NEWS

Irish government finalizes terms of inquiry into mother-baby homes

DUBLIN - The Irish government is finalizing the parameters of a judicial inquiry into Church-run state-funded mother and baby homes.

A concept drawing of what Catholic Cemeteries’ Holy Cross Catholic Funeral Home, the first Catholic funeral home in the Archdiocese of Toronto, is to resemble once the facility opens in September.

Catholic Cemeteries set to open onsite funeral home

By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

TORONTO - Come September the first Catholic funeral home in the Archdiocese of Toronto will open its doors at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Teachers objecting to OECTA Pride participation feel their voice is unheard

By Evan Boudreau, The Catholic Register

TORONTO - Some Ontario Catholic teachers who think the World Pride Parade is no place for their union to have representation have expressed their thoughts but feel their voice has gone unheard.

A pro-life demonstrator holds her child as activists gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington June 26 to celebrate the court decision striking down a Massachusetts law that mandated a buffer zone to keep pro-life demonstrators away from aborti on clinics.

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down 'buffer zones' at abortion clinics

By Carol Zimmermann, Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON - In a June 26 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that 35-foot buffer zones around abortion clinics — meant to keep demonstrators away — violates First Amendment rights.

Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois of Paris, one of three cardinals Pope Francis chose to serve as presidents of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family, speaks during a press conference at the Vatican June 26. The press conference was held to unveil th e working document for the October extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family. Also pictured is Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest, synod relator.

Synod document cites cultural and economic threats to family

By Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY - The working document for the October 2014 extraordinary Synod of Bishops offers a picture of the Catholic Church today struggling to preach the Gospel and transmit moral teachings amid a "widespread cultural, social and spiritual crisis" of the family.

Syrians hoping to leave refugee camps for Canada are having a hard time as rules for sponsors are constantly changing.

Syrian refugee flow to Canada at a trickle

By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register

Despite committing Canada’s churches and volunteers, unasked, to welcoming 1,100 Syrian refugees before the end of this year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has so far received just 145 applications to sponsor Syrian refugees. None of them have reached Canadian soil.

Office for Refugees Archdiocese of Toronto director Martin Mark

New refugee rules will tear families apart

By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register

On the eve of the annual June 20 World Refugee Day, Citizenship and Immigration Canada quietly announced changes to immigration rules that refugee sponsors say will tear apart refugee families who hope to restart their lives in Canada.

Israeli soldiers take part in an operation to locate three Israeli teens near the West Bank City of Hebron June 24. A Jerusalem church official urged people to come forward with information on the teens' kidnapping but also urged Israel to keep its respo nse proportionate.

Bishop condemns kidnappings, asks Israel to keep response proportionate

By Judith Sudilovsky, Catholic News Service

JERUSALEM - The chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate asked anyone with information about the kidnapping of three Israeli teens to come forward and help return the youths to their families. At the same time, he called on the Israeli army to keep its reaction and its search methods proportionate.