Everyday For Life Canada: February 2021

A win for Catholic education in Canada

In Saskatchewan, for several years, a legal battle has been taking place about the public funding of Catholic schools. The case deals with whether non-Catholic students going to Catholic schools have the right to get public funding. The Saskatchewan court has answered with an unqualified, yes. Here's the story.

In March 2020, the Court of Appeal in Saskatchewan overturned an earlier decision by the Queen's Bench court which tried to restrict government funding of non-Catholic students attending a provincially funded Catholic school.

The litigation involved St. Theodore School in the Theodore Roman Catholic School Division, located in Theodore in the eastern part of Saskatchewan. The school was part of the Good Spirit School Division and scheduled to close.

Feb

TCDSB superintendent Derek Chen: stop virtue signalling

Derek Chen is the superintendent of equity, diversity, Indigenous education and community relations at the Toronto Catholic District School Board. He makes over $150, 000 a year and doesn't have to teach one student. He's not responsible for supervising teaching in any Catholic school. He has an administrative job that pays well, thanks to Catholic tax payers. His sole mandate is to push the politically correct god of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Feb

"Reproductive and sexual rights" aren’t human rights

The expression “sexual and reproductive health and rights,” (SRHR) is used by activists as if these rights exist. Even Canada's PM Justin Trudeau often refers to "reproducible rights" as if it's a fact. It's not. Both "sexual rights" and "reproductive health rights" have never been clearly defined. This fact hasn't stopped the activists and politicians from using the term and promoting the idea.

Feb

Judicial review: has the TCDSB violated its Catholic mission?

Joe Volpe the publisher of the Italian daily newspaper Corriere Canadese reports that Trustee Michael Del Grande's legal team has taken the Toronto Catholic District School Board to court. It's asking for a Judicial Review of the Board's governance as to whether it has abandoned its core Constitutional mandate to serve Catholics who choose to support the separate board through their taxes.

Feb

Understading the moral decay of Western culture

An article recently posted in Catholic Stand titled, "Western Civilization is Possessed by an Impure Spirit," by Edward Benet goes a long way to explain the moral decay of post-modern Western Culture. Our Christian roots that once gave reason for the founding of monasteries, schools and hospitals have been severed. Our Western heritage has given the world great music, art, civics and taught us all how we're to love one another as Christ did.

Feb

Fr. Amedeo Nardone: "Well done, good and faithful servant"

We have sadly been informed that Fr. Amedeo Nardone died (November 18, 1952--February 20, 2021) after a lengthy illness. Our deepest condolences go out to his fellow Franciscans, friends and especially his family. To celebrate and give thanks to God for his life, we re-post a blog we wrote for the 50th anniversary of his priestly vocation. Here's that entry:

On July 7, 2018, we attended his 50th jubilee celebration of the priestly ordination of Franciscan priest Fr.

Feb

Grace Life Church pastor schools government about civil rights

Grace Life Church pastor James Coates gives the Alberta government and other governments in Canada a lesson about civil rights and the importance of religious freedom. This is his last sermon before he was arrested and sent to jail for keeping his church services open to his congregation. On the church's website there is an instructive statement about the role of government and churches during this "pandemic." We post it today.

Feb

Shame on Canada and Alberta: pastor in jail for holding church service

Sadly, we currently have a pastor in jail in Alberta for committing the "terrible" crime of holding a church service. Costco, beer and alcohol stores can open across the country but church gatherings must be shut down. Prayer must spread the virus, not so if one eats a hot dog and fries. Rod Taylor leader of the Canada's Christian Heritage Party has written a great article about this important issue.

Feb

"The Closing of the American Mind:" a book well worth revisitng

"In 1987, eminent political philosopher Allan Bloom published The Closing of the American Mind, an appraisal of contemporary America that 'hits with the approximate force and effect of electroshock therapy' (The New York Times) and has not only been vindicated, but has also become more urgent today.

Feb

We can celebrate Mass and meet public health standards

Back in May 2020, the Catholic Bishops of Minnesota issued a letter to the faithful in response to Governor Walz's order limiting religious gatherings to 10 people. The bishops make it clear that they were ready to defy the administrative request because it infringed on religious liberty and restricted churches more than places of business. It was unjust. And they took action.