News round-up

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Stories about allegations of abuse and cult practices at Grenville Christian College:

'Light sessions' and dark past
A private religious school that charged up to $35,000 a year for tuition has abruptly closed its doors amid allegations of sexual improprieties and cult practices. Citing rising costs and a drop in enrolment, officials at Grenville Christian College, which sits on one square kilometre on the edge of the St. Lawrence River town of Brockville, Ont., announced at the end of July it would close. Students who attended the school over a period dating back to the 1980s paint a picture of a bizarre environment, involving so-called "light sessions" where teenagers were ordered from their beds in the middle of the night, made to sit in a dark room with a bright light shining on their face and accused repeatedly of being sinners by teachers and staff they couldn't see. The Right Rev. Peter Mason, the retired bishop of the Anglican diocese of Ontario, which includes Brockville, said he had heard allegations from former staff members of cult behaviour at the school but had not been aware it involved students.
Globe and Mail, August 31

Apology for 'hurt and pain' at private school
Ontario's Grenville Christian College, which has closed amid allegations of cult practices, was an emotionally, spiritually and sometimes physically abusive place that caused "hurt and pain" to staff and students, a former senior administrator of the elite private school acknowledged Friday. Joan Childs, who worked at the school for more than 30 years, posted a public apology on an Internet message board that former students have been using for more than a year to talk about what they experienced and suffered.
Globe and Mail, September 1

Born into abusive grip of a cult
Community of Jesus parents abandoned their teen daughter at now-shuttered school
Globe and Mail, September 4

Anglican bishop rejects ex-student's plea to investigate abuse claims
A former student's plea to Anglican authorities to "intervene" in the alleged conduct of a priest who ran a private religious school accused of cult practices has been rejected by the priest's bishop as not properly constituting a formal complaint against him. The ex-student of Grenville Christian College near Brockville, Ont., sent Bishop George Bruce an e-mail with a link to a website where onetime staff and students have been pouring out stories alleging physical, psychological and sexual abuse over a 20-year period. Jennifer Reid, of Peterborough, Ont., began her e-mail to Bishop Bruce: "Please intervene."
Globe and Mail, September 6

Stories about the funding of religious schools in Ontario:

Jewish group launches campaign for school funding
The Canadian Jewish Congress launched a television, radio and Internet ad campaign yesterday calling on the Ontario government to extend funding to all religious schools, saying that otherwise they are being unfairly "shut out" of the public education system. As the leaders of the three main political parties campaigned on education issues on the first day of school yesterday, the CJC ad said that 53,000 students attending private faith-based schools are being excluded even as the province funds 650,000 children in the Catholic system. "That's just unfair. Let's include all faith-based schools in public education. Let's replace fear with fairness," said the ad, which features children in a classroom.
Globe and Mail, September 5

Creationism raised as Ont. election issue
Publicly-funded religious schools would be allowed to teach creationism and other theories, says Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory. Speaking to reporters at the a Jewish day school in Thornhill, Ont., on Wednesday, Mr. Tory defended his plan to bring Jewish, Islamic and other religious schools into the public education system.
Globe and Mail, September 5

On eve of Ontario election, Conservative leader muses about creationism in schools
The governing Liberals quickly jumped on Tory's remarks, calling it a "violation" of the Ontario curriculum - which already teaches evolution - for creationism to be taught outside the context of a religion class. Creationism isn't included in any Canadian provincial science curriculum and has been banned outright in British Columbia.
Canadian Press, September 5

McGuinty's indefensible stance on schools
Hypocrisy, in Catholic doctrine, would surely count as a venial, rather than a mortal sin. So if all that could be said of Dalton McGuinty's stated opposition to public funding of religious schools was that it was hypocritical -- if one were confined to pointing out that he himself attended Catholic school, that his children did likewise, and that his wife teaches in the Catholic school system -- that would be galling, but not sufficient in itself to condemn it. A thing can be hypocritical, and still be right. He might even be arguing against his own self-interest, which far from hypocritical, would be admirably public-minded. Catholic schools in Ontario are, after all, publicly funded -- the only faith to be thus favoured. If the Premier were so convinced of the evils of public funding of religious schools -- if, as he was saying the other day, it amounted to encouraging "children of different faiths to leave the publicly funded system and become sequestered and segregated in their own private schools" -- if he were so dedicated to the principle of separation of church and state as to demand that public funds be withdrawn from Catholic schools, then we should only applaud the sincerity of his conviction, the consistency of his position, and the rigour of his analysis. But Mr. McGuinty is not saying that. Rather, the position he is attempting to defend is that public funding should be available to schools professing the Catholic faith, and no other.
Andrew Coyne, National Post, September 5

Doing right by Ontario's students
Its hard to remember just how different things in our publicly funded schools were just four short years ago, under the previous Conservative government. Teacher morale was low -- and strikes and walkouts cost our kids some 26 million lost learning days. Extracurricular activities were slashed, budgets were cut and student performance was down, too. Now, just four short years later, things are better. . . . And yet, just as our schools have finally started to turn the corner, the Conservatives want to take $500-million out of public education and divert it to private religious schools. If the Conservatives are allowed to carry out this scheme, it could spell disaster -- again -- for the schools that over 95% of Ontario families depend upon to provide an excellent education for their kids.
Kathleen Wynne, National Post, September 5

John Tory backpedals on creationism
Christian private schools should be allowed to teach creationism if they receive public funding, Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said yesterday. But six hours later, he went into damage-control mode, saying creationism should be explored only in religion class and not elsewhere in the curriculum, such as in science class.
Globe and Mail, September 6

Faith-based funding creates controversy
The Ontario election campaign has not yet officially begun and already Conservative leader John Tory is facing tough questions on his proposal to extend public funding to faith-based schools. On the campaign trail yesterday morning, Mr. Tory was questioned on whether his plan would allow schools to teach creationism. Mr. Tory answered carefully, saying any school that receives government money would be required to teach the provincial curriculum, but could mention other views as well.
National Post, September 6

Tory gets 'F' for faith-funding idea
John Tory is such an ideal leader it's hard to understand why we don't send pink slips to the gang that's been running Queen's Park and simply appoint him premier so Ontario can get on with its God-given task of being the most wonderful province anybody ever dreamed of. What's stopping us? What's stopping us is that there's something odd about him. . . . Dalton McGuinty and his drooping-drawered Liberals should have been easy pickings. As a government that failed to stand up for the things it stood for, it stands alone. A substantial (that is, non-wack) contender should have had to do nothing more to beat them senseless than list their broken promises. But then out popped faith-based education.
Joey Slinger, Toronto Star, September 6

Catholics need not apologize
Like most parish priests this first week back I was over at the local Catholic school, welcoming everyone, blessing the students and teachers, wishing them well for the new year just begun. Does that constitute something unfair? Are my ministrations a threat to the common good of society? Is that something that should be stopped in Ontario?
Fr. Raymond J. De Souza, National Post, September 6

Jonathan Kay on the disgraceful smearing of John Tory
We have seen this before. In 2000, the federal Liberals successfully lampooned Stockwell Day after the Canadian Alliance leader mused about his creationist beliefs. And in 2004, Paul Martin based his election campaign on bizarre claims that Stephen Harper was a religious social conservative who would destroy cherished rights and threaten Canada's secular character. Having thus been conditioned to treat every mention of Christian faith as an explosive blunder, the media is now giving John Tory the same treatment -- notwithstanding the reasonableness of what the man actually said.
Jonathan Kay, Full Comment, September 6

Earlier: Stories about the funding of religious schools in Ontario

Stories about Jehovah's Witnesses and healthcare:

Medical emergency faced by babies, lawyer says
Sextuplets born at B.C. Children's Hospital in January were in trouble right from the outset. Two died shortly after delivery and soon the health of the remaining four was deteriorating so quickly that the government had no choice but to save them with urgent blood transfusions - despite the religious objections of their Jehovah's Witness parents - the Supreme Court of British Columbia was told yesterday. The parents, who can't be named because of a publication ban, have applied to the court seeking a ruling that the provincial government deprived them of their Charter rights by failing to allow them to contest the transfusions in a judicial hearing. They argue that the Ministry of Children and Family Development acted with undue haste because there was no imminent medical emergency when the babies were apprehended and given blood transfusions. But Kris Chen, a lawyer for the ministry, told the court that the babies, who were born at 25 weeks gestation, were in jeopardy from the start and when hemoglobin counts began to fall, action was needed quickly.
Globe and Mail, August 31

Father of dead Jehovah's Witness girl can sue church: court
The father of a teenaged Jehovah's Witness who refused blood transfusions can proceed with legal action on behalf of her estate against the church, the Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled. Lawrence Hughes alleges that lawyers for The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada counselled his daughter Bethany to refuse transfusions necessary to treat her for leukemia.
Canadian Press, September 1

Earlier: Stories about Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions

Continue article >>

Stories about the Montreal cemetery lockout:

Gravediggers vote to go back to work
The union representing workers at Canada's largest cemetery promised yesterday to resume burials on Monday if a lockout that began there in mid-May is rescinded by the graveyard's management. The 129 workers would remain on strike one day a week -- every Friday -- until they agree on a new contract to replace one that expired at the end of 2003, union president Daniel Maillet added.
CanWest News Service, September 5

Cemetery faces new ordeal
Notre Dame des Neiges conflict nears end; clearing 498-body backlog won't be easy
Montreal Gazette, September 5

Earlier: Stories about the Montreal cemetery lockout

Stories about Islam and the West:

At a 'Catholic' college, the writing's on the wall
King's University College, an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario, treasures its 2007 Race Relations Award from the City of London, Ont. It's proof that the Catholic liberal arts college's unusually vigorous efforts to encourage multicultural diversity on campus are working to plan. Although it is still "proudly and fiercely Catholic" (in the words of King's principal Gerald Killan), the college has already allocated at least two prayer rooms for its growing population of Muslim students. That's perhaps column fodder for another day. Today's concerns King's recent acquisition, with funds provided by donors in the Muslim community, of a vivid green neon artwork of Islamic provenance entitled Kian. It presently occupies a very public space on King's exterior wall and -- according to one's ideological perspective -- either adorns or insults the College's mission.
Barbara Kay, National Post, September 5

Muslim women wearing niqabs can keep them on to vote in Que. byelections
Muslim women wearing niqabs or burkas covering their faces won't have to remove them to vote in three federal byelections in Quebec on Sept. 17. An Elections Canada spokesman says the women won't have to show their faces to vote. Spokesman John Enright said Thursday women wearing niqabs or burkas can bring a piece of identification with a photo or another document proving their identity when they vote.
Canadian Press, September 6

Earlier: Stories about Islam and the West

Other stories from the past week:

Legalizing polygamy shapes up as societal nightmare
British Columbia's de facto legalization of polygamy could force a massive overhaul of family law and result in demands that would overwhelm the taxpayer-financed social safety net. That's what Ida Chong, B.C.'s minister responsible for women's issues, has been told by her officials in briefing notes prepared in 2006 prior to her ministry's budget estimates being debated.
Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun, August 31
Earlier: Stories about polygamy

So, sex -- are you spaghetti or waffles?
If things are not working out as planned, you might want to consider a career in the expanding field of abstinence education. The need is staggering: Four out of five people I surveyed on the street thought abstinence training is something you do with your midsection in the gym. Plus, unlike any of the rest of the coaching industry -- career coaching, life coaching, sales training etc. -- this form of training is generously subsidized by the U.S. government, and has been since Bill Clinton signed the 1996 welfare reform bill, which provided abstinence training for impoverished women (though not, alas, for him).
Barbara Ehrenreich, Globe and Mail, August 31

B.C. high schools get 'ISMs' Course
A new Grade 12 elective course that will make its debut in selected schools next week as part of a controversial deal to settle a human rights complaint is called Social Justice 12, but it could also be dubbed Lessons in Isms. Ableism, ageism, anthropocentrism, consumerism, cultural imperialism, extremism, feminism, fundamentalism, heterosexism, humanism, racism, sexism and speciesism are among the key learning concepts, according to information released recently by the Education Ministry. Murray Corren -- who along with his spouse, Peter, was responsible for the human rights complaint and had a hand in developing the Social Justice curriculum -- said the only thing missing is a glossary explaining terms such as heterosexism and speciesism that are not a part of everyday vocabulary. . . . But religious groups say the lack of definitions -- even with respect to the term "social justice" -- will allow teachers to shape the course according to their own beliefs. That can be good and bad, says the Catholic Civil Rights League.
Vancouver Sun, September 1
Earlier: B.C. school districts evade parental rights concerns

Mother Teresa's darkness
When Mother Teresa of Calcutta died 10 years ago, it was assumed that her path to official sainthood would be quick and uneventful. The path was quick -- she was declared "Blessed Teresa" by Pope John Paul II in 2003 as part of the celebrations marking his 25th anniversary. But it was not uneventful. The exhaustive review of her papers revealed an interior life primarily marked by darkness and suffering. For over 50 years, Mother Teresa's spiritual life was characterized by an experience of the absence of God. A new book of her journal and letters, edited by Winnipeg-native Father Brian Kolodiejchuk will be released next Tuesday. The book, Come Be My Light, reveals that hidden life.
Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, National Post, September 1

Conservatives confuse science and moralizing
Ideology has always driven drug policy in Canada, as demonstrated in the federal government's attitude toward Insite . . . Clearly, the Conservatives are grasping at anything they can to hoodwink people into believing that there really is a scientific debate about the impact of Insite. This strategy is not unique: Creationists have for years attempted to dupe people into believing that there is a scientific debate about the theory of evolution, and they have succeeded in convincing some politicians to endorse the teaching of creationism in schools.
Peter McKnight, Vancouver Sun, September 1

A passion out of time
Conceit is a powerful and passionate historical story vividly set in 17th-century England. It charts a complex relationship between the Jacobean poet and preacher John Donne and his youngest daughter Margaret, who was called Pegge. Donne was a master of the metaphysical conceit, which is essentially a poetic metaphor that combines two very different concepts in a single image.
Joe Wiebe, Vancouver Sun, September 1

Many N.S. shops opt to stay closed nearly one year after holiday shopping allowed
Cheryl Williams of Sackville, N.S., who said she went shopping in Dartmouth at her sister's urging, said she'd rather see stores closed. "Shut everything down on holidays," she said. "People wanted Sunday shopping, not holiday shopping." Retailers in Nova Scotia have had the option of opening every day of the year since the Conservatives scrapped the rules surrounding Sunday and holiday shopping in October. Remembrance Day is the only exception.
Canadian Press, September 3

A new force in popular culture
Movies are fuelling a renewed fascination with Gnosticism today, but does it really offer satisfying answers?
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, September 3

District eyes traditional schools as way to boost enrolment
To lure more students into its hallways, a B.C. school board is pondering a radical approach - bringing back the single-row desks, prim uniforms and strict discipline of yesteryear. . . . It may sound like a step backward, but it's already working in the neighbouring Surrey district, said Doug Strachen, spokesperson for the Surrey District School board. For its three traditional schools - Surrey, Anniedale and Cloverdale - there's a waiting list of about 1,000 students, whose parents are clamouring to enroll their children, he said. Heather Stilwell, a trustee at the Surrey District School Board who was instrumental in opening its traditional schools, said there's been a steady demand.
Globe and Mail, September 5

Bush says he cries on God's shoulder
President George W. Bush is prone to bouts of crying caused by the stress of his job and claims to have seen ghosts emerge from the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House, according to a new book on his presidency. In a series of remarkably candid admissions by a sitting president, Bush confides to author John Draper that he has been "sustained by the discipline of the faithful experience" during the most difficult days of his presidency.
CanWest News Service, September 5
Also: National Post | Montreal Gazette

Chairmen's credibility causes stir in Quebec
Quebec's roving commission on "reasonable accommodation" was bound to stir controversy by the very nature of its focus: what concessions a majority francophone society should or should not make to religious and cultural minorities. But before it has even begun, the public hearings are mired in strife over what should have been the least-contentious issue of all: the credibility of its two chairmen, Gerard Bouchard and Charles Taylor.
National Post, September 6
Earlier: Stories about religious minorities in Quebec

Mourners fill Langley, B.C., church for funeral of two balloon crash victims
A mother and daughter who a family friend said personified kindness and generosity were celebrated and mourned Thursday after their deaths in a fiery balloon crash nearly two weeks ago. About 1,400 people filled a church to say an emotional goodbye. Rev. Anna Christie, a Knackstedt family friend, told mourners Shannon and her daughter Jemma were alike - caring and loved and good friends. Christie told the congregation God is heartbroken that pair are dead and He weeps with the mourners.
Canadian Press, September 6

Number of same-sex married couples in Canada counted for first time in census
Same-sex married couples will be counted for the first time in next week's census release on families, and activists aren't happy with the question put to the gay and lesbian community. The dissent over the historic Statistics Canada query ranges from objections that gays are being relegated to the census questionnaire's "other" box to questions about whether same-sex marriage should be counted at all.
Canadian Press, September 6

September 6/2007