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Editorial: For victims’ dignity, we pray

Elsewhere on this page, the Migrants and Refugee section of the Dicastery for Human Development describes human trafficking as a “gruesome criminal business” and an “evil trade.” Then it adds the word that illuminates in a sentence the reason The Catholic Register spent time, energy and our generous donors’ contributions for this week’s special supplement on human trafficking.

Verbatim: A statement by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on actions against digital human trafficking

A statement by the Migrants & Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on actions against digital human trafficking

  • September 14, 2023

A crying shame to lose this Marian Shrine

Have you ever visited Toronto’s unique and beautiful outdoor Marian Shrine of Gratitude? If you haven’t, you’ve missed a real treasure — and if you have, you know what a jewel it truly is. Either way, the Shrine needs you to help save it!

Giesbrecht’s missteps

In “Canada Needs 12 steps back from affirmative action,” Catholic Register guest columnist Brian Giesbrecht bluntly assigns the unmeasurable economic wealth gleaned by 500 years of slavery to a supposed Western cultural genius for meritocracy, a term only coined in recent years. Giesbrecht deftly omits mention of the recent New York Times publication “1619” on the history of American slavery. He also tries to make history disappear by omitting mention of Columbus’ 1492 introduction of Indigenous killings.

Editorial: Church plays role in recovery

Among the many compelling truths found in this issue’s special section on healing and recovery is the reality that so-called process addictions can be as real and destructive as habitual substance abuse.

Verbatim: Pope Francis at the conclusion of Mass in Mongolia, Sept. 3, 2023

Remarks of Pope Francis concluding the Mass at Steppe Arena, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sept. 3.

  • September 8, 2023

Committed citizens can lead on climate change

At least give Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her government credit for chutzpah. During a summer when Canadian forests were burning at an unprecedented rate and tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes, the government imposed a seven-month moratorium on the approval of new projects using renewable energy to produce electricity.

Keeping Vatican II’s ecumenical spirit alive

Fifty-eight years ago, the Second Vatican Council gave birth to the Decree on Ecumenism, in November 1965. Most have forgotten that the decree was passed by a vote of 2,137 to 11 of the bishops assembled at the Council.

Mother Ukraine turns into freedom’s symbol

I hated her the first time I saw her. That was in 1989. Definitely not a case of “love at first sight.

The Catholic choice is true dignity

It has been just over seven years since Canadian law has permitted euthanasia and assisted suicide on demand. In those seven years restriction after restriction on euthanasia provision has fallen and now we stand on the threshold of euthanizing the mentally ill and permitting the as-yet-undefined “mature minor” to end his or her life. Euthanasia is now presented to patients as a health care option.

Message for humanity: Shut the AI up

For individuals of a certain age, the cataclysmic impact of AI has been an existential threat for more than half a century. Many of us grew up with the haunting voice of the predatory artificial intelligence, HAL, from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, resonating ominously, and dispassionately, in our ears.