Pews packed with mask-free churchgoers of all ages; communal singing; parish halls buzzing with conversation as the coffee brews. 

Government mandates that interfere with, or eliminate the ability of, the faithful to gather for Holy Mass are certainly not new. But has it ever been required to provide proof of a medical treatment to enter a church?

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court announced Jan. 14 it would hear an appeal from a former high school football coach in Washington state who says his rights to freedom of speech and religion were violated when he was fired in 2015 for praying on the football field after team games.

In the weeks since Quebec’s indoor Mass ban took effect, some Catholics are making do by embracing the outdoor religious celebrations available to them.

The small but agitated crowd at the front steps of the Catholic Centre in downtown Montreal mistook me for their saviour.

As of Dec. 20, anyone entering a place of worship in Quebec will be required to show their vaccination status.

Parishes across Canada have the green light to open their doors to more parishioners celebrating the birth of Christ than was allowed last year.

In Judeo-Christian terms we speak about the notion of abetting evil. A Catholic doctor will not only refuse to perform euthanasia but will not refer the patient to someone who will. The referral is a form of abetting evil; paving the way for the act to happen.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Sri Lankan churches once again have halted services, church weddings and Sunday schools due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections.

The power of prayer is being marshalled across Canada to call out abuse of power by China’s Communist Party in a national, ecumenical Zoom liturgy scheduled for March 21.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has come to the defence of a man who drew complaints to police for comments he made concerning a proposal to fly the gay pride flag to recognize June’s “Pride Month” at Toronto Catholic schools.

As Quebec movie theatres welcome up to 250 patrons as pandemic protocols begin to loosen, churches remain limited to only 10 people — including the presiding priest — at worship services.

The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act in a 224-206 vote Feb. 25.

WASHINGTON -- A Supreme Court decision allowing indoor worship services in Santa Clara county, California, was praised by Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of San Jose, located in the county where the ban had been in effect.

VATICAN CITY -- For believers, the ability to practice their faith and receive spiritual guidance are "the highest of essential services," and pandemic practices over the past year have shown they are not automatically super-spreader events, the Vatican foreign minister said.