If Kurt Downes’ sixth grade students or fellow teachers are ever looking for him during his lunch break, they can usually find him where they can the rest of the school day — in his classroom.
At-home Ash Wednesday services include inter-church provisions
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterThis year Lent began with ashes in Northern Ontario, just as it does every year and everywhere. But this year’s ashes up north are a little different because they’re likely the most ecumenical ashes in Canada.
Supreme Court quashes pro-lifer Mary Wagner's final appeal
By Agnieszka Ruck, Canadian Catholic NewsVancouver -- Mary Wagner’s long road toward achieving legal recognition of the humanity of the unborn has come to an end as the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed her leave to appeal Feb. 18.
Ontario enacts new human trafficking law
ByOTTAWA -- Ontario's government used the newly declared National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Feb. 22 to unveil major new funding and legislation as part of the province’s anti-human trafficking strategy, as governments in Canada continue to take action against what Pope Francis has called “a crime against humanity.”
Development and Peace cuts ties with 24 organizations following partner review
By Catholic Register StaffThe Canadian bishops' conference and its international development agency will discontinue funding for 24 partners following the completion of a joint subcommittee’s review of international partner organizations that receive funding from Canadian Catholics.
Court grants final extension to pass Bill C-7 on assisted-dying
By Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA -- The federal government was granted one more month Thursday to expand access to medical assistance in dying even as its efforts to do so stalled in the House of Commons.
Canadian bishops prepare response to Bill C-15
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterCanada’s bishops are continuing to study federal legislation that provides legal protections for Indigenous communities in the form of internationally recognized rights.
Religious orders to match monthly donations to Development and Peace
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterLenten alms-giving to Canada’s Catholic international development agency is getting turbo-charged by religious orders.
Supreme Court denies appeal of Saskatchewan Catholic school funding
By Catholic Register StaffThe Supreme Court of Canada dismissed a Saskatchewan public school board’s leave to appeal the Theodore school decision, which enshrines in law public funding for non-Catholic students attending Catholic schools. The Feb. 25 decision confirms the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal’s unanimous decision last March that overturned a 2017 ruling by Justice Donald Layh that sought to limit the funding of non-Catholics in the Prairie province’s Catholic schools.
Sr. Schenck leaves legacy of compassion
By Wendy-Ann Clarke, The Catholic RegisterCondolence messages have been flowing in along with the tears at Toronto’s Furniture Bank since news broke of the passing of the organization’s founder, Sr. Anne Schenck on Feb. 17.
Trudeau, cabinet skip vote to condemn China's 'genocide' of religious minorities
ByOTTAWA -- MPs voted overwhelmingly to condemn the Chinese government for engaging in genocide against religious minorities in that country.