Gerry Turcotte: Books mark the many pages of our lives

I was recently tagged on a Twitter post in what has been called the Book Challenge. If invited, the recipient is asked to post a cover of an all-time favourite book, with no explanation or description of the choice. Just seven covers over seven days, and with each post the recipient is asked to nominate someone new to take up the challenge — a chain letter, of sorts, for the 21st century. 

Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo: There’s no true joy in consumerism

In a pastoral letter on stewardship, Cardinal Thomas Collins suggests that in order to discover what is really important to us, we should look at how we spend our money.

Angela Saldanha: What happened to Sabbath day?

My daughter, skyping from her home in Switzerland, remarked how quiet it was.  Very little traffic about, she said — all shops shut.

Mary Durran: Haiti’s youth driving frantic push for change

Since Feb. 7, women’s leader Louisiane Nazaire has hardly dared to leave her home in the city of Jérémie in southwestern Haiti. 

God's Word on Sunday: Words speak loudly about our character

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, March 3 (Year C) Sirach 27:4-7; Psalm 92; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45


Glen Argan: Oilsands pastoral letter deserves attention

Ten years ago, on Jan. 25, 2009, Bishop Luc Bouchard, then bishop of St. Paul, Alta., issued one of the most courageous and most ignored pastoral letters in Canadian Church history. “The Integrity of Creation and the Athabasca Oil Sands” did create a brief firestorm before dropping out of the public eye. On the 10th anniversary, nary a mention was made of the letter.

God's Word on Sunday: The high road is built on compassion

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 24 (Year C) 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-25; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38


Bob Brehl: Toronto priest doesn’t pull any punches on clerical abuse

Even before Pope Francis called on bishops from around the globe to meet for a Vatican sex abuse summit, a Toronto priest was travelling to parishes to talk about the origins of and solutions to clergy abuse of minors.

Peter Stockland: ‘Priestly problem’ must be tackled

Long ago, a childhood friend and I were walking across an old wooden bridge in the small town where we lived when a car stopped to offer us a ride. The local priest was at the wheel.

Fr. Raymond J. de Souza: Sex abuse summit is catch-up time for much of the world

It is déjà vu all over again for Canadian bishops who travelled to Rome for the Vatican’s meeting on the protection of minors in the Church.

Francis Campbell: Church, newspapers look to turn the tide

It sometimes seems that you are playing for the losing team.