Religion

A woman walks through an abandoned church in Thunder Bay, Ont., Friday, March 4, 2016. Statistics Canada says 34.6 per cent of people in this country have no religious affiliation — more than ever before. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

More Canadians than ever have no religious affiliation, census shows

Growth in the non-religious population, decline in people reporting as Christian linked

A woman walks through an abandoned church in Thunder Bay, Ont., Friday, March 4, 2016. Statistics Canada says 34.6 per cent of people in this country have no religious affiliation — more than ever before. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Justice Murray Sinclair, who was Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge, led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and served as a senator, stands in the ballroom at Rideau Hall after being invested as a companion of the Order of Canada and receiving a Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division), in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

TRC head questions why Catholic Church didn’t sell property to compensate victims

Murray Sinclair: Catholic entities released of their remaining financial obligations

Justice Murray Sinclair, who was Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge, led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and served as a senator, stands in the ballroom at Rideau Hall after being invested as a companion of the Order of Canada and receiving a Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division), in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Father John Stephens blesses a dog during a small outdoor service to mark St. Francis Day, at St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver, in 2020. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, is recognized by churches on (or near) Oct. 4 and to commemorate his life pets are blessed on the day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Blessing of pets at St. John the Divine in Courtenay

Pets play an important role in our lives. On Sunday, Oct. 2,…

  • Sep 28, 2022
Father John Stephens blesses a dog during a small outdoor service to mark St. Francis Day, at St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver, in 2020. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, is recognized by churches on (or near) Oct. 4 and to commemorate his life pets are blessed on the day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A woman prays on the steps outside St. Casimir Church in Toronto on Friday May 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Fatigue, burnout hit spiritual leaders on the front lines of faith during pandemic

People assume religious leaders are ‘superhuman,’ one Canadian sociologist says

A woman prays on the steps outside St. Casimir Church in Toronto on Friday May 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The Comox Comox Baptist Church at Anderton Road and Daye Road in Comox is offering courses in Christianity for both adults and youth. File photo

Free course teaching Christian faith being offered at Comox Community Baptist Church

Have you ever wondered about the following: “What is the purpose of…

  • Sep 4, 2022
The Comox Comox Baptist Church at Anderton Road and Daye Road in Comox is offering courses in Christianity for both adults and youth. File photo
Pope Francis, left, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet arrive at the opening of a 3-day Symposium on Vocations in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Feb. 17, 2022. The prominent Quebec cardinal is denying sexual assault allegations contained in a class-action lawsuit that was formally filed this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gregorio Borgia

Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet denies sex assault allegations, says he is being defamed

Cardinal accused of sliding his hand down woman’s back and touching her buttocks

Pope Francis, left, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet arrive at the opening of a 3-day Symposium on Vocations in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Feb. 17, 2022. The prominent Quebec cardinal is denying sexual assault allegations contained in a class-action lawsuit that was formally filed this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gregorio Borgia
Pope Francis, left, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet arrive at the opening of a 3-day Symposium on Vocations in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Feb. 17, 2022. Pope Francis says there is insufficient evidence to open a canonical investigation for sexual assault against Ouellet. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gregorio Borgia

Pope says not enough evidence to open sex assault probe against Quebec cardinal

Marc Ouellet, an adviser to the Pope, is accused of sexual misconduct in a class-action lawsuit

Pope Francis, left, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet arrive at the opening of a 3-day Symposium on Vocations in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Feb. 17, 2022. Pope Francis says there is insufficient evidence to open a canonical investigation for sexual assault against Ouellet. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gregorio Borgia
Pope Francis, left, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet arrive at the opening of a 3-day Symposium on Vocations in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Feb. 17, 2022. A series of claims made against Quebec clergy members in two class-action lawsuits against the church could be groundbreaking for victims who aren’t children. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gregorio Borgia

Adult who accused Quebec cardinal of sexual misconduct breaks church-abuse stereotype

Judge authorizes pair of class-action suits in Quebec against the Catholic church

Pope Francis, left, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet arrive at the opening of a 3-day Symposium on Vocations in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Feb. 17, 2022. A series of claims made against Quebec clergy members in two class-action lawsuits against the church could be groundbreaking for victims who aren’t children. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gregorio Borgia
Medicinal plants used by members of the Yakama Nation grow near the Klickitat River, a tributary of the Columbia River, on Sunday, June 19, 2022, in Lyle, Wash. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

Columbia River salmon are at the core of ancient religion

Pollution and climate change threatening river’s health, Indigenous spiritual traditions

Medicinal plants used by members of the Yakama Nation grow near the Klickitat River, a tributary of the Columbia River, on Sunday, June 19, 2022, in Lyle, Wash. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Pope Francis arrives to attend his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The pope’s visit to Canada this month includes a visit to the site of a former residential school in Alberta with survivors of the institutions.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Catholic dioceses failed in past to raise money promised to survivors. Will they now?

Fundraising campaign launched under a settlement struck in 2006 raised less than $4 million

Pope Francis arrives to attend his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. The pope’s visit to Canada this month includes a visit to the site of a former residential school in Alberta with survivors of the institutions.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis recites the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St.Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, July 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope denies resignation rumors, hopes to visit Kyiv, Moscow

Pontiff says retirement might happen someday, but an announcement within a few months not considered

Pope Francis recites the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St.Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, July 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
FILE - In this undated photo provided by Bobi Gephart, Gephart and her husband, Nate Gephart, pose for a picture. Bobi says she has felt “overwhelming support” from people all over the world after she confronted Pastor John B. Lowe II, who had confessed to years of adultery. (Courtesy of Bobi Gephart via AP, File)

#ChurchToo revelations growing, years after movement began

Survivors of sexual abuse in churches continue to call for justice, change

FILE - In this undated photo provided by Bobi Gephart, Gephart and her husband, Nate Gephart, pose for a picture. Bobi says she has felt “overwhelming support” from people all over the world after she confronted Pastor John B. Lowe II, who had confessed to years of adultery. (Courtesy of Bobi Gephart via AP, File)
Pope Francis delivers the Regina Coeli noon prayer from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, 29, 2002. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope names 21 new cardinals, from India, Mongolia, elsewhere

Majority of picks from outside Europe

Pope Francis delivers the Regina Coeli noon prayer from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, 29, 2002. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
FILE - This Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 file photo shows the headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Leaders of the SBC, America’s largest Protestant stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over almost two decades, according to a scathing 288-page investigative report issued Sunday, May 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Report: Top Southern Baptists stonewalled sex abuse victims

Seven-month investigation was conducted by independent firm

FILE - This Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 file photo shows the headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Leaders of the SBC, America’s largest Protestant stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over almost two decades, according to a scathing 288-page investigative report issued Sunday, May 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
Free Reformed Church is seen as people attend Sunday Service, in Chilliwack, B.C., on Sunday, February 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Crown drops COVID charges against Fraser Valley pastors accused of violating public health orders

Fines totalling $55,200 dropped against three Chilliwack pastors

Free Reformed Church is seen as people attend Sunday Service, in Chilliwack, B.C., on Sunday, February 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Pope Francis shows a flag that was brought to him from Bucha, Ukraine, during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis kisses Ukrainian flag from ‘martyred’ Bucha

Francis has refrained from citing Russia or Putin by name, keeping with Vatican diplomatic tradition

Pope Francis shows a flag that was brought to him from Bucha, Ukraine, during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Archbishop Richard Smith shares his observations regarding his trip to Rome, in Edmonton on Monday April 4, 2022. Archbishop Smith was part of the delegation that met with the Pope Francis over the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Archbishop says pope wants to repeat his residential school apology on Canadian soil

Archbishop of Edmonton says Pope Francis statement last week just the first step on road to healing

Archbishop Richard Smith shares his observations regarding his trip to Rome, in Edmonton on Monday April 4, 2022. Archbishop Smith was part of the delegation that met with the Pope Francis over the Roman Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, stands outside St. Peter’s Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

‘Never losing hope:’ Former national chief says apology reflects decades-long fight

It was 13 years ago that Phil Fontaine requested an apology from then-Pope Benedict

Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, stands outside St. Peter’s Square at the end of a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, outside St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

‘Hope for change:’ First Nations delegates meet with Pope Francis

Meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church lasted two hours rather than scheduled one

Former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, outside St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron, shown in a handout photo, is part of the upcoming trip to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO- Metis National Council-David Stobbe

‘Always had faith:’ Métis delegates say Vatican visit a step to repair relationship

Métis, First Nation and Inuit delegates flying to Rome for meetings with Pope Francis next week

Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron, shown in a handout photo, is part of the upcoming trip to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO- Metis National Council-David Stobbe