Landmark church closure a sad sign of the times
WINDSOR, ONT. - Last week I wrote about the impressive evangelical energy of young Chinese Catholics and how encouraging it was to be with them. Not two days later I was confronted with the grim reality of ecclesial life in Canada — the pockets of vitality are just that, pockets.
The question of divorce
In late August, shortly after my wife and I celebrated our anniversary, the secretary-general of the Italian Bishops Conference, signalled a possible massive change in Church teaching on marriage.
If cheaters never prosper, why do people cheat?
Why do people cheat — whether on their spouse, during tests, playing sports or in business? A recent event amongst friends triggered this question in my mind and nagged me for several days about the psychology of cheating.
- By Robert Brehl
Young Chinese Catholics put faith in action
ARDEN, ONT. - Acronym wise, it’s a mouthful — ECCCLC. So participants call it “GT” instead, which stands for Ga Tong, which gives you a sense of who is involved.
Faith and hope can help renew our relationship with God
The sawed-off four-metre wooden crucifix was carefully lowered to the ground at the entrance to the cemetery.
Just War and Iraq
Should Christians be pleased that the expansion of the “Islamic State” in Iraq has apparently been slowed? Should they be pleased that this was the result of American air strikes?
Don’t squander time
The subject was sausages. Specifically, another round of breakfast-table jibes about my habit of cooking sausages in the microwave.
The ‘irrational attack’ against Catholic schools
Many years ago, a person named Margaret Wente called and offered me a job at the Globe and Mail newspaper, which I accepted. Many, many years ago, I passed through the Catholic school system in Toronto, elementary school at Holy Cross and high school at Neil McNeil.
- By Robert Brehl
Fr. Gravel pursued agenda of rebellion
Fr. Raymond Gravel died on the feast of St. Clare and was buried on Assumption day with great laudations from Quebec’s political class. The flag at Montreal city hall was lowered to half-mast by order of the mayor, and former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe spoke at the funeral Mass.
Shunning the bad shepherd
How should malfeasant bishops be held accountable on matters of sexual abuse? Pope Francis, in his meeting with victims of clerical sexual abuse this week, committed the Church to punishing bishops who have been negligent in removing from ministry abusive priests.
Resist being neutered
Should we be jubilant or alarmed that a Jewish kid from Calgary was the one who stood up for Canada’s Christians against a blatant act of political discrimination? Equal parts both.