Robert Brehl is a writer in Port Credit, Ont.

Some weeks ago, I mentioned an inevitable goodbye that would take place with a dear friend whom I met on the first day of Grade 9 at Neil McNeil High School in Toronto’s east end 40 years ago next week.

Pope rattles some American chains

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The pollster Gallup reports Pope Francis’ popularity in the United States has dropped significantly over the past year, fueled by his writings and teachings surrounding the environment, capitalism, income inequality and other issues.

Jokes so clean they can be told in church

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The other day I was feeling sad. I had just heard the worst possible news about the health of a dear, old friend.

The health benefits of forgiveness

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We’ve heard a lot about forgiveness lately, especially the immediate forgiveness from victims’ families to the shooter in the heinous murders in a Charleston, South Carolina, church.

End of religion is greatly exaggerated

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A Facebook friend took it upon himself to post on my home page for all my other friends to see an article entitled: “Religion is disappearing. That’s great for politics.”

Irish vote could push same-sex unions to fore of upcoming Synod

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The immediate repercussions from the Irish referendum where voters overwhelmingly supported same-sex marriage were obvious, but the long-term impact on the Church may come beginning this October.

An angel in a 300-pound mechanical chair

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Barbara Turnbull, who died last week at age 50, impacted thousands through her charitable work, her writing, her advocacy for the disabled and quite simply by her indomitable spirit.

Francis is a true transformational leader

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While reading through former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s convocation speech at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia on May 3, it was as if he was talking about a modern-day Pope Francis leadership style.

Jordan Spieth proves nice guys can finish first

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With his wire-to-wire win at the Masters golf tournament this month, Jordan Spieth proved an old adage wrong: Nice guys don’t have to finish last.

Tragic murders trigger varied treatment

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The pre-Easter tragedies of the German jet deliberately flown into the French Alps and the terrorist attack at a Kenyan university have several links, some not all that obvious.

A tale of two Catholic high schools

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Recent stories about two Catholic high schools are terrific examples of how government policies can sometimes produce the exact opposite effect as intended.