News/Canada

Catholic agencies are relieved that the new Office of Freedom, Human Rights and Inclusion will take over concerns about religious freedom. Andrew Bennett’s three-year term as religious freedom ambassador ended in March.

Catholic agencies welcome new Office of Freedom and Human Rights

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OTTAWA – The Office of Religious Freedom is gone but it has not been entirely forgotten by the government that closed it.

Fr. David Reitzel, left, is the latest in the Reitzel family to join the priesthood. He was ordained May 7 in Hamilton, Ont. He’s seen here with his uncle, Fr. Frank Reitzel. Two other Reitzel’s are also priests and another will be ordained next year.

Reitzel family from Waterloo is a priestly dynasty

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HAMILTON, ONT. – A visitor to the Kitchener-Waterloo area, looking for “Fr. Reitzel,” might get this reply to their query: “Which one?”

St. Bernadette’s parish in Ajax, Ont., is still awaiting approval to bring the Hano family it is sponsoring to Canada.

Ajax parish taking action on refugee sponsorship delay

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AJAX, ONT. – Members of an Ajax parish are growing frustrated as the wait grows longer for the Iraqi refugee family they have sponsored to be approved for resettlement in Canada.

Catholic Civil Rights League president Phil Horgan wants tougher conscience protection amendments in Bill C-14.

Amended C-14 includes nod to conscience protection

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OTTAWA – An amendment to  Canada’s proposed assisted suicide legislation fails to go far enough to protect conscience rights and religious freedom, say several opponents.

Conservative MP and Justice Committee co-chair Ted Falk says the bill will "give up grounds" in personal rights and freedom to not have to share a bathroom with someone who may not identify with their biological sex.

Transgender law forces people to ‘give up ground’ in personal freedoms, critic says

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OTTAWA – As the United States deals with turmoil over so-called “bathroom bills,” Canada’s attorney general has introduced a bill to extend protection to transgender Canadians under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Canada’s assisted-suicide legislation is being seen as a catalyst by those involved in end-of-life care to ensure people have access to quality palliative care.

Euthanasia bill a kickstart to examining end-of-life options

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As the federal government prepares to pass new legislation for physician-assisted suicide by the Supreme Court’s June 6 deadline, Catholics are growing nervous about what options they have for the future.

Thousands marched through the streets of Ottawa at the National March for Life May 12. Organizers estimated there were 22,000 people in attendance at the annual march.

Thousands take over downtown Ottawa for National March for Life

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OTTAWA – Thousands descended on Parliament Hill May 12 for the annual National March for Life as the Liberal government within the walls of Parliament was rushing a bill through that will legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada.

Feina Dykstra sits among nearly 7,000 baby booties in the Booties for Babies campaign organized by ARPA on Parliament Hill May 11. Dykstra helped teach people how to make the booties and was overwhelmed by the interest.

‘Booties for babies’ spreads pro-life message on Parliament Hill

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OTTAWA (CCN)—On May 11, the day before the annual National March for Life, a carpet of nearly 7,000 crocheted, knitted and sewn baby booties adorned Parliament Hill to send a prolife message.

Campaign Life Coalition program manager and UN representative Matthew Wojciechowski said he was not surprised the Liberals are restoring overseas abortion funding.

Canada to fund overseas abortion

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OTTAWA – The federal government is set to begin funding abortion in the developing world, reversing the policy of the Harper government to not provide funding for such procedures overseas.

Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto speaks alongside other Canadian religious leaders during an April 19 news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. The group, representing Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities, held a joint news conference to express their "grave concern" over the decriminalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia.

When it comes to Bill C-14, time is not on our side

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It is possible that Canada’s Minister of Justice, Jody Wilson-Raybould, has a sense of humour or a real flair for irony, but odds are she meant what she said as the Liberal Government invoked time closure on May 4 and shut down debate on the assisted dying legislation.

Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires look through donated goods and clothing May 5 at the Bold Center in Lac la Biche, Alberta. Pope Francis has added his name to the list of people offering condolences to those affected by the massive forest fire that has led to the evacuation of Fort McMurray.

Catholic college in Edmonton houses Fort McMurray evacuees

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EDMONTON – A smiling St. Joseph's College employee poked her head around Danica Wolitski's door and said, "We've got another family with three children."

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