"Are you growing tired of the battle?" was the provocative title of the talk given by Father Tom Lynch at the London and Area Right to Life dinner on April 26, in which he challenged pro-lifers to renew their movement. Lynch, a moral theologian, dean of studies and dean of students at St. Augustine's Seminary in Toronto, is well known in pro-life [...]
Most Interim readers are familiar with the biblical account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The story tells us that Satan presented himself to our long ago father and mother as a friend, and used lies to induce Eve - and through her, Adam - to defy their Creator. The prizes Satan promised - total knowledge, power and freedom [...]
A new bishop has waded into the troubled waters of a Vancouver-area diocese, in the hope of resolving a pastoral emergency so critical it threatens to destroy the Anglican Communion worldwide. Terrence Buckle, Anglican bishop of the Yukon, offered "alternative episcopal oversight" to eight orthodox parishes in New Westminster that oppose the blessing of same-sex unions. But Michael Ingham, the official bishop [...]
Researchers have announced that the human genome sequence is now almost completely deciphered. The decoding of three billion letters of the genetic code in human DNA was completed two years ahead of schedule thanks to advances in computer technology, and gives scientists "the chance to explore everything that is genetically (pre-)determined about our lives," according to a BBC report. Researchers are already [...]
I am writing this column on the day before Ash Wednesday - a little late I'm afraid. But I would like to remind myself and others of the importance of this very special time in the Church Year. The word "Lent" comes, I believe, from an old English word, "Lengehtning" which refers to the lengthening of the day-light hours of Spring-time in [...]
"A time comes when silence is betrayal." I believe that the above statement regarding silence in some circumstances was made by the late Dr. Martin Luther King and I think it perfectly true. Just as I was preparing to write my column, I glanced at the Jan. 24 issue of the Toronto Star and saw the following headline: "Copps to enter Liberal [...]
The principal of the Catholic University of St. Michael's College - an affiliate of the University of Toronto - has denounced a Nov. 8 lecture given at the university by world-renowned Catholic philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft. Professor Mark McGowan, who was earlier embroiled in controversy over his support for a "gay and lesbian" group at USMC, said in an open letter to [...]
We often hear the expression, "Well, Christmas is over." But, Christmas is never over. The celebration of Christmas is over, but Christ is still with us, just as we are still with our families even after we have celebrated our birthday. We are reminded of this in a special way by the feast of the Epiphany, which is celebrated an Jan. 6 [...]
Over a two-week period late last year, abortionist and Humanist Association of Canada vice-president Henry Morgentaler twice attacked religion. At a Dec. 3 press conference, Morgentaler said the state should force the end of religious affiliations to hospitals. He said that their "biases" interfered with the "reproductive rights" of Canadian women and singled out Catholic teaching that abortion is a "serious sin" [...]
I am fortunate in receiving a very large amount of correspondence from readers. A common question is, "What are the beliefs that lead you to write as you do?" Okay, here it goes. A street corner on one of those deliciously hot summer evenings. To my left is a restaurant and outside of it, a large pile of garbage bags awaiting the [...]
In 1991, in his Apostolic Constitution on the Catholic University, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Pope John Paul II declared that it is his "deep conviction that a Catholic University is without any doubt one of the best instruments that the Church offers to our age, which is searching for certainty and wisdom." These are hardly surprising words, considering that universities are one of [...]
Ever since CTV aired The Sopranos' first season against CBC's coverage of the 2000 Summer Olympics, I've contended that gritty and raw as it is, in terms of all-round writing brilliance, acting quality, dramatization, and production values, it simply eclipses everything else on the small screen. The only shows that come close in quality and depth are Dick Wolf's durable Law and [...]
Toronto Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic won the hearts of pro-lifers Sept. 19 with his homily at the annual Red Mass. The Red Mass dinner, held after the Mass, featured pro-abortion Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark as keynote speaker. Clark attended the Mass and, from his front row vantage point, was a clear and obvious target of one of the Cardinal's remarks. The Cardinal [...]
Room for all in the public square It was thought modernity would lead to a secular state where religion would become so personal and privatized as to be virtually irrelevant to public life, and be without real influence in the public square. Now, just the opposite seems to be occurring. Globally, religion is gaining clout, and how we order our lives together [...]
I am a Calvinist and my wife is a Calvinist. We are both descended from a long line of Calvinists. Yet, it is difficult to imagine how our Catholic friends could have been more enthused than we by the witness to hope of Pope John Paul II in Toronto during World Youth Days. Of course, not all Christians share our admiration for [...]