The commission seems to have begun its work with a conclusion in mind, then spent six years and more than $60 million amassing evidence to support it
This close to Christmas is a good time to test our knowledge of Christianity and Christian charity. So ponder this: When Christian churches founded schools in Canada, what names did they use? Perhaps you think these schools were named after saints, days in the Christian calendar and important church leaders. If so, give yourself part…
While there are significant challenges, married priests would be a boon to a church suffering from a lack of manpower
Pope Francis is open to the possibility of ordaining married men as priests. But don’t get too excited. The Catholic Church moves at glacial speed and a cadre of married priests won’t be joining the clerical ranks any time soon. My initial reaction was cynical. Ordaining married men seemed like a convenient way to shut…
It's impossible to tour Spain or Mexico without appreciating that spiritual and cultural suppression is a denial of human reality
History shows that denying human cultural diversity through force is ultimately futile. One of the most compelling lessons of travel in modern Andalusia in southern Spain is the impact of the attacks by the northern Catholic kings on the Moors and Jews of the great southern cities of Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Malaga and Ronda. After hundreds…
In a growing climate of suspicion and hatred, the scene at the stable can be an inspiration for more harmonious human interactions
It's rare for me to feel embarrassed about being a Christian. But watching media interview American Christians who supported Donald Trump, I was embarrassed. I simply couldn't reconcile the poisonous and frequently false rhetoric of the president-elect with the implications of the Gospel message. During the Christmas season, Christians and non-Christians can discover the implications…
Christians, Muslims and Jews come together to celebrate our common spirituality
Religion, intended to guide humans on the road to spiritual enlightenment, has instead often been a source of division and even a justification for violence. In recent years, however, there has been a significant shift, with religious leaders and their followers coming together to celebrate commonalities. Nowhere is this more evident than in Berlin, once…
Christians experience religious persecution more than any other faith group on a global scale and in absolute numbers
There was good news and bad news around an open letter released in Ottawa recently. The bad news was the letter concerned the persecution of about 230 million Christians worldwide faced with “daily threats of murder, beating, imprisonment, and torture.” An estimated 400 million more Christians face appalling discrimination in housing and jobs. The good…
This close to Christmas is a good time to test our knowledge of Christianity and Christian charity. So ponder this: When Christian churches founded schools in Canada, what names did they use? Perhaps you think these schools were named after saints, days in the Christian calendar and important church leaders. If so, give yourself part…
