TORONTO - The Syriac Orthodox parish of St. Barsaumo has rallied around Sammy Yatim’s mother and sister in the aftermath of the youth’s July 27 shooting at the hands of Toronto police.

QUEBEC CITY - The archdiocese of Quebec has begun construction on a holy door for its Basilica-Cathedral Notre Dame de Quebec, the first Catholic parish in French-speaking North America.

OTTAWA - Religious freedom experts say the proposed Charter of Quebec Values that would ban religious dress and symbols from public institutions is unlikely to survive a Supreme Court challenge.

OTTAWA - Even though the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has reaffirmed its opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide it’s only a matter of time before pro-euthanasia doctors force the issue back on the table, predicted ethics professor Margaret Somerville.

OTTAWA - A joint fundraising campaign by Canada’s Catholic bishops and their overseas development agency to bring emergency relief to Syrian refugees will close Sept. 14 with a day of fasting and prayer.

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - A further 62 Catholic churches in Antigonish, N.S., are under review as the diocese tries to get its buildings in line with the number of people attending Mass and the number of priests available to preside.

TORONTO - With food prices climbing at nearly twice the rate of all other items on the consumer price index, small parish-based food banks are feeling the pinch.

OTTAWA - Representatives of four groups that advocate for disabled Canadians have written Canada’s justice minister urging him to fight against any attempts to decriminalize euthanasia.

TORONTO - On the 80th anniversary of the Christie Pits riots, more than 180 scholars, activists and students gathered in Toronto to talk about how to advance interfaith relations.

OTTAWA - A recent Canadian Medical Association survey on physician-assisted suicide has raised concerns, despite its finding that most doctors would not take part in ending a life if they were legally able.