Our bishops, as shepherds of the most vulnerable lambs, have failed to respond to recent events with united and unambiguous statements. Some statements have been made but were open to interpretation and thus inappropriate for the laity. On no occasion have I heard from pulpit or Catholic media a clear defense of the Catholic doctrine in respect of Pride activity. A clear and unambiguous letter from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops could be read from the pulpit to clarify the Catholic position. The word pride, in this context, refers to personal achievement without God's major involvement. It represents one of the seven deadly sins. How many Catholic children are made aware of the seven deadly sins and the virtues when they are not mentioned from the pulpit? We should be mindful that Our Lord was never politically correct and very direct in his teachings.

New prefect of doctrinal office affirms natural truth about marriage

July 6, 2023

The Catholic Church must take great care to avoid rites or blessings that suggest marriage is anything other than a sacramental bond between one man and one woman, the incoming prefect of the Vatican's doctrinal office said.

Russia launches 'barbaric attack' on civilians near Ukrainian Catholic University

July 6, 2023

A Catholic university community in western Ukraine is reeling from a July 6 missile attack on the city of Lviv, located less than 80 km from the Polish border.

July 7

Flagging Pride

July 7, 2023

Conflict between religion and the LGBTQIA+ community was going to publicly appear soon enough. In every community there are members who are hidden and others now out and proud of who they are. This community continues to challenge all traditional community and religious attitudes. Catholic Church doctrine welcomes the person but also points out the sin. Reformed Christian Churches firmly oppose the gay lifestyle, while the United church is firmly supportive and accepting. It is Islam (with Christian fundamentalist allies) that will bring the fight to public administrations, school boards and even private board rooms. Islam protects itself, its Quran, its Prophet Muhammed, and Islamic traditions.

God's Word on Sunday: God’s way is one of justice and mercy

July 7, 2023

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) July 9 (Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30) The radiant prophecy from Zechariah is familiar to most as the text associated with the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The evangelist clearly saw Jesus as the embodiment of the king in this prophecy. Scholars are not certain as to the time in which it was written — many dates have been proposed, but none is certain. It was written as an oracle of hope during a time of distress and fear, which means it could have been written at almost any time. The best estimates place it after the exile, possibly in the fifth century BC. It was probably an independent oracle utilized by the author of the book.

July 8

Putin’s ploughshares

July 8, 2023

I was troubled by your recent editorial that approved of Prime Minister Trudeau giving millions to Ukraine to “further the war effort.” The money will only help prolong this bloody conflict. Also, there’s a real danger of it escalating into a nuclear war. In fact, many military experts describe the conflict as a proxy war between the U.S.-NATO alliance and Russia. They argue that Ukraine is being used as a tool to attack Russia. As Catholics we shouldn’t be taking sides in this war. We’re called to love both Ukrainians and Russians. It would have been more appropriate to further peace efforts by calling for an end to the war through a negotiated settlement. As Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

July 9

Hallelujah for Henry

July 9, 2023

Regarding the Register’s July 2 editorial “Bishop Henry’s line in the sand,” kudos to Bishop Henry! Could he be another John the Baptist? A voice crying in the wilderness? I agree with everything he says.

July 10

Maximum Swan

July 10, 2023

Once more Michael Swan has proven his worth as a great journalist. In the past he has impressed me with his columns regarding historical, contemporary, spiritual, material, abstract, and objective topics.

Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals

July 10, 2023

Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals, including U.S.-born Archbishop Robert F. Prevost, who took the helm at the Dicastery for Bishops in April, and French Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.

July 11

Ontario Ministry of Health funds euthanasia with palliative dollars, pro-lifers claim

July 11, 2023

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition executive director Alex Schadenberg and pro-life blogger Patricia Maloney have channeled the mystery-cracking spirit of Sherlock Holmes in a quest to determine how much the Ontario government is paying for medical assistance in dying (MAiD).

July 12

Canada's bishops speak out for religious freedom

July 12, 2023

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a new pastoral letter, is seeking to empower Catholics to reclaim their distinctive perspective and voice in society.

Tax break sought to save historic Nova Scotia church

July 12, 2023

Nation Prospère Acadie is continuing its quest to save historic St. Bernard Church in Digby County, N.S.

U.S. to provide Ukraine cluster munitions opposed by the church as 'inhumane'

July 12, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden defended what he called a "very difficult decision" to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine amid Russia's invasion of that country, weapons the Vatican opposes.

July 13

Jesuits reopen Montreal’s ‘Old Villa’ for Ukrainians fleeing wartorn homeland

July 13, 2023

Just a little more than six months after Fr. Kevin Kelly SJ cleared the rooms and locked the doors for what he thought was the last time at a former Jesuit retreat house in Montreal, he and his team have now scrambled to prepare the Old Villa to once again welcome Ukrainians to Canada.

Mother’s love inspires Calgary priest

July 13, 2023

A mother’s love, and her refusal to abort her child more than three decades ago, has culminated in Calgary ordaining its newest priest.