Everyday For Life Canada: January 2014

Now, it's not even politically correct to advertise Catholic education

Forget teaching the faith in its fullness.We now have gotten to the point that we can't even talk respectfully about Catholic education in the public square. Take the recent incident of the video produced by the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association called, Faith in Our Future. It's a harmless bit of advertising about the value of Catholic education. But there have been complaints about it as soon as it was released and so it's been officially withdrawn.

Who complained? Supposedly those who want a complete end to Catholic education. It's people who work and represent public education and don't like Catholic advertising because it may bring more students to the separate system. You see there's now a battle for student bodies, not the quality of education.

Jan

When will the murder of the innocents stop?

The March for Life 2014 in Washington D.C. this past week made me think of a few horrific questions.

Jan

TCDSB Chair misleads parents about Catholic education

In the January 26, 2014 issue of The Catholic Register there's a letter published in the Readers Speak Out section from the Chair of the Toronto Catholic District School Board by Jo-Ann Davis. It's about Catholic education. She is essentially telling parents that the current state of Catholic education is sound and that the quality of education the 92,000 students receive in all 201 schools is loyal to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Jan

Will bishops' recommendations make it to the pews?

About a month ago, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops released a document called, "The Essential Elements in Evangelizing Today." It was written by the Episcopal Commission for the Doctrine. The topic covered is the new evangelization. Have you or your parish priest been made aware of this document? Does your church have a pastoral plan in place to evangelize?

Anyhow, the document was issued before Pope Francis published his Apostolic Exhortation.

Jan

All preborn children have the right to life

Today in the United States, during the liturgy's second week of ordinary time, the Church celebrates a Day of Prayer for the return to the legal protection of preborn children. Catholics and others are asked to pray for the restoration of a law that will guarantee the preborn right to life. Prayers will offered in reparation and penance for the grave sins done through abortion against the dignity and sanctity of human life.

Jan

Marriage matters: word matters

The words we use to define other words are important. If words are to mean anything, they must refer to some reality or or they may end up confusing us. Freedom, love, justice, courage and peace are mere abstract sounds unless they are connected to concrete references in the real world. Then, they take on meaning. Words mean when they are linked to examples, illustrations or point to something in the physical world.

Jan

OISE and U of T show their anti-Christian bias

According to their website, the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto "is recognized around the world as a leader in initial and continuing teacher education, graduate programs in education and education research. OISE is the largest and most research-intensive faculty of education in Canada, and one of the largest in North America.

Jan

The Joy of the Gospel: need we say more?

On November 24, 2013, Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation called, Evangelii Gaudium, the Joy of the Gospel was officially released. The event was to mark the conclusion of the Year of Faith, the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and his first year as pope.

The best thing to do to understand Evangelli Gaudium is to read it. Don't let the secular media tell you what it's about or what's missing.

Jan

Toronto Public Health sex resources are harmful to children

The Toronto Public Health website contains many explicit sex education resources for teachers. The strategy is to convince the teachers to use them and thus you reach the children. The rationale for the materials is to support schools in implementing Ontario's Sexual Health Curriculum. The site provides teacher lesson plans for Grades 5 and 6, Grades 7 and 8 and for Grades 9 to 12.

Jan

Archbishop Weisgerber should reject the Order of Canada

On December 30, 2013, it was officially announced that the former Archbishop V. James Weisgerber has been appointed as Officer of the Order of Canada. He receives the award "for his work as a champion of reconciliation and social justice, promoting deeper understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people." A special government ceremony will be held where Archbishop Weisgerber and other honored guests will accept the insignia from the Governor General of Canada David Johnson.