Canadian News

News and events from across the country.

Spiritually starved heard at The Listening Post

February 12, 2010

TORONTO - In prayer and silence, the brains behind Toronto’s Listening Post patiently await visitors to their unique ministry at Danforth and Broadview three times a week. Deacon Robert Kinghorn and Eusebia da Silva, both experienced in spiritual direction, have opened a space for the city’s spiritually starved to sit in silence or find a listening ear to their problems.

Vancouver church is ready for the world

February 11, 2010

As February dawned the Games were already on for British Columbia Catholics getting ready to welcome Olympic athletes, media and fans for the XXI Winter Games. “I was in the athletes’ village this morning, just making sure everything is set up for Mass tomorrow morning,” Msgr. Jerry Desmond told The Catholic Register just days before the opening ceremonies.

40 Days for Life launches Ash Wednesday in six Canadian cities

February 8, 2010

TORONTO - This year’s 40 Days for Life campaign of prayer, fasting, community outreach and peaceful vigil kicks off on Feb. 17, Ash Wednesday, in 162 cities across Canada, the United States, Australia and Northern Ireland. Toronto will be one of six participating Canadian cities for the pro-life campaign, running to March 28. Participants will gather at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue West near the Women’s Care Clinic to pray for an end to abortion, said Nicole Campbell, national director for 40 Days for Life. Other vigils will take place in Montreal, Guelph, Ont., Edmonton, Red Deer, Alta., and Kelowna, B.C.

Interfaith group takes on Scarborough homelessness

February 8, 2010

TORONTO - A new Scarborough interfaith group says it plans to buy a home to help homeless people off the local streets. This was just one of several ideas as the Scarborough Interfaith Affordable Housing Association tries to find solutions to homelessness. The group held a Jan. 23 affordable housing forum called “In From the Cold” attended by about 50 faith leaders, community activists and concerned citizens at Knox United Church.

Archbishop Collins blasts Ignatieff's pro-abortion stance

February 5, 2010

It is astonishing and sad that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is advocating that Canada fund overseas abortions, charged Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins. Collins released a statement on Feb. 4 in response to Ignatieff's public calls for the government to include contraception and abortion funding as basic components of a new foreign aid strategy to improve maternal and childhood health.

Toronto Catholics raise $1.1 million for Haiti relief

February 4, 2010

TORONTO - Catholics in the archdiocese of Toronto have responded overwhelmingly to the destructive January quake in Haiti, raising more than $1.1 million in just three weeks. As of Feb. 2, the tally included donations made by schools, parishes and personal donations to ShareLife, the fundraising arm of the archdiocese.

Charitable status lost when church didn’t file report

February 4, 2010

OTTAWA - An official from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) said King’s Glory Fellowship of Calgary lost its charitable status for failing to file its annual financial report. Its controversial lay pastor Artur Pawlowski admitted he did miss the deadline. He believes, however, King’s Glory Fellowship’s charitable status has not been restored because of his vocal defence of Christian teaching. (See Calgary bishop comes to defence of lay pastor )

Olympics must not provide human trafficking opportunities, bishops say

February 4, 2010

OTTAWA - Concerned by reports that the Vancouver Winter Olympics could provide an ideal climate for human trafficking, Canada’s Catholic bishops have issued a pastoral letter denouncing a dehumanizing crime that, says the United Nations, affects 2.5 million people worldwide. The Jan. 26 letter, signed by members of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (CCCB) Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, said major sporting events often see “systems put in place to satisfy the demand for paid sex” and “this is likely to be the case during the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.”

Bishop Lahey's next court date set for April 9

February 3, 2010

OTTAWA - Bishop Raymond Lahey's next court date on charges of possession and importation of child pornography has been set for April 9. The former bishop of Antigonish, N.S., did not appear in court Feb. 3 when one of his lawyers arranged for the new court date. He is unlikely to appear in court on April 9 either, according to his lawyer Michael Edelson.

Toronto Christians called to solidarity with Haiti

February 3, 2010

TORONTO- Less than a month after a devastating earthquake flattened the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Christian leaders in Toronto rallied the faithful to continue praying and supporting those touched by the disaster. In light of the powerful Jan. 12 earthquake, and the many violent aftershocks the country has suffered, Archbishop Thomas Collins called on Christians attending an ecumenical prayer service for the people of Haiti Feb. 1 to respond in solidarity.