March 2024

Knights fund St. Peter’s Baldachin restoration

Quinton Amundson · March 1, 2024

St. Peter’s Baldachin (Baldacchino in Italian) is undergoing its first major restoration since 1758, thanks to the efforts of the Knights of Columbus.

Questioning Faith

Meekness is the courage to accept God fully

Mary Marrocco · March 1, 2024

A certain young woman had deep faith in God, but little connection with religion. Later she embraced Church life and revisited concepts, stories and Scripture passages she’d learned as a child and still understood in childish ways. She was astonished to discover one of the beatitudes declares: “Blessed are the meek” (Matthew 5:5).

There can be no substitute for God

Fr. Scott Lewis · March 1, 2024

Third Sunday of Lent (Year B) March 3 (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25; John 2:13-25) Many people do not know quite what to do with the Decalogue, aka the Ten Commandments. Some want to toss it out the window as irrelevant and outdated. Others will salute it and insist on its importance. Conservative “family values” politicians sometimes use it as a club to beat society, but when cornered, they are often unable to explain — or sometimes even to name — all 10 of the commandments.

‘Graphic images’ law challenged

Anna Farrow · March 1, 2024

A Christian advocacy organization is challenging a St. Catharines city bylaw barring flyers with “graphic images” from being delivered to city homes.

Senate pushes MAiD for mentally ill three years down the road

Quinton Amundson · March 1, 2024

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) access for individuals solely living with a mental illness is officially delayed until March 17, 2027, as the Senate of Canada passed Bill C-62 at third reading Feb. 29.

CFS Toronto centralize offices

Amalgamated into one out of pastoral centre

Luke Mandato · March 1, 2024

Catholic Family Services of Toronto is combining its offices into one location, with a vow to continue providing care for the whole community from its midtown office at the Archdiocese of Toronto Pastoral Centre.

Foundation shares 'universal spirit of caring'

Quinton Amundson · March 1, 2024

Fr. Sajo Jacob of St. Pius X Parish in Calgary said the Relighting Lives Foundation he supports is passionate about “empowering youth and outreach to the poorest of the poor.”

Bridging gap of academics, pastoral ministry

March 1, 2024

“I am here not to fight the Church — I am here to fight for a better Church,” says Professor Mariéle Wulf about her role as director of the Centre for Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Persons (CPCS) at Saint. Paul University in Ottawa.

Israeli Jesuit to share a Church view on Gaza war

March 2, 2024

Jesuit Fr. David Neuhaus, himself an Israeli citizen, is hosting a webinar to inform Catholics about the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza which comes on the heals of the broken down ceasefire talks between the parties.

Niagara leaders impacted thousands

March 2, 2024

For the first time in five years, the Niagara Catholic District School Board is honouring education leaders with its Award of Distinction. Three people were endorsed by the board at its Feb. 13 special board meeting — John Belcastro, Sr. Mary Kay Camp and Angelo Di Ianni. The trio will be presented their awards at the Niagara Foundation for Catholic Education Annual Benefit Gala March 21.

Ana Rivera drives Hamilton’s 40 Days for Life

John Wilson · March 3, 2024

40 Days for Life in Hamilton, Ont., is completing its fifth campaign under the leadership of Ana Rivera. It’s a continuation of the pro-life sensibilities Rivera has been developing since her earliest years. In an interview with The Catholic Register, she traced her vocation to defend the unborn back to hearing the testimonies of pro-life workers on a Catholic radio station, Radio Maria Colombia.

Brian Mulroney’s Catholic faith forged his identity

Susan Korah · March 4, 2024

When Pope (now St.) John Paul II arrived in Ottawa in 1984, the first pontiff to visit this country, greeting him in Ottawa was Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney, one of 10 Catholics who have held that office since 1867.

Pharmacare’s contraception focus ‘deeply troubling’

Quinton Amundson · March 5, 2024

With the framework of a national pharmacare program launched by the Liberal-NDP coalition, some are finding its initial focus on contraceptives a “deeply troubling” aspect of the deal.

French bishops call for fasting, prayer as abortion is enshrined in country's constitution

Caroline de Sury · March 5, 2024

French bishops called for fasting and prayer as abortion was enshrined in the constitution by an overwhelming 780-72 vote, accompanied by a standing ovation when the result was announced as the parliament met in Versailles.

Judge denies MAiD stay on Montreal centre

Anna Farrow · March 5, 2024

A Quebec Superior Court judge has denied the Archdiocese of Montreal’s request for a stay of the legal obligation placed on a Montreal palliative care centre to offer assisted death to its residents.

Vatican dicastery overturns St. John’s church closure

Parishioners rejoice in ruling against Archdiocese

Quinton Amundson · March 5, 2024

The Catholics of Portugal Cove-St. Philips, NL, who felt “betrayed” by the Archdiocese of St. John’s closing of Holy Rosary Church in October 2022 have attained a “moral victory” and a potential pathway to reopening their beloved church.

Mail-order abortion pills sourced in Toronto

Health Canada only finds out about Women on Web from Register query

Anna Farrow · March 6, 2024

A Canadian non-profit has become a major player in the drive to help women “self-administer abortion at home” through the distribution of abortion pills by mail, all below the radar of Health Canada.

Online bill could criminalize free speech, critics say

Quinton Amundson · March 7, 2024

Two proposed bills, the Online Harms Act (Bill C-63) and Bill C-367, have critics suggesting that if passed, they could threaten the freedom to express beliefs and convictions online and in the public square.

Verbatim: Timely Lenten advice from the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall website

March 7, 2024

Timely Lenten advice from the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall website

Editorial: At his best when it counted

March 7, 2024

If posthumous praise could be turned into retroactive votes, the late Brian Mulroney might be poised for resurrection as Canada’s prime minister.