Religion

Cristino Bouvette (left), an Indigenous priest, says he often thinks of his grandmother, Amelia Mae Bouvette (right), a residential school survivor, when he considers the Catholic Church’s role in reconciliation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Gerald McMaster

‘Reconciliation was possible:’ Indigenous priest reconciles faith with identity

Unmarked graves at former residential school sites has some pondering role of the church

Cristino Bouvette (left), an Indigenous priest, says he often thinks of his grandmother, Amelia Mae Bouvette (right), a residential school survivor, when he considers the Catholic Church’s role in reconciliation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Gerald McMaster
A child’s dress hung on a cross blows in the wind near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School to honour 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the site in Kamloops, B.C., on Friday, June 4, 2021. The Catholic religious order that operated some residential schools in Canada says it will give researchers access to its archives in Rome. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Oblates to open Rome archives for search of residential school records

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to get full access to records in the Italian city

A child’s dress hung on a cross blows in the wind near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School to honour 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the site in Kamloops, B.C., on Friday, June 4, 2021. The Catholic religious order that operated some residential schools in Canada says it will give researchers access to its archives in Rome. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
St. Jean Baptiste Parish Catholic church is shown in Morinville Alta, on Wednesday June 30, 2021 as firefighters put out hot spots. Alberta is more than doubling the amount of funding for a program it announced last summer for security improvements at religious facilities to protect them from hate crimes and vandalism. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Alberta boosts funding to improve security of churches, religious buildings

Program originally offering $2 million annually will now distribute $5 million

St. Jean Baptiste Parish Catholic church is shown in Morinville Alta, on Wednesday June 30, 2021 as firefighters put out hot spots. Alberta is more than doubling the amount of funding for a program it announced last summer for security improvements at religious facilities to protect them from hate crimes and vandalism. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Mark Friesen carries baking to hand out in his town in western Ukraine. (Submitted photo)

B.C. missionary in Ukraine shifts focus to helping those impacted by war

‘The whole city is at work, and not just missionairies,’ says Ukranian mission worker

Mark Friesen carries baking to hand out in his town in western Ukraine. (Submitted photo)
Ritual scribe Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman inks some of the final letters on Nanaimo’s first-ever Torah scroll on Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Inn on Long Lake. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo’s first-ever Torah scroll completed with 300,000 handwritten letters

Mid-Island Jewish community’s Torah completion ceremony called a tremendous milestone

Ritual scribe Rabbi Yechiel Baitelman inks some of the final letters on Nanaimo’s first-ever Torah scroll on Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Inn on Long Lake. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Nathalie Charles poses for a portrait outside the Princeton University Chapel in Princeton, N.J. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Charles left her Baptist church at the age of 15 because as a queer woman of Haitian descent, she felt unwelcome in her congregation, with its conservative views on immigration, gender and sexuality. The 18-year-old freshman at Princeton has since identified as atheist, and then agnostic, before embracing a spiritual but not religious life. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)

What’s your religion? In US, a common reply now is ‘None’

‘Nones’ now constitutes 29% of American adults, up from 19% a decade ago

Nathalie Charles poses for a portrait outside the Princeton University Chapel in Princeton, N.J. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Charles left her Baptist church at the age of 15 because as a queer woman of Haitian descent, she felt unwelcome in her congregation, with its conservative views on immigration, gender and sexuality. The 18-year-old freshman at Princeton has since identified as atheist, and then agnostic, before embracing a spiritual but not religious life. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao)
People dressed in Santa Claus costumes take part in Christmas run in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Bah! Humbug! Italian bishop apologizes for telling kids Santa doesn’t exist

A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily publicly apologized to outraged parents after…

People dressed in Santa Claus costumes take part in Christmas run in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
This image released by HBO shows Eureka O’Hara, left, and Pastor Craig Duke, of Newburgh, Ind., in a scene from the HBO series “We’re Here.” Duke’s pastoral duties have been terminated – the result of a bitter rift surfacing in his Indiana church after he sought to demonstrate solidarity by appearing in drag alongside prominent drag queens in the reality show. (Jakes Giles Netter/HBO via AP)

Joining drag queens on TV show costs Indiana pastor his job

Bitter rift appears after he appears alongside prominent drag queens in the HBO reality series

This image released by HBO shows Eureka O’Hara, left, and Pastor Craig Duke, of Newburgh, Ind., in a scene from the HBO series “We’re Here.” Duke’s pastoral duties have been terminated – the result of a bitter rift surfacing in his Indiana church after he sought to demonstrate solidarity by appearing in drag alongside prominent drag queens in the reality show. (Jakes Giles Netter/HBO via AP)
Dr. Bonnie Henry. (B.C. government photo)

Masks must be worn at in-person worship services in B.C., Dr. Henry says

Choirs are included in the the face mask order

Dr. Bonnie Henry. (B.C. government photo)
Pope Francis salutes bishops as he arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Alessandra Tarantino

Indigenous delegates to have private meeting with Pope Francis during Vatican visit

Pontiff will hear personal stories of the legacy of residential schools

Pope Francis salutes bishops as he arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Alessandra Tarantino
Pope Francis blesses faithful during the Angelus noon prayer he delivers from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis to visit Canada as part of reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples

The pilgrimage could be the occasion for a papal apology that has been demanded by many in Canada

Pope Francis blesses faithful during the Angelus noon prayer he delivers from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Stacey Chomiak’s queer, illustrated, young-adult memoir ‘Still Stace: My Gay Christian Coming-of-Age Story’ is being released on Oct. 19, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. author says being gay and Christian is OK

Stacey Chomiak’s memoir aimed at LGBTQ youth makes peace with faith community and queer community

Stacey Chomiak’s queer, illustrated, young-adult memoir ‘Still Stace: My Gay Christian Coming-of-Age Story’ is being released on Oct. 19, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
The chancery office of the archdiocese of Montreal is seen Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The independent ombudswoman hired by the Montreal archdiocese to investigate allegations of abuse and other inappropriate behaviour says 45 complaints have been filed against the church since her mandate began in May. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

45 complaints filed against Montreal archdiocese, independent ombudswoman says

Roman Catholic archdiocese created position in May to probe abuse and other inappropriate behaviour

The chancery office of the archdiocese of Montreal is seen Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. The independent ombudswoman hired by the Montreal archdiocese to investigate allegations of abuse and other inappropriate behaviour says 45 complaints have been filed against the church since her mandate began in May. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
In this April 8, 2010 file photo a cross sits on top of a church in Berlin, Germany. A Winnipeg archdiocese says a priest who suggested residential school survivors were lying to get money is no longer allowed to preach or teach publicly. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Markus Schreiber

Manitoba catholic priest accuses residential school survivors of lying

Archdiocese apologizes, won’t allow Rhéal Forest to preach publicly or teach after Winnipeg comments

In this April 8, 2010 file photo a cross sits on top of a church in Berlin, Germany. A Winnipeg archdiocese says a priest who suggested residential school survivors were lying to get money is no longer allowed to preach or teach publicly. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Markus Schreiber
Studies by the BC Humanist Association suggest that religious privilege exists in Canada, since churches are exempt from some taxes. (Pixabay)

B.C. Humanists continue to lobby against giving clergy charitable tax breaks

Group says clergy housing deduction an example of ‘religious privilege’

Studies by the BC Humanist Association suggest that religious privilege exists in Canada, since churches are exempt from some taxes. (Pixabay)
Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, takes part in an event on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, to sign a protocol agreement to advance First Nations’ exercise of jurisdiction over child and family services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

‘No guarantees’ of papal apology for residential schools after Vatican trip: AFN

AFN representatives will join Métis and Inuit leaders making the trip in late December

Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, takes part in an event on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, to sign a protocol agreement to advance First Nations’ exercise of jurisdiction over child and family services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
(Canadian Press)

Fire destroys Catholic Church north of Edmonton, RCMP say blaze suspicious

Fire was so fierce that firefighters could not enter the 114-year-old Morinville building

(Canadian Press)
Pope Francis speaks from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican to a crowd of faithful and pilgrims gathered for the Sunday Angelus noon prayer, on June 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Domenico Stinellis

Indigenous leaders to meet with Pope Francis seeking apology for residential schools

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says an Indigenous delegation will visit the Vatican in December

Pope Francis speaks from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican to a crowd of faithful and pilgrims gathered for the Sunday Angelus noon prayer, on June 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Domenico Stinellis
The Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., is shown in this 1930 handout photo. Sixty-six per cent of respondents to an online survey conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies say the church is responsible for tragedies at residential schools, while 34 per sent say the federal government should be blamed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Deschatelets-NDC Archives

Most Canadians say church to blame for residential-school tragedies: poll

66 per cent of respondents to Leger survey say the church is responsible for the tragedies

The Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., is shown in this 1930 handout photo. Sixty-six per cent of respondents to an online survey conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies say the church is responsible for tragedies at residential schools, while 34 per sent say the federal government should be blamed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Deschatelets-NDC Archives
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron speaks during a press conference and prayer vigil at the former Muscowequan Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan at Muskowekwan First Nation, Sask., on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis

Indigenous leaders frustrated after Pope passes on apologizing for residential schools

More than 60 per cent of residential schools were run by the Catholic Church

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron speaks during a press conference and prayer vigil at the former Muscowequan Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan at Muskowekwan First Nation, Sask., on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis