January 2024

Basket of adorables by basking in God

Luke Stocking · January 5, 2024

The Christmas season is a time of rest for me. To clarify, I mean the Christmas season as we celebrate it in the Catholic Church, from Midnight Mass through to the baptism of the Lord.

For 85 years, OAPCE fights for Catholic education rights

John Wilson · January 5, 2024

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE), which will be hosting a conference to mark the occasion.

Our actions will allow the light to shine

Fr. Scott Lewis · January 5, 2024

The thick darkness covering the Earth is easy enough to find, but the glorious light requires a bit more searching. In the past year, there has been an abundance of darkness — war, terrorism, mass shootings, corruption and the continual degradation of the environment and climate. Many lives have been lost; many are homeless; and many more are without hope.

Pontifex Perplexed

January 5, 2024

The Catholic Register editorial of Dec. 24 regarding the new Vatican declaration on blessing “irregular” and same-sex couples asks: “If nothing changes, why the need for a 5,000-word text to say so?” Perhaps to darken, perplex and bewilder?

Digging up the roots

January 5, 2024

Dave Szollosy’s article “Pilgrims seeking peace register their voice” in The Catholic Register showed equal concern for both sides in the Israel-Hamas war.

‘I really wanted to touch poverty’

A chance meeting with young Guatamalan boy fueled Sr. Bourget’s desire to serve the poor

Anna Farrow · January 6, 2024

A chance meeting with young Guatamalan boy fueled Sr. Bourget’s desire to serve the poor.

Model more than a smile and pretty face

Annika Van Vliet overcomes Down syndrome challenges to shine on catwalk

Nicholas Elbers · January 6, 2024

Watching Annika Van Vliet sit between her parents in their South Surrey, B.C., home, it’s hard to believe the 15-year-old has walked a fashion runway in Paris and had her photo featured on the billboards of Times Square.

Reborn discipleship program aims to grow

Paused in 2008, Manitoba course looks to expand in faith, size

Quinton Amundson · January 7, 2024

The Catholic School of Evangelization’s (CSE) Discipleship Formation Program (DFP) is experiencing a rebirth in St. Malo, Man.

Vatican doctrine official says priestly celibacy should be optional

Justin McLellan · January 9, 2024

The Catholic Church should revise its celibacy requirement for Latin-rite priests, a senior official in the Vatican's doctrinal office said.

Doctrine chief says his book on sexuality not something he'd write today

Justin McLellan · January 9, 2024

The Vatican's doctrine chief said the sometimes-graphic book on sexuality and spirituality that he published 25 years ago is "a book of my youth that I certainly would not write now."

'No' to same-sex blessings, say two Eastern Catholic bishops

Gina Christian · January 9, 2024

The apostolic administrator of Toronto’s Byzantine Catholic Eparchy has joined with a Ukrainian archbishop in rejecting a controversial Vatican document on pastoral blessings for same-sex couples and other unmarried couples.

Summer job grants flow to abortion groups

Anna Farrow · January 10, 2024

Canada Summer Jobs applicants who fail to toe the federal government’s ideological line on abortion and related issues remain out of the running for grants under the hire-a-student program.

Poland's bishops pledge dialogue with new government; others see conflict ahead for church

Jonathan Luxmoore · January 10, 2024

Poland's bishops have pledged dialogue with their country's new liberal government, but leading Catholics warned that government plans for rapid secularizing change could spark conflict as the ruling coalition plans to limit religious classes in public schools and abolish the state Church Fund.

Alberta Catholic trustee appeals dismissal

Monique LeGrange sacked over social media post

Quinton Amundson · January 11, 2024

An Alberta school trustee who lost her position for an Aug. 27 social media post comparing the LGBT community to Nazi Germany is appealing her dismissal.

Wisconsin judge suspends criminal case against McCarrick

OSV News · January 11, 2024

A Wisconsin judge has suspended a criminal case against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick Jan. 10, citing incompetency. McCarrick had been charged with fourth-degree sexual assault for abuse that allegedly took place in 1977.

Thousands gather in Sydney for Cardinal Pell's memorial Mass

Marilyn Rodrigues · January 11, 2024

Thousands gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney in memory of a man they loved for his vision and "big heart" a year after his death in Rome.

Not appropriate to bless same-sex couples in Africa, bishops say

Carol Glatz · January 11, 2024

Reaffirming their fidelity to the pope and the Gospel, Catholic bishops in Africa have released a common response to a recent Vatican declaration, saying they "generally prefer" not to offer blessings to same-sex couples.

Verbatim: Introduction to Archbishop Leo's Pastoral Letter

January 11, 2024

Below is the introduction of Archbishop Francis Leo’s Pastoral Letter to the Archdiocese of Toronto. The complete pastoral letter is available archtoronto.org.

Editorial: Clear up our moral clarity

January 11, 2024

Pope Francis has called out Russia with full papal moral clarity for its invasion of Ukraine. It’s good to see the Canadian government also getting its own story straight. Better late than never.

Same but different

January 11, 2024

I had the recent privilege of speaking with Linda Nicholls, Primate of The Anglican Church of Canada, at her Toronto office.