Arts and Culture

Francis’ clandestine network saved Argentine dissidents

September 21, 2013

VATICAN CITY - While a military-backed dictatorship in Argentina was conducting a clandestine war on suspected dissidents, then-Fr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future Pope, masterminded a secret strategy to save those being targeted, according to a new book.

Wartime diaries unveil more on Pope Pius XII

September 14, 2013

TORONTO - The only published diary of a high-ranking Holy See official from the Second World War will soon be available in English.

Catholic film censor to re-examine its role

September 14, 2013

OTTAWA - A Quebec organization founded by the Canadian bishops more than 50 years ago to censor films will be re-examining its mission under a new CEO.

This Sinner is working on being a Saint

September 14, 2013

TORONTO - Lino Rulli wants to be the patron saint of kissing — after all, he says he’s so good at it. He’s also good at being The Catholic Guy, the radio host known to champion the faith with wit and humour on Sirius XM Satellite Radio’s Catholic channel.

Our treatment of animals wrapped in inconsistencies

August 31, 2013

For the Love of Animals: Christian Ethics, Consistent Action, by Charles Camosy (Franciscan Media, 136 pages, softcover, $16.72). “You are what you eat from your head down to your feet!” So said Time for Timer, a character in public service announcements that appeared between Saturday morning cartoons in the 1970s. He encouraged kids to listen to their bodies and to think about what goes in. After all, as Timer said, “You are what you swallow.”

Work and prayer put to song

August 24, 2013

There’s a very thin layer between heaven and Earth. That’s how Monica Fitzgibbons describes her experience listening to the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles Sisters as they recorded Angels and Saints at Ephesus.

Simple ways to a better world

August 17, 2013

To live simply is not simple in our over-consuming culture. But it should be our goal if we want to be healthier, more ethical and better connected to God and the green Earth we’ve been given to watch over.

Rohr offers daily dose of meditations

August 10, 2013

When I picked up this hefty tome, a compendium of snippets from Franciscan Father Richard Rohr’s many writings (some of it previously unpublished), I expected a series of reflections in familiar groupings: personal faith, compassion, social justice, the natural world, grief — the standard mix that is often a blessing to preachers or educators who need a little help getting started on a selected topic or biblical passage.

Mary Stuart takes Stratford by storm

July 27, 2013

STRATFORD, ONT. - The surprise hit at this year’s Stratford Festival has been captivating audiences by using the Catholic-Protestant divide of 1500s England and Scotland as a mirror of post-9/11 society.

RED 2

July 20, 2013

NEW YORK - Those "retired and extremely dangerous" (RED) secret agents are back on the case in "RED 2" (Summit), a lively sequel to the 2010 film based on the graphic novels by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner.