News/Canada
Pressure mounts on Senate to end legal limbo of Bill C-14
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA – Canada awoke to a new dawn of assisted suicide on June 7 as a Supreme Court deadline passed and government legislation to legalize doctor-assisted death was stuck in the Senate.
Quebec parishes seek to become missionary centres in a changing era
By Philippe Vaillancourt, Catholic News ServiceQUEBEC CITY – Catholic parishes in Quebec have undergone transformation in recent years as most of them were merged into new entities. But perhaps the biggest challenge lies ahead as the Catholic Church promotes what it calls a "missionary turning point."
High school team to run soccer camp for youths in troubled Attawapiskat community
By Jean Ko Din, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO – A Catholic high school soccer team from Toronto is using its passion for the game to make a difference in the lives of youth in the troubled Attawapiskat First Nations community in northern Ontario.
Movement to make churches more ecologically responsible turns 10
By Alan Hustak, Catholic Register SpecialMONTREAL – Taking its cue from Scripture which warns against polluting the Earth or muddying clear water, a mission began 10 years ago in Montreal for a “Green Churches movement.”
Social conservatives divided on Tories nixing traditional marriage policy
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA – At their recent policy convention held May 26-28 in Vancouver, the Conservative Party removed the traditional definition of marriage from its official policy, leaving social conservatives divided.
Hundreds take protest against euthanasia to Parliament Hill
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA – Hundreds of people gathered on Parliament Hill to protest against euthanasia June 1, the day after Parliament passed Bill C-14 to legalize the practice and sent it on to the Senate for royal assent.
Catholic groups believe conscience rights will be respected on assisted suicide
By Michael Swan, The Catholic RegisterDespite Bill C-14 providing no conscience protection for institutions, Catholic health-care providers expect governments will respect their right to opt out of assisted suicide.
Bill C-14 passes: assisted suicide law now in Senate’s hands
By Catholic Register StaffOTTAWA – The Liberal government's assisted suicide legislation, which Canada's bishops describe as "fundamentally unjust" and an "affront to human dignity," easily passed third and final reading in the House of Commons May 31 and was sent to the Senate for final approval.
Church must ‘retune’ relations with women
By Alan Hustak, Catholic Register SpecialMONTREAL – The time has come for the Roman Catholic Church to rethink its patriarchal structure and build a stronger relationship with women, a prominent Benedictine monk from South America told delegates, comprising mostly nuns, at the assembly of the Canadian Religious Conference.
Cardus Family study reveals Canadian support for marriage weakening
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA – A new poll by Cardus Family reveals most Canadians still value marriage highly, but trends show an increase in those who see it as an outdated institution.
Missing C-14’s June 6 deadline puts vulnerable people at risk, says coalition
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic NewsOTTAWA – A coalition representing vulnerable Canadians believes the lives of the disabled will be at risk due to a looming legal vacuum caused by the probable failure of the government’s assisted suicide Bill C-14 to be enacted by June 6.