Canadian News

News and events from across the country.

'Spiritual void' a problem in Quebec

November 14, 2007

OTTAWA - The collapse of Catholicism, not the demands of religious minorities, is responsible for Quebec’s profound anxiety over reasonable accommodation, according to Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

P.E.I. parishes on chopping block

November 9, 2007

In less than a year the church in Prince Edward Island could cut two-thirds of its parishes. Demographic shifts, an overstretched and aging priesthood and financial pressures are driving the diocese of Charlottetown to consider reducing the number of parishes, missions and chapels it is committed to maintaining from 59 to 17.

Euthanasia argument unfair to vulnerable

November 9, 2007

With the latest calls to resurrect the “right to die,” a leading pro-life proponent reinforced his argument that life needs to be protected from conception until natural death.

Canada well placed to halt Darfur slaughter

November 8, 2007

TORONTO - There really is a new world order, and Canada has stumbled into a critical role in it, Sen. Romeo Dallaire told a gathering at the University of Toronto as he helped launch the anti-genocide Aegis Trust in Canada Nov. 3.

Petition launched to bring Pope to Quebec

November 7, 2007

OTTAWA - A former Quebec justice minister has launched a petition aimed at bringing Pope Benedict XVI to Quebec City for the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in June.

The Dalai Lama's happy reality

November 5, 2007

TORONTO - The Dalai Lama, whose name is Tenzin Gyatso, has a hard enough time convincing people he is a simple, 72-year-old monk and a refugee. That the spiritual leader who embodies both Tibetan culture and Tibetan Buddhism could convince 16,000 who came to see him at the Rogers Centre Halloween evening that he is a man of science and a champion of the secular borders on miraculous.

Million-dollar facelift at Toronto Chinese parish

November 2, 2007

TORONTO - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church just got a $1-million facelift. In just under one year art restorer Carlos Nunes and his team has restored the downtown Toronto parish to look as it did in 1908, except for a few new additions reflecting the culture of its Chinese congregation.

St. Luke's celebrates 160 years

November 2, 2007

THORNHILL, Ont. - There hasn’t always been a St. Luke’s, but just about. The parish has been there in one form or another ever since Bishop Michael Power decided Upper Canada needed another Catholic church between Toronto and Newmarket in 1844. It cost $1,000 to buy land for the church, rectory and cemetery that began St. Luke’s long history in 1847.

Students important for who they are: Vanier

November 2, 2007

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - In a world driven to distraction by hyper-competition, the challenge of the Catholic teacher is to help children discover that they are important for who they are, not what they’ve done. That was the message of Jean Vanier to a group of more than 1,900 educators who gathered here Oct. 26.

City honours Providence legacy

November 2, 2007

TORONTO - Heritage Toronto presented the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto with a French and English plaque commemorating 150 years since founding the former House of Providence, now Providence Healthcare.