Peter Stock The Interim Is gambling an age-old, harmless pastime, or is it a pernicious vice to be publicly condemned by the Christian church? Gambling is never specifically condemned anywhere in the Scriptures. Yet, some of the attitudes of the heart that may accompany gambling certainly are, such as greed or laziness in trying to gain something without honest labour. Christian denominations [...]
Dina Kok The Interim In early July, Bill C-38, the government bill leggally permitting same-sex partners to “marry” in civil ceremonies, was debated in the Canadian Senate. For one senator, the debate became a theological question: what would Jesus do? “As a Christian, I often ask myself: ‘What would Jesus do?’” Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, a New Brunswick Liberal, commented. “In this case, [...]
Commentary by Ian Hunter The Interim My brief is to give the Roman Catholic bishop of Calgary, Fred Henry, some unsolicited legal advice concerning his upcoming dealings with the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Before the advice, here is what has happened to date. In January 2005 Bishop Henry issued a pastoral letter on the oxymoron that has come to be known as [...]
On April 19, 2005, the College of Cardinals could not have made a better choice for the universal Catholic church than electing Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger to succeed John Paul the Great. It was, in fact, the choice of the Holy Ghost, because Cardinal Ratzinger was seen as much too conservative, divisive and old just a few months ago. At the moment of [...]
Sue Careless The Interim During a meeting in Mississauga, Ont., the Primate’s Theological Commission has found same-sex blessings, or SSBs, to be a matter of doctrine. At past Anglican synods, those favouring SSBs argued that the controversial rite involved only pastoral care, not doctrine. If the commission’s St. Michael Report is accepted by General Synod in 2007, the earliest that SSBs could [...]
Commentary by Michael Taube The Interim When Pope John Paul II died on April 2, many Christians and non-Christians mourned the loss of a great man. They respected what John Paul had done to defeat communism, build bridges with different faiths and work towards the betterment of society. He had been a superb leader of the Catholic church and a true friend [...]
Tony Gosgnach The Interim The foundation of a new society of Roman Catholic priests dedicated exclusively to the pro-life cause promises to bring the struggle to preserve human life to a whole new level. Father Frank Pavone, national director of the Priests for Life organization, recently announced the formation of the society in Amarillo, Tx., in which diocese it will be based [...]
LifeSiteNews.com Special to The Interim Canadian lawyers with expertise in human rights and constitutional law are urging members of Parliament to vote against the Liberal government’s anti-constitutional Bill C-38. In a letter sent to all MPs and senators April 29, and printed in part in the National Post, the lawyers cited a legal opinion provided by constitutional law experts at the law [...]
What a warrior. What a Pope. twenty-six years ago, when John Paul II became Pope, what dilemmas he faced. An insurmountable mountain, some would say. “Have courage.” That’s what he said to the world and that’s what he personally displayed fighting fires all over the world. Communists had taken over eastern Europe and big red Russia was not making idle threats to [...]
Rory Leishman The Interim In a banner story on the death of Pope John Paul II, Christianity Today noted that while some of the most strident criticism of the Pope’s legacy was coming from liberal Catholics, most evangelical Protestants were “unreserved” in their praise of this Catholic leader “on political, social and even theological matters.” The Rev. Billy Graham led the way, [...]
Paul Tuns The Interim When George Weigel was writing the definitive (thus far) biography of Pope John Paul II, Witness to Hope, he posted a note on his computer that said simply: “It’s the theology, stupid.” It was easy to get caught up in John Paul’s celebrity status, his globe-trotting and the history-changing role he played in geopolitical affairs. Indeed, this is [...]
John-Henry Westen Special to The Interim Newly elected Pope Benedict XVI, unlike his predecessor John Paul II prior to his election, comes to lead the Catholic church after spending the last 24 years in the public eye as the head of the most important office in that church – the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. As such, his teachings on [...]
Marc Cardinal Ouellet has launched a real renewal in the Catholic church of Quebec since his inauguration as archbishop of Quebec City and primate of the church in Canada. Right from the beginning, at his inaugural sermon in January 2003, he called Quebecers to conversion, to come back to the faith of their fathers or, he warned, they will die as a [...]
Sue Careless The Interim The two national churches that spoke most of being inclusive have been excluded for three years from their own communion. Both the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A. have been effectively suspended from their international body, the Anglican Communion, until 2008, at which time, if they do not change their ways, they might [...]
Pete Vere, JCL The Interim Charlie Angus, the New Democrat MP for Timmins-James Bay, Ont., has a problem. His parish priest has told Angus, a former Catholic New Times columnist, that he may no longer receive Holy Communion if he votes to give state recognition to so-called same-sex “marriages.” Bishop Paul Marchand of Timmins is standing behind his priest. “I haven’t decided [...]