Brian Dryden, Canadian Catholic News
Canadian bishops' plenary adapts to the times
OTTAWA -- The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a challenging learning experience for the Catholic Church in Canada, and that continued when the first-ever online Plenary Assembly of Canada’s bishops began Sept. 21 as bishops from across the nation gathered in front of their computers to get down to business.
Canadians want real debate on abortion, says MP
OTTAWA -- An MP who wants a law to make it illegal to abort an unborn child based solely on a baby’s sex thinks her biggest challenge is not to convince Canadians of this, but instead is to convince those in the halls of power.
COVID-19 hangs over bishops’ plenary
OTTAWA -- The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the Catholic Church in Canada will be a key theme of the first-ever online plenary assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops when the annual meeting gets underway Sept. 21.
Season of Creation prompts calls for action
OTTAWA -- Religious and social justice groups are promising to make environmental justice initiatives the focus of a month-long celebration of creation following a plea by Pope Francis to better protect the environment, respect Indigenous communities around the globe and listen to the concerns of young people.
Assisted suicide can proceed, appeal court rules
OTTAWA -- A Nova Scotia appeal court has cleared the way for an elderly Nova Scotia man to kill himself with the help of a doctor.
Wife fighting husband’s bid for assisted suicide
OTTAWA -- A legal battle between an elderly married couple in Nova Scotia over the husband’s wish to kill himself with medical aid has become a rallying cry for anti-euthanasia organizations in Canada.
Advocates to keep up battle against refugee agreement
The federal government’s decision to appeal a court ruling that puts an international refugee agreement with the United States at risk is disappointing but not surprising to refugee advocacy and church groups that have long sought to have the Safe Third Country Agreement scuttled.
Liberals going full steam ahead on C-7
OTTAWA -- The federal Liberals are vowing to pass changes to Canada’s assisted suicide law before a court-imposed deadline even though if they will be in the position to make changes remains to be seen.
O’Toole must hear social conservatives
OTTAWA -- A social conservative did not win the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Ontario MP Erin O’Toole did.
Canadian bishops offer prayers and support for Lebanon
OTTAWA -- Canadians and the Catholic Church in Canada have always been there for the people of Lebanon in times of need, says the Montreal-based Maronite Catholic Bishop Paul-Marwan Tabet.