NEWS

OTTAWA - A Conservative MP’s private member’s bill that aims to bring more financial transparency to labour organizations is too intrusive, says Cardus, a think tank that focuses on social policy.

VATICAN CITY - Advent's liturgical preparation for Christmas calls Christians to renew their faith in the reality of God's great love and to make a commitment to bringing his love to the world today, Pope Benedict XVI said.

DUBLIN - Thousands of pro-life demonstrators held a candlelight vigil outside the Irish parliament Dec. 4, calling on the government not to introduce abortion legislation.

BANGALORE, India - The life of Blessed Devasahayam Pillai, an 18th-century Catholic layman who was martyred for refusing to refute his faith despite being brutally tortured, was held up as an example for all Christians to embrace.

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican is offering a new app that provides live streaming of papal events and video feeds from the Vatican's six webcams.

VATICAN CITY - The world authority envisioned by two popes as a way to ensure global peace and justice would not be a superpower, but primarily a moral force with limited jurisdiction, Pope Benedict XVI said.

VATICAN CITY - Warning that Catholic charitable activity must not become "just another form of organized social assistance," Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules to strengthen the religious identity of Catholic charities and ensure that their activities conform to church teaching.

VATICAN CITY - To celebrate the launch of his new Twitter account, Pope Benedict XVI will tweet the answers to a handful of questions from his followers.

VATICAN CITY - Explaining why they found a Vatican computer technician guilty of aiding and abetting the papal butler who stole private papal correspondence, Vatican judges said they found much of his testimony hard to believe.

TORONTO - It was five minutes before Mass, and I could feel my iPhone vibrating through my purse. I gave a quick look around St. Michael’s Cathedral before guiltily checking my text messages.