{mosimage}Editor's note: Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec and primate of the Catholic Church in Canada, made front page news Nov. 21 with the publication in daily newspapers across the province of an open letter asking forgiveness for the sins of past church leaders. Below is an English translation.
Following my intervention at the Bouchard-Taylor commission, your comments have been many and varied. I have read all of them with great care, whether they came in the mail or through the media. I thank you for the messages of support, I also thank you for the criticism which has made me reflect and prompted this open letter, which seeks to deepen reflection, dispel misunderstandings and promote dialogue in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.
Following my intervention at the Bouchard-Taylor commission, your comments have been many and varied. I have read all of them with great care, whether they came in the mail or through the media. I thank you for the messages of support, I also thank you for the criticism which has made me reflect and prompted this open letter, which seeks to deepen reflection, dispel misunderstandings and promote dialogue in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.
Government challenged on tax cuts to oil sector
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}The federal government has some explaining to do about climate change and tax breaks. A coalition of churches with the help of an environmental legal group are hoping to hear what the government has to say early in 2008.
Canadian Church folk a helping bunch
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
{mosimage}OTTAWA - Canadian society stands to become a much bleaker place if religious attendance continues to decline as it has over the past two decades.
Monastery sale divides Toronto Ukrainians
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - The Ukrainian eparchy of Toronto is divided and will face years of bitterness and recrimination over its decision to sell its monastery near Orangeville, according to one of the bishop’s most senior consultors.
Decision expected soon on papal visit to Canada
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
{mosimage} OTTAWA - No decision has been made by Vatican officials on the possibility of a papal visit to Canada to attend next June's Eucharistic Congress in Quebec City, Canadian church officials say.
Actress’s abortion process turned her pro-life
By Tony Gosgnach, Catholic Register Special{mosimage}OAKVILLE, Ont. - Actress. Film and television star. Cover girl. Composer. Author. Poet. Artist. And spokesperson for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.
Spiritual void a nationwide problem
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
{mosimage}OTTAWA - Cardinal Marc Ouellet’s assessment of Quebec’s spiritual void, his passionate defence of her Christian history and his warning about the threat of fundamentalist secularism should be heeded in the rest of Canada, say religious freedom experts.
Poverty gets political
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - Churches believe the moment has finally arrived when poverty is about to mix with politics in Canada, and the faith community wants an invitation to the party.
CCCJ honours Harry Belafonte
By Catholic Register Staff
{mosimage}TORONTO - The Canadian Council of Christians and Jews has honoured multi-award winning performer and civil and human rights advocate Harry Belafonte with the International Diversity Award from its Canadian Centre for Diversity.
Politics, cutting costs threaten sanctity of life
By Catholic Register Staff{mosimage}TORONTO - A pro-life advocate, Alex Schadenberg, has warned that one of the Catholic faith’s foremost goals, to preserve life, is under threat from the political and medical fronts in Canada.
'Spiritual void' a problem in Quebec
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
{mosimage}OTTAWA - The collapse of Catholicism, not the demands of religious minorities, is responsible for Quebec’s profound anxiety over reasonable accommodation, according to Cardinal Marc Ouellet.