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Stories about the pro-gay curriculum in B.C. schools:
Gay-friendly course halted by Abbotsford school board
Ninety students had already enrolled at one high school
Vancouver Sun, September 22
B. C. schools oust 'controversial' sociology class
A new high school course designed to promote tolerance and diversity by introducing to students concepts such as homophobia, heterosexism and cultural imperialism will not be taught in at least one school district in British Columbia this year, thanks to worries that students exposed to the material may become bigots.
National Post, September 23
B.C. reneged on deal, gay activists say
Two gay activists accused the B.C. government on Tuesday of reneging on a deal it signed two years ago to make school curriculum more inclusive, especially for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students. But Murray and Peter Corren held off preparing a complaint to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal after an education ministry employee called and proposed a meeting later this week.
Vancouver Sun, September 24
Earlier: Opposition growing to school curriculum changes
Stories about the standoff at a Christian high school in Regina:
Regina police investigate reports that someone with a gun is in Christian school
Regina police have converged on a Christian high school, saying they are investigating reports that someone is inside with a gun. Police say they are investigating reports that a male youth is inside Luther College, a private school in the city's west end.
Canadian Press, September 23
Tense moments at a Regina high school after student enters with pellet pistol
The principal of a Regina Christian high school managed to wrestle what turned out to be a pellet pistol away from an angry former student who barged into the middle of morning prayers and held a pastor at gunpoint Tuesday morning. The 16-year-old alleged gunman, who students said had been expelled from Luther College the previous year, was making the pastor read from a letter in front of terrified students.
Canadian Press, September 23
Also: Canadian Press | Canadian Press
Principal wrestles gun away from ex-student
It was about 10:20 a.m. when the teen, who officials said had been expelled from Luther College High School because of his troubling behaviour, waved the gun at those assembled in the gymnasium and demanded the three- or four-page list of grievances be read aloud. Otherwise, he would shoot. The school chaplain, Larry Fry, complied as about 460 people watched, some thinking it was a drill, others crying, others frantically text messaging their parents from their cellphones. At least one took video of the agitated teen.
Globe and Mail, September 23
Principal wrestles away weapon to end standoff with gunman at Regina school
As hundreds of students gathered Tuesday in the chapel of a Regina Christian high school, their morning prayers were shattered by an angry former classmate who barged into the service brandishing a weapon. More than 450 students at Luther College looked on as the youth, who students said had been expelled the previous year, held a pastor at gunpoint and made him read a letter. The students sat terrified on the stands in the chapel, which is also the school's gym, before many were able to escape.
Canadian Press, September 24
Teenager accused of bringing pellet gun to Regina school 'a good kid:' parents
The parents of a young man accused of brandishing a weapon at a Regina Christian high school say he's a "good kid." The 16-year-old faces several charges after allegedly bringing a pellet pistol to Luther College on Tuesday.
Canadian Press, September 24
Stories about the upcoming Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit in Toronto:
Dead sea scrolls to be shown in Toronto
The biggest international exhibition yet of the Dead Sea Scrolls will be showcased at the Royal Ontario Museum next year. Billed by some as Toronto's largest ancient historical "blockbuster" since the Art Gallery of Ontario's King Tut show in 1979, the scrolls are scheduled to be at the ROM next summer until December. Not every piece will be on display, but organizers say it will be the largest collection outside of Israel's borders.
National Post, September 19
ROM to exhibit Dead Sea scrolls next summer
In his continuing campaign to paint his government as arts-loving and culture-friendly, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced yesterday that the Royal Ontario Museum will play host to an unprecedented exhibit of the Dead Sea scrolls next year.
Globe and Mail, September 25
Stories about REAL Women's 25th anniversary:
Muffins and family values
A Canadian women's group that once billed itself as the voice of homemakers and used homebakedmuffins as part of their lobbying of backbenchers is celebrating 25 years of advocacy for old-fashioned causes and lifestyles they admit are increasingly at odds with the realities of modern Canadian society.
Katie Rook, National Post, September 20
Who are the real 'ideologues'?
It was just the teeniest bit naughty of the Post last Saturday to accompany a story about the 25th anniversary of REAL Women of Canada ("Muffins and family values") with a picture of a 1950-era homemaker in an apron, smiling seraphically at her kitchen appliances. One might almost form the impression that the Post's editors consider the conservative group to be out of touch with women's issues. As it happens, I was one of the speakers at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa for the conference that marked the occasion. Indeed, I was the one whose subject, mentioned in the article, was "the effect of feminism on Canadian society."
Barbara Kay, National Post, September 24
Stories about Islam and the West:
Skirts 'unsafe' on ladders
A human resources manager was concerned for the safety of Muslim women she saw climbing steep ladders while holding their long skirts in one hand to reach their Toronto UPS work stations. "It was terrifying. I wouldn't want to do what they were doing. It caused me great concern," Michelle Skabar told Canadian Human Rights Tribunal panel chair Karen Jensen yesterday.
Toronto Star, September 18
Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia on rise: poll
Negative feelings towards Muslims, and to a lesser extent Jews, are on the rise in Canada, with xenophobic feelings at a more feverish pitch in Quebec than elsewhere, a new poll reveals. However, the level of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim sentiment in Canada overall is much lower than in several European nations, according to a global study of 24 countries, also released this week.
Globe and Mail, September 19
Earlier: Stories about Islam and the West
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Stories about "human rights" commissions and tribunals:
'Human rights' vs. basic freedoms
A timely intervention has prevented the cancer from metastasizing, but aggressive treatment is still needed. The diagnosis is by now well known: From their privileged place within the body politic, Canada's various human rights commissions have gone from legitimately fighting discrimination to attacking Canadian liberties.
Father Raymond J. De Souza, National Post, September 19
Dismissal of Maclean's case wrong: Elmasry
Hate speech creates a "silencing dynamic" that excludes disadvantaged groups from civil participation, according to Mohamed Elmasry, national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress. In a submission to Richard Moon, a University of Windsor law professor hired by the Canadian Human Rights Commission to review its online hate speech mandate, Prof. Elmasry writes that "the state should act to empower those who are disadvantaged by hate speech, and that may mean lowering the voices of some in order that others may be heard."
National Post, September 20
Earlier: Stories about "human rights" commissions and tribunals
Other stories from the past week:
A People's Priest
After a lifetime of service to the poor, particularly in Alberta, Camille Piche is off to Rome
Edmonton Journal, September 14
Regulator won't force MDs to betray conscience
The regulating body for Ontario physicians has backed off a controversial proposal that would have forced doctors to put aside their religious views when dealing with patients.
National Post, September 18
Earlier: Stories about Ontario doctors and religious freedom
New plots for interfaith couples - but not enough
Ferne and Ron Page share a lot of things: their pet dog Oliver, trips to the flea market and visits to the local synagogue. But the Toronto couple married 25 years ago figuring they wouldn't be sharing one thing: a gravesite. According to the laws of her religion, Ms. Page, who is an observant Jew, can't be buried in a traditional Jewish cemetery beside her husband, who hasn't converted to Judaism and doesn't plan to.
Globe and Mail, September 18
Vatican to host meeting on evolutionary theory
The Vatican will host a conference on evolutionary theory next year coinciding with the 150th anniversary of Darwin's seminal work -- and at a time when creationism is gaining ground among fundamentalist Christians. "There is absolutely no incompatibility between evolutionary theory and the Bible's message," Gianfranco Ravasi, in charge of cultural affairs at the Vatican, told reporters, noting the theory had interested Pope Benedict XVI and his recent predecessors.
Globe and Mail, September 18
Wiretaps convict mother in Jewish school firebombing
Wiretap evidence reveals the mother of a man involved in the 2004 firebombing of a Jewish elementary school tried to get him to escape to Brazil just weeks after he committed the crime. Quebec court Judge Robert Marchi referred to the wiretaps Thursday before declaring Rouba Elmerhebi Fahd guilty of being an accessory after the fact.
Canadian Press, September 18
Earlier: Stories about anti-Semitism
Fatal fire was lit with propane torch
A propane torch was used to used to ignite an arson fire that killed five people two years ago, the lead investigator told a murder trial Wednesday. . . . Killed in the fire were Ashley Singh, 17, Adela Etibako, 39, and three of her children -- Edita, 12, Benedicta, 9, and Stephane, 8. Singh was the girlfriend of Bolingo Etibako, 19, who escaped the fire by jumping out a second-storey window after 3 a.m. on May 15, 2006.
Vancouver Sun, September 18
Earlier: Stories about Bolingo Etibako, arson survivor
Young offender gets four years prison for murdering Hare Krishna mom
A man who was 14 years old when he shot and killed his drug-addicted Hare Krishna mother outside the family home near Hope has been sentenced to four years in jail.
Vancouver Sun, September 19
A winner, no doubt about it
Battle between a nun and a priest plays out as a subtle mystery
Peter Birnie, Vancouver Sun, September 19
Finding a place for faith in the workplace
Our beliefs contribute to the mental well-being we bring to our jobs -- and to how we interact with our co-workers, psychologist says
Edmonton Journal, September 20
Pagans proud but not loud
No tax-exempt status yet but Wiccans gain recognition
National Post, September 20
Vigil held for homeless Winnipeg man
Advocates for the homeless have called for change at a vigil for a homeless Winnipeg man who was killed outside a Salvation Army shelter last week. Tim Knudsen, 44, was beaten to death in an apparent dispute over a cigarette.
Canadian Press, September 21
Readers love to talk about religion
Would it be desirable, or even possible, to have a secular letters page? With all the readers' correspondence dealing with non-religious issues such as politics and finance, with a few entertainment or lifestyle letters thrown in for amusement. Would that be acceptable to Post subscribers? I doubt it. And I base that assumption on the overwhelming number of letters sent in -- approximately one-third of all letters -- that deal with faith in some way. Last week was no different.
Paul Russell, Full Comment, National Post, September 21
Thank you, Camille Paglia
When pro-choice social commentator Camille Paglia wrote that she sanctions "murder" when it is called "abortion," pro-lifers were horrified. They should have cheered.
Andrea Mrozek, National Post, September 23
Cross rises above conflict
In this, the fourth of a six-part series, the National Post continues touring the front lines of Sri Lanka's civil war, visiting a Catholic Church caught in the crossfire.
National Post, September 24
Reprieve for woman who hid in church
Arrest of immigrant who sought sanctuary results in stay of deportation order
Toronto Star, September 24
No improper role in Morgentaler nomination
The Canadian Judicial Council has tossed out a complaint against Chief Justice of Canada Beverley McLachlin that alleged she improperly played a role in a recommendation that abortion doctor Henry Morgentaler be nominated for the prestigious Order of Canada. Announcing its decision this morning, the CJC said that the complaint "was not a judicial matter."
Globe and Mail, September 25
Earlier: Stories about abortion, Morgentaler and religious freedom for doctors
Despite mumps outbreak, John Calvin was a great man
The mumps outbreak in B.C.'s Fraser Valley, which spread most aggressively in August, is not making headlines any longer. (And for some mysterious reason the Fraser Health Authority has stopped providing information about it on its website, even though its last posting reminds everyone to remain wary.)
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, September 25
Earlier: Stories about the mumps outbreak and religious objections to vaccination
At home on campus
Homecoming Weekend starts tomorrow here at Queen's University. Homecoming -- even the word is comforting.
Father Raymond J. De Souza, National Post, September 25
September 25/2007
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