Social Conservatives and Party Politics in Canada and the United States by James Farney (University of Toronto, $27.95, 168 pages, paperback). Pundits and political scientists like to ponder the differences between Canada and the United States, and one question is why does the American conservative movement have a vital socially conservative element (the Religious Right) while social conservatism has had minimal influence [...]
Pope Francis The conclave has selected a pontiff likely to follow in the footsteps of his recent predecessors Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI as a vocal defender of life and family. On the fifth ballot on the second day of the gathering of the cardinals in the Vatican, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was selected the next head of [...]
Whatever happened to the valid free exercise of religion? National Affairs Rory Leishman In opposing the establishment of a law school at Trinity Western University (TWU), the Canadian Council of Law Deans have demonstrated once again that they, like our judicial masters in the courts, have renounced both freedom of religion and the rule of law. In a letter to [...]
An evangelical group came under scrutiny from the Canadian International Development Agency, after the Canadian Press reported Crossroads Christian Communication Inc. received foreign aid money to help build wells and toilets in Uganda. The article, written by Lina Dib and Fannie Olivie, attempted to link Uganda’s consideration of imposing the death penalty for homosexual acts to the religious organization’s view of homosexuality [...]
In an interview given 10 years ago, the then-Cardinal Ratzinger was asked about the possibility of his retiring from his position at the Vatican: “Yes, I had the desire to retire in 1991, 1996, 2001, because I had the idea I could write some books and return to my studies.” He then added, by way of explanation: “But, on the other hand, [...]
The vandalized nativity scene in front of Old City Hall in Toronto. A nativity scene in front of Toronto’s Old City Hall was vandalized for the sixth time in seven years. On the night of Nov. 27, two days after its installation, a woman saw a man walk up to the scene, break the glass, and tear the head off [...]
When Christ left this world, Tiberius sat on the throne of Rome, and Rome sat proud and potent over its many conquered lands. Israel was a far-flung province at the Empire’s ever expanding edge, and the Jews feared Rome, just as Christ’s followers feared the Jews. Nevertheless, with His last words, Christ exhorted His small and fearful handful of followers to “teach [...]
In the days leading up to the Euro 2012 soccer tournament in June, the focus of headlines was not so much on which team would win, but on what was deemed to be intense racism on the part of the fans from Poland and Ukraine, the hosts of the tournament. Both countries have a predominantly Christian and ethnically homogenous population. “Racism is [...]
The Conservative government is creating an Office of Religious Freedom to shine a light on religious persecution abroad with the hope of defending religious minorities. Before looking abroad though, the Canadian government would do well to attend to the country’s own problems in enshrining freedom of relgion, conscience, and expression for Christians at home. Perhaps the most obvious threat to the [...]
Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins, along with 21 other bishops from around the world, was promoted to the College of Cardinals at the Feb. 18 consistory. In an interview with Maclean’s as cardinal-designate prior to the consistory, Archbishop Collins was asked about “what Catholics call ‘life issues’,” and he replied: “I think it is the ultimate issue, the respect for life [...]
Many in the media rallied around the right for Bill Whatcott to speak freely even if they disagreed vehemently with his message, part of what the National Post’s Chris Selley called “the pleasantly broad consensus that the law shouldn’t be limiting Canadians’ right to free speech, however abhorrent.” With friends and allies like Selley … But Selley was not unique. Just as [...]
On Oct. 12, the case of Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission v. William Whatcott was heard by the Supreme Court of Canada. The case stems from events in 2001 and 2002 when Whatcott, a former member of the editorial advisory board of The Interim (1998-1999), as a part of the Christian Truth Activists, distributed flyers against homosexual acts to homes in Regina and [...]
Editor’s Note: This press release was sent by the Lutheran Church-Canada July 18 following the (liberal) Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada meeting which authorized pastors to conduct same-sex ‘marriages.” Responding to a vote by delegates at the convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) meeting in Saskatoon, July 15 and 16, which authorized its pastors to conduct same-gender marriages and [...]
Quebec’s La Marche chrétienne (Christian March) on June 4th drew a crowd of around 1,000 in defense of the province’s Christian heritage against the radical secularism being imposed by the province. The marchers, led by a huge wooden cross with the words “On marche avec Jesus” (“We walk with Jesus”), left the Plains of Abraham mid-afternoon en route to the National [...]
The federally funded Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR) has drawn criticism over its financial support of a punk album that features anti-Christian artwork. Canadian punk group Living with Lions’ new album, titled “Holy S**t,” features cover art that looks like a Bible, is subtitled “The Poo Testament,” and depicts Christ as excrement. Black Box Recordings, Inc. received $13,248 from FACTOR. [...]