News/Toronto-GTA
End 'effective referral' policy for doctors, protesters demand
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterFundamental freedoms are threatened by a College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario policy that would force doctors to provide an “effective referral” for services such as abortion and assisted suicide even if they believe it to be medically and morally wrong, former Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth told about 30 protesters gathered in front of Queen's Park on Nov. 30.
Shroud of Turin replica caught in bylaw battle
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – It takes faith to thumb your nose at city hall, and Reg Hartt has plenty.
Two years in the making, Pietà statue arrives at St. Michael's crypt
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterImages of his prized Pietà cracking and crumbling robbed Lawrence Voaides-Cajabn of sleep the night before the statue's final journey to St. Michael's Cathedral.
Blanket Exercise pulls covers off painful aboriginal history
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – While playing the role of an aboriginal being stripped of her land as part of an educational exercise, Danielle Duggan found herself fighting back real tears.
Scarboro Missions’ interfaith office closing after three-plus decades of work
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – Scarboro Missions’ interfaith office, a centre for reflection and dialogue between Canadian Catholics and people of other faiths for more than 30 years, is closing.
Deaf ministry a work in progress
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – When Fr. Matthew Hysell became the first deaf priest ordained in Canada, he saw it as a major sign of the Church reaching out to the community of the hearing impaired.
Toronto priest re-elected head of Redemptorists
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterToronto's Fr. Michael Brehl has earned a resounding vote to confidence from his fellow Redemptorists, who have given him another six-year term as Superior General of the Congregation of Most Holy Redeemer.
Crypt plans for St. Michael's Cathedral are put on hold
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – A plan to start interring cremated remains in the crypts beneath the renovated St. Michael’s Cathedral is on hold as the Archdiocese of Toronto sorts through a host of issues.
‘Freedom of conscience’ a must, says doctor
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – It’s rare for an hour-long, academic lecture to get a standing ovation, but Dr. Ewan Goligher earned thunderous applause from about 100 people who turned up on a cold, rainy night to hear his defence of medical conscience.
Film explores diplomat's efforts to warn world of Holocaust
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterWhen the Holocaust was still a gleam in Adolf Hitler’s twisted, paranoid eye, there was one American Catholic with a little bit of Canadian heritage mixed in who saw what was coming and did his best to warn the world.
Toronto's Catholic School board opens arms for refugees
By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – When Christine Shekherdmian, a Syrian refugee from Aleppo, registered her two children at Annunciation Catholic School in Toronto, she was given a welcome she never expected.