NEWS
{mosimage}TORONTO - Five-hundred years ago it seemed the Gutenberg revolution had shut down the scriptoriums for good. Since the advent of printing presses there was no more need for Benedictine monks to labour over parchment with quills and inks.
Today there are 500-million copies of the Bible sold every year. In English alone there are dozens of translations. The Bible is available for free on the Internet, but there are also high-priced, leather-bound editions with copious notes, maps and timelines.
What would be the point of producing a hand-written Bible on parchment in seven volumes — at a cost of nearly $6 million?
Development and Peace confident of no wrongdoing in Mexico
By David Agren, Catholic News Service
{mosimage}MEXICO CITY - The executive director of the Canadian Catholic bishops' aid organization has expressed confidence in the groups that receive agency funds in Mexico, even though five of those partners have been accused of promoting policies that violate church teaching.
Michael Casey, executive director of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, said he was "not dismayed" after an initial April 16 meeting in Mexico City with the five groups that allegedly have supported the liberalization of abortion laws. But Casey also stressed that the investigation by a committee of inquiry from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops was far from being completed and that committee members were taking the allegations against their partner agencies seriously.
Michael Casey, executive director of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, said he was "not dismayed" after an initial April 16 meeting in Mexico City with the five groups that allegedly have supported the liberalization of abortion laws. But Casey also stressed that the investigation by a committee of inquiry from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops was far from being completed and that committee members were taking the allegations against their partner agencies seriously.
Vatican officials object to Iranian president's remarks on Israel
By Catholic News Service{mosimage}ROME - Although members of a Vatican delegation objected to the Iranian president's remarks about Israel at a UN conference on racism, members did not think walking out was the right response, said a Vatican official.
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the chief Vatican representative to UN agencies in Geneva, told Catholic News Service by telephone April 20 it was important for people not to be distracted by the remarks of the Iranian president, whose comments attacking Israel prompted a walkout by dozens of diplomats.
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the chief Vatican representative to UN agencies in Geneva, told Catholic News Service by telephone April 20 it was important for people not to be distracted by the remarks of the Iranian president, whose comments attacking Israel prompted a walkout by dozens of diplomats.
Pope Benedict will see a changed Holy Land
By Judith Sudilovsky, Catholic News Service
{mosimage}JERUSALEM - Pope Benedict XVI will encounter a Holy Land that has changed greatly since Pope John Paul II visited in 2000.
Pope John Paul arrived in Israel and the Palestinian territories when, despite stumbling blocks in the peace process, the jubilee year celebrations seemed to buoy the Holy Land with a booming tourism industry.
But Pope Benedict will visit amid continued Israeli-Palestinian tensions — months after a controversial Israeli invasion of Gaza and during continuing Palestinian rocket attacks against southern Israeli towns.
Pope John Paul arrived in Israel and the Palestinian territories when, despite stumbling blocks in the peace process, the jubilee year celebrations seemed to buoy the Holy Land with a booming tourism industry.
But Pope Benedict will visit amid continued Israeli-Palestinian tensions — months after a controversial Israeli invasion of Gaza and during continuing Palestinian rocket attacks against southern Israeli towns.
Catholic Women’s League of Canada day of action aims to spread hope
By Nicholas Carafa, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, along with 1,300 parishes nationwide, will be celebrating its first Day of Peace and Hope on April 26.
The day of reflection and action is expected to draw about 98,000 participants.
“We are a longstanding organization, and we want to show people that we are contemporary in our work for peace,” said Betty Anne Brown, CWL chair of communications.
The day of reflection and action is expected to draw about 98,000 participants.
“We are a longstanding organization, and we want to show people that we are contemporary in our work for peace,” said Betty Anne Brown, CWL chair of communications.
Canadian border opens to Rwandan genocide survivor
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - Fifteen years after the genocide in Rwanda, 24-year-old survivor Patricie Mukundiyukuri has come to Canada to bring a message of hope and forgiveness.
“What happened to Rwanda can be an example to people who are going through problems,” she said through an interpreter from Cornwall, Ont.
“Things which have happened in the past are over. We need to sit down, talk, forgive one another and be able to talk about peace.”
“What happened to Rwanda can be an example to people who are going through problems,” she said through an interpreter from Cornwall, Ont.
“Things which have happened in the past are over. We need to sit down, talk, forgive one another and be able to talk about peace.”
Bill Steinburg runs on prayer
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - For former sports journalist Bill Steinburg, the road to the world’s oldest marathon has been paved with grit, discipline and prayers during months of running along Barrie, Ont.’s snow-covered trails.
The Barrie resident qualified for the 113th annual Boston Marathon when he was timed in three hours and 15 minutes in the competition last April.
During his weekly training, which can add up to 110 kilometres or eight hours, Steinburg said he finds some time to pray. The act of running itself, he said, can be a form of prayer.
The Barrie resident qualified for the 113th annual Boston Marathon when he was timed in three hours and 15 minutes in the competition last April.
During his weekly training, which can add up to 110 kilometres or eight hours, Steinburg said he finds some time to pray. The act of running itself, he said, can be a form of prayer.
Fr. Hansoo Park prepares to take over as Director of Vocations for the archdiocese of Toronto
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - When he was young, fishing meant going down to the ocean side in South Korea and watching the divers disappear underwater to catch the fish his parents requested.
Today, fishing has taken on a different meaning for Fr. Hansoo Park as he prepares to take over as Director of Vocations for the archdiocese of Toronto.
Today, fishing has taken on a different meaning for Fr. Hansoo Park as he prepares to take over as Director of Vocations for the archdiocese of Toronto.
Walking tour takes in Toronto’s historical downtown churches
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - Looking for a free guided tour of historic churches in downtown Toronto? Just look for Eric Parker and Bill MacDonald and their blue umbrellas.
Both are volunteers with the Royal Ontario Museum who lead guided walks as part of the museum’s community outreach.
Both are volunteers with the Royal Ontario Museum who lead guided walks as part of the museum’s community outreach.
Canadian aboriginals seek renewed partnership with Catholic church
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News{mosimage}OTTAWA - When Canada’s aboriginal leaders meet with the Pope April 29 they hope to turn the page on the tragic legacy of Indian residential schools.
“This meeting has the potential to be a historic and momentous occasion for First Nations, survivors, Canadian Catholics and indeed all Canadians,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine at an April 15 news conference. “I am both honoured and excited to have this opportunity to meet with the Pope to discuss this important matter and to move forward to work towards real reconciliation.”
Canadian bishops getting to bottom of Development and Peace allegations
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}Canadian bishops are winging it to Mexico to speak with Mexican bishops and local non-governmental organizations, trying to get to the bottom of accusations the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has funded groups lobbying the Mexican government for legal abortion.
Bishop Martin Currie of St. John’s, Nfld., and Bishop Francois Lapierre of Sainte-Hyacinth, Que., were scheduled to fly to Mexico on April 16 accompanied by staff from Development and Peace, CCCB general secretary Msgr. Mario Paquette and the outside eyes of Msgr. Carlos Quintana from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ secretariat for the church in Latin America. They planned to meet with representatives of five human rights organizations that LifeSiteNews.com alleges are promoting legalized abortion in Mexico.
Bishop Martin Currie of St. John’s, Nfld., and Bishop Francois Lapierre of Sainte-Hyacinth, Que., were scheduled to fly to Mexico on April 16 accompanied by staff from Development and Peace, CCCB general secretary Msgr. Mario Paquette and the outside eyes of Msgr. Carlos Quintana from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ secretariat for the church in Latin America. They planned to meet with representatives of five human rights organizations that LifeSiteNews.com alleges are promoting legalized abortion in Mexico.