Canadian News

News and events from across the country.

Changes to homeless funding coming

January 5, 2007

TORONTO - There's no new money but there is a new name for the federal government's program to house the homeless across Canada.

Three parent ruling draws condemnation

January 4, 2007

OTTAWA - The Ontario Court of Appeal has recognized three parents in the case of a child being raised by a lesbian couple and has accorded equal rights and obligations to the lesbian partner in addition to the child's biological mother and father.

Canadian bishops express concern about marriage vote

December 22, 2006

OTTAWA - The president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has written Prime Minister Stephen Harper, raising a number of concerns in the wake of a failed motion to restore the traditional definition of marriage.

Response to terrorism can be taken from holy books

December 22, 2006

Fr. Bob Holmes and Shabir Ally [images/stories/toronto/holmes_sabir.jpg]TORONTO - Muslim cleric and scholar Shabir Ally's message to high school students with questions about terrorism is that theology matters. Ally took about 200 high school students from across the Greater Toronto Area through a quick tour of the history of Muslim thought about war and peace. The students were at the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto, for the annual Brebeuf Social Justice Symposium on Dec. 15. Students from half a dozen Catholic schools converged downtown to question a variety of speakers gathered to address the topic "When faith meets terror."

High school students have mixed feelings about Ontario's mandatory World Religions course

December 22, 2006

TORONTO - Instead of reflecting on the tradition of a Hindu marriage ceremony, Grade 11 World Religion students at Bishop Allen Academy in Toronto reflect on the question: "Why do I have to take this course?"

Insiders not surprised at Archbishop Collins' posting to Canada's largest diocese

December 22, 2006

TORONTO - The man who is about to become one of the most powerful churchmen in Canada has no interest in the trappings of power. Archbishop Thomas Collins has been a success as a seminary professor and rector, as a bishop in northern Alberta and as a metropolitan archbishop in Edmonton. Church insiders are not surprised Collins was appointed to lead Toronto, Canada's largest and richest Catholic diocese by Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 16.

After 16 years, Cardinal Ambrozic retires as head of archdiocese

December 22, 2006

Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic [images/stories/canada_bishops/AmbrozicSmile.jpg]TORONTO - With the appointment of a replacement, began last week to say his goodbyes to the flock he has led as archbishop for 16 years. The cardinal said his last noon Mass at St. Michael's Cathedral as archbishop of Toronto Dec. 17, using the occasion to thank all those who had worked with him and for him. And on Dec. 19, he presided over a Christmas thanksgiving Mass with staff at the Catholic Pastoral Centre.

Homeless, poor not forgotten on Christmas Day

December 18, 2006

Toronto Good Shepherd Centre [images/stories/toronto/feed.jpg]TORONTO - For most people in our society, Christmas is a joyful time spent with family. But for the homeless, it's not a celebration they can relate to.

Bioethics conference examines health

December 18, 2006

What health means will be thoroughly examined by the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute at its 2007 conference in Halifax this coming May.

Manitoba implements no-sweat policy

December 18, 2006

WINNIPEG - The first province to impose minimum labour standards for the clothes its government buys is Manitoba.