Violence ends where love begins. 

Here we go again. Development and Peace, an organization created by Canada’s bishops, is back on the hot seat over allegations it failed to properly screen some overseas partners. At least 11 dioceses have withheld funds from the organization after suggestions that several of its partner agencies are offside on issues that include abortion, contraception and gender theory. 

Twelve Canadian bishops, including Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto, are withholding contributions to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace following preliminary research that indicates some of the Catholic agency’s partners may be connected to abortion or artificial contraception.

Faith is the force Development and Peace counts on when they ask for money. A new study by the Angus Reid Institute shows they have the right idea — but also that it may not be enough.

OTTAWA – Bishops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are making a direct appeal to the government and people of Canada to put pressure on the Kabila government to respect the constitution and hold elections.

There are 3.9 billion people hungry or malnourished, including over 800 million who are so chronically underfed they’re actually dying for lack of nutrients, which is why Development and Peace is still asking Canadian Catholics for money.

The question in Section 5 of the form stares at me from my computer: “Estimated Attendance?” I am filling out the Nathan Phillips Square Special Event Application form provided by the City of Toronto. On April 25, we plan to gather as young Catholics to raise our voices for a more generous Canada.

Perhaps the notion of the common good will soon have its day in the sun.

Canada is on track to fall even further behind other countries in doing its bit for the world’s most vulnerable populations, despite an extra $200 million injected into the 2018 foreign aid budget.

Development and Peace has signed onto a political manifesto that reflects in part the teaching of Pope Francis in a call for drastic change in environmental policy.

The disciplines of Lent — prayer, fasting and almsgiving — are an exercise in conscience formation. Lent is much more than conscience formation, but it is that.

“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1). So begins the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. 

More than half the Canadian population thinks the Rohingya crisis, which has created a refugee camp of over 600,000 in the Bangladeshi border town of Cox’s Bazar, is “not Canada’s problem,” according to an Angus Reid Institute poll. 

The international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada is demanding the federal government adopt a feminist foreign aid policy that diverts emphasis from enabling abortion to delivering lasting peace.

The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace is offering something for nothing until Oct. 20 — membership in one of Canada’s biggest and oldest social justice organizations.