Political events and news in effecting Catholics and Catholic concerns in Europe.
September 26, 2020
Outside the St. Brigid’s Out of the Cold shelter on the last official day of summer, as trees in the park are threatening to burst into red and gold, 28-year-old Harley was wondering whether this church basement might be a place where he could stay.
September 25, 2020
Canadians are collectively holding their breath as they brace for the so-called “second wave” of COVID-19. As infection numbers inch up, speculation is rife as to whether we’re entering this next phase and how we’re going to deal with another round of the virus.
Address by Pope Francis to the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 25:
VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis asked members of the United Nations how they think they can respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and build a more peaceful, more just world when many of their countries spend billions on military weapons and when their treatment of the unborn, of refugees and of women shows so little respect for human life.
VATICAN CITY -- In a move apparently related to Vatican financial scandals, Pope Francis accepted Cardinal Angelo Becciu's resignation as prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes and his renunciation of the rights associated with being a cardinal, the Vatican announced late Sept. 24.
If John Turner hadn’t been talked out of it by his boss at the powerful Montreal law firm of Stikeman Elliott, he might have been a priest and not a politician. But he would have been one of those priests who wield power and influence under the genial guise of amusing tales, loyal friendships and long dinners within longer conversations.
When Margaret and Paul O’Connor first met in 1946, they were teenagers enjoying a Catholic youth night at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto. As they swayed to the sounds of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, little did they know that one day they would celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.
September 24, 2020
NAIROBI, Kenya -- Sudanese people can now "worship and practice their various religious beliefs without fear," said the general secretary of the Sudanese bishops' conference.
Ensure equality
Canada is not a racist country. This is so obvious that it feels wrong to have to say it. Yet we saw this charge, of systemic racism, in The Register’s Sept. 6 issue.
As Canada’s bishops gathered on computer screens this past week, bypassing the “norm” of their usual annual plenary, the old saying “what a difference a year makes” was probably uttered more than once.