Proposed law to ban religious symbols in Quebec violates religious freedom, Catholic leaders say
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA – A proposed law by Quebec’s new government that would ban religious symbols is a clear violation of fundamental rights, said Montreal’s archbishop and Canada’s former Ambassador of Religious Freedom.
Fr. Patrick Desbois warns of growing anti-Semitism in Europe
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterElectoral successes for the ultra-right across Europe is being accompanied by a frightening rise in attacks on Jews, while left wing parties give ethical cover to anti-Semites with constant criticism of Israel, Fr. Patrick Desbois said at an event hosted by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Theatre Oct. 15.
Church restoration leaves stain on Edmonton priest’s memory
By Andrew Ehrkamp, Canadian Catholic NewsEDMONTON – If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this beholder is pretty upset about one bad window.
Mass to End Women Abuse sends strong message, CFS Toronto says
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterAbout one-third of the work at Catholic Family Services of Toronto starts with a woman who has been abused.
Canada falls short in palliative care access
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterA grim picture of Canadians dying amid the noise and bustle of hospital acute care wards, unable to access quality palliative care, emerges from the first-ever comprehensive, national assessment of palliative care by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Halton trustees reject ‘Sanctity of Life’ fund-raising policy
By Catholic Register StaffThe Halton Catholic school board’s controversial “Sanctity of Life” policy will not be implemented, meaning students can raise funds for whichever charity they choose.
Class action request aimed at Quebec nuns for orphanage physical, sexual abuse
By Catholic News ServiceMarijuana still out of bounds for youth after legalization, but still an issue for schools
By Mickey Conlon, The Catholic RegisterAll things considered, when the initial haze of marijuana smoke clears on Oct. 17 things are expected to be just as they were the day before in schools around Canada. But that doesn’t mean educators will be complacent.
Seminarians look for light during dark times of abuse crisis
By Jean Ko Din, The Catholic RegisterHayden Straczala had just finished a fruitful year in parish internship when news broke of a Pennsylvania report that identified 1,000 victims who were sexually abused by Catholic priests. As more stories began to come out in Chile, Germany and other parts of the world, it weighed heavily on him as he returned to his academic studies in St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto.