News/Canada

The Kazanjian family, refugees from Aleppo, Syria, who are spending their first Christmas in Toronto this year.

Safe from the strife in Syria, families struggle with new life in Canada

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Before Christmas last year, Wartohi Myrdijian had to worry about the bombs falling on either side of her house in Aleppo. She was most afraid of the crude, unpredictable, improvised bombs that came from the ISIS side of the conflict.

Due to Parliament's upcoming winter recess, the Palliative care bill C-277's final vote will have to wait until February.

Palliative care bill passage on hold until February

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OTTAWA – Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu had hoped her Bill C-277 calling for a national palliative care framework would pass before Christmas, but it appears she will have to wait until February.

Syrian refugees arrive from Beirut at a hotel in Mississauga, Ontario Dec. 10, 2015.

Syrian refugees, agencies face obstacles a year after settlement

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Will Month 13 unsettle thousands of Syrian refugees who have already settled in Canada?

Saskatchewan’s bishops, along with Indigenous leaders, have invited Pope Francis to visit Saskatchewan in 2018 or ‘19.

Indigenous leaders, Saskatchewan bishops invite Pope to Canada

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OTTAWA – Pope Francis has said no to visiting Canada in 2017, but that hasn’t stopped Saskatchewan’s bishops and Indigenous leaders from planning a papal visit.

The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion instructing the Health Committee to study the impact of violent online pornography Dec. 8.

House of Commons' Health Committee to study impact of violent porn

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OTTAWA – The House of Commons unanimously passed a Conservative MP’s motion Dec. 8 instructing the Commons’ Health Committee to study the impact of violent online pornography.

Warren Allmand, the solicitor general for the Pierre Trudeau government, died at 84 on Dec. 7.

Warren Allmand, who died at 84, was a principled politician

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MONTREAL – Warren Allmand is being mourned as an exceptional and principled Roman Catholic politician who, as solicitor general in Pierre Trudeau’s cabinet in 1976, introduced the bill which abolished capital punishment in Canada.

Andrew Bennett, Canada's former ambassador of religious freedom, told a Senate committee that Canada’s focus on religious freedom has “diminished.”

Canada’s focus on religious freedom has diminished, says former ambassador

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OTTAWA – Canada's former ambassador of religious freedom told a Senate committee that Canada’s focus on religious freedom has “diminished” since the Office of Religious Freedom was closed in May.

Liverpool John Moores University's Face Lab created what they believe to be the most realistic depiction of St. Nicholas of Myra.

Scientists reconstructed the face of St. Nicholas – here’s what they found

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LIVERPOOL, England – Scientists at a university in Liverpool recently unveiled what they say is the most realistic portrait ever created of St. Nicholas of Myra, the popular 4th Century bishop best known as the inspiration for the modern-day figure of Santa Claus.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau helps a young Syrian refugee try on a winter coat at the Toronto Pearson International Airport December 2015. Private and government sponsorship funds to support refugee families for a year are coming to a end.

Syrian refugees face new challenges as Canada's sponsorship funding ends

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OTTAWA – A Senate committee has given mixed reviews to Canada's resettlement of thousands of Syrian refugees and warns government action is needed as sponsorship funding draws to an end.

Pope Francis accepts an official invitation to visit Montreal from Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 27. The Pope was invited to visit Montreal in 2017 for the city’s 375th anniversary.

Pope won't be apologizing to First Nations, Canadian visit not on 2017 calendar

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OTTAWA – Pope Francis has turned down invitations to visit Canada in 2017 but has left open the possibility of a papal visit in the following two years.

Similar to the guideline put out by Quebec's bishops, the Atlantic bishops stress pastoral care in dealing with legalized assisted suicide.

Atlantic bishops stress pastoral care in assisted death guideline

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OTTAWA – New guidelines issued by the bishops of Atlantic Canada emphasize pastoral accompaniment for those who chose assisted suicide or euthanasia and seem to leave open the possibility of receiving the Sacraments and a Catholic funeral.

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