In the darkest days of “The Troubles,” when Northern Ireland was torn by sectarian violence and bitter political divisions, John Hume dared to see a future built on peace.
We need to stop from time to time to contemplate what it means to be Catholic in this aggressively secular society of ours. It is easy for our beliefs to be swamped by the detritus of a powerful popular culture that looks upon us with bare tolerance at best and derision at worst.
When I was growing up it was popular to mock a film made in the 1950s to prepare children to survive a nuclear war. Older folks will remember this odd cross between animated and live action footage featuring a bow-tied Bert the Turtle who could “duck and cover” at the sign of danger.
O, the irony! The historical figures lionized in the smash Broadway musical, Hamilton, are now having their statues torn down (or attempts to that effect) across the U.S.
Different rules
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized for so many wrongdoings of late. He’s “sorry” about blackface; he’s “sorry” about SNC-Lavalin; he’s “sorry” about the conflict of interest with WE Charity — involving payments to three of his family members, exceeding a total of $300,000, in exchange for public relations appearances for the charity. This preceded Ottawa’s granting WE a nearly one-billion-dollar contract they then cancelled. Mr. Trudeau operates by different rules.
The reports were scattered at first, isolated news stories throughout the year of a statue toppled here, another spray-painted with graffiti there. This summer they have come more frequently — senseless acts of anti-Church vandalism that have grown bolder and more destructive.
A long-time fan of the Edmonton Oilers, I hold in my heart the glory days of the 1980s when my team won five Stanley Cups in seven years. It was an exciting time for both me and the city. Although I lived most of those years in Winnipeg, I remained a dedicated member of the Oilers’ diaspora.
Our calendar of liturgical seasons is rather bare compared to some of our sister Catholic Churches. That is never more evident than in our long season of “Ordinary Time,” an uninspired translation of a banal original (in Latin, “Sundays of the Year”).
The yoke appears to be on me.
The board of the Irene Thomas Hospice hoped faith alone could stop the onslaught of MAiD at the 10-bed palliative care facility on Vancouver’s southeast edge.
Call to action
Re: Migrant’s death hits community hard (June 28):
First, I am deeply grateful to Fr. Peter Ciallella who has tirelessly supported and advocated for the rights of foreign migrant workers in his community.