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. [...]
As we report on page three, the Halton Catholic District School Board caved to gay activists and their allies in the media, by rescinding their admirable and principled equity and inclusion policy that respected and upheld Catholic moral teaching on the issue of homosexuality, while respecting the dignity inherent in all human beings. But for gay activists, who are no friends of [...]
On Jan. 10, Orville Nichols was in a state of shock: He knew he might lose in a ruling that day by a panel of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal in the Marriage Commissioners Reference, but he probably was not expecting to lose by an overwhelming five to nothing decision. Nichols is a devout Baptist who has served as a [...]
On Jan. 18, the Halton Catholic District School Board caved to pressure from gay activists and rescinded its Equity and Inclusive Education Policy II-45, following a media storm over the board’s policy banning gay-straight alliances. Over the past year, public and separate school boards in Ontario have been required to implement policies in line with the province’s Ministry of Education equity and [...]
The New York Times reported that “Pope Benedict has said that condom use can be justified in some cases to help stop the spread of AIDS.” That was the gist of stories that appeared in the Toronto Star, Guardian and Associated Press after L’Osservatore Romano, a Vatican-based newspaper, printed excerpts from Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and [...]
More than 25 seminarians from across Canada came together for five days of pro-life training as they attended the first ever Seminarians’ Pro-Life Congress hosted by Priests for Life Canada (P4LC). The theme for the week, starting Aug. 30 and closing on Sept. 3, was “Loving Life Through Life.” Each day the seminarians were presented with information on the life [...]
Every political regime, whether ancient Sparta or 21st century Canada, contains within it a vision of what it means to be a human being. Whereas the Spartans held up the ideal of the manly warrior, it is unclear what a Canadian is supposed to be. Some say we are tolerant, but others say being tolerant of everything is empty of content and [...]
In a compelling ruling on June 18, Mr. Justice Gérard Dugré of the Superior Court of Quebec emphatically backed Montreal’s Loyola High School in its determination to uphold the fundamental teachings of the Catholic Church on life and family issues over the objections of the Liberal government of Quebec. However, it’s far from certain that this fine judgment will stand [...]
On May 26, Quebec City Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Primate of Canada, said in a press conference jointly hosted with Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, that “the abortion debate is on and we must not be afraid of it.” The press conference came less than two weeks after hostile reaction from the Quebec media and feminist groups over the Cardinal’s comments [...]