Note: Registration or subscription to the host news sites may be required to read some of the stories linked here.

Stories about the quashing of the polygamy court case:

Polygamy charges thrown out against B.C. religious leaders
Criminal charges against B.C. religious leaders Winston Blackmore and Jim Oler for polygamy were thrown out of court this morning. B.C. Supreme Court Judge Sunni Stromberg-Stein decided that former attorney-general Wally Oppal did not have the authority to have lawyer Terry Robertson appointed as a special prosecutor after a previous special prosecutor had refused to prosecute the two men.
Globe and Mail, September 23

B.C. court quashes polygamy charges against controversial leaders of Bountiful
Winston Blackmore and James Oler were arrested earlier this year in Bountiful, B.C., and charged with one count each of polygamy. The men had petitioned the court to stay the charges, arguing that the B.C. attorney general had gone "special prosecutor shopping" until he found someone who would go ahead with charges. In a decision released Wednesday, B.C. Supreme Court Judge Sunni Stromberg-Stein agreed.
Canadian Press, September 23

B.C.'s 'prosecutor shopping' dooms polygamy case
Judge throws out case against Blackmore, Oler, citing unfairness in process to choose special prosecutor
Globe and Mail, September 23

Charges thrown out against B.C. polygamist leaders
In a decision released Wednesday, Judge Stromberg-Stein ruled B.C.'s attorney general had no jurisdiction to direct his staff to appoint Mr. Robertson as a special prosecutor. The two previous prosecutors had recommended that the anti-polygamy section of the Criminal Code be referred to the B.C. Court of Appeal to determine whether it breaches the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
Vancouver Sun, September 24

B.C. Judge Tosses Polygamy Charges
Judge Sunni Stromberg-Stein ruled yesterday that the appointment of special prosecutor Terrence Robertson by former B. C. attorney-general Wally Oppal was "unlawful" after two other special prosecutors decided not to charge the men following a review of evidence gathered during a two-year RCMP investigation.
National Post, September 24

Polygamy charges tossed out
Two religious leaders who wanted to challenge Canada's laws against polygamy, claiming the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects religious rights, had charges against them quashed yesterday.
Toronto Star, September 24

Analysis: Polygamy case in limbo after political interference
A landmark case intended to determine the constitutionality of Canada's anti-polygamy law and the limits of religious freedom is on hold -- at least for now -- with charges against two men stayed because of a fundamental principle. That principle is that the justice system must be independent and free from political interference. Without that, there is no rule of law.
Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun, September 24

Don't hold breath for a polygamy conviction
I'm no big fan of polygamy, regardless of whether the person with multiple spouses is a white man from the Kootenays, or in much rarer cases, black feminists in the U.S. The plural marriage form, which is still openly practiced in many Muslim and tribal cultures (the new president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, is a polygamist) seems vulnerable to incredible abuse, jealousy, manipulation and general emotional hell. But all sorts of people with integrity, including legal advisors with the BC Civil Liberties Association, say that Canada's protections of freedom of religion and association will trump our culture.s current ban on polygamy.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, September 24

Earlier: Stories about the polygamy court case

Stories about Anglicans from around the world:

Gay rights? Female clergy? Not in Africa. An ex-archbishop from B.C. explains why
'If they want to be Biblical literalists, then who are we to tell them they can't be?'
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, September 19

British Anglican priest loves Vancouver. Why?
An Anglican priest from Bournemouth, England, came to Vancouver this summer and ended up extremely enthusiastic about this place, culturally and spiritually. Rev. Bob Vernon believes the church in B.C. is ahead of the Church of England. Someone sent me a copy of his affectionate, eloquent letter from Dorset, which I've received permission to publish.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, September 23

Bishops make pitch to startled commuters
Idling taxis, hot dog stands and four smiling Anglican bishops in full regalia. That was the sight greeting sleepy-eyed commuters leaving Union Station during this morning's rush hour.
Toronto Star, September 24

Earlier: Anglicans in divorce court over property

Stories about the United Church and the controversy over Israel:

Meet Diana Ralph, the bizarre anti-Israeli conspiracy theorist who charmed the United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada narrowly avoided disgrace last month, when its members rejected a bigoted resolution aimed at boycotting Israel. But a scandalous new revelation suggests the controversy is far from over.
Jonathan Kay, Full Comment, National Post, September 17

United Church vows more care in funding
The United Church of Canada said it should have exercised "greater scrutiny" before approving funding for the event that founded a controversial alternative Jewish group, according to an email sent to its congregations over the weekend.
National Post, September 22

Earlier: Stories about the United Church of Canada and its new moderator

Stories about the Toronto International Film Festival and the controversy over Israel:

Elia Suleiman, Sarah Polley speak out on Tel Aviv issue
Palestinian director Elia Suleiman says he resisted pressure from the Muslim media to withdraw his feature film, The Time That Remains, from the Toronto International Film Festival.
Globe and Mail, September 18

What would grandma say?
My grandmother would have been so proud of Naomi Klein. "Such a pretty girl," she would have said "and so smart." She would have been amazed that a Jew, and a woman no less, could achieve such international recognition at such a young age. She might not have agreed with Naomi on Israel, but she would have been kvelling nonetheless.
Judy Rebick, National Post, September 22

Judy Rebick plays the "shmaltz card" and throws her grandmother under the bus
Professional leftie Judy Rebick began her Post op ed today with the words, "My grandmother would have been so proud of Naomi Klein." I wonder how many Jews read that and wanted to vomit. Count me in. I'm about the same age as Rebick, I had grandparents, they were also good, upright Jews and they would have been horrified at what Naomi Klein stands for. If her grandmother were alive, I doubt Rebick would have had the hutzpah to make such a claim.
Barbara Kay, Full Comment, National Post, September 22

Earlier: Stories about the Toronto International Film Festival

Continue article >>

Stories about the Dalai Lama's upcoming visit to Vancouver:

Desmond Tutu injured: Can't make Vancouver
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has suffered a ruptured disc and will not able to take part in the Vancouver Peace Summit with the Dalai Lama.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, September 17

With calm determination, Victor Chan plans a building devoted to the Dalai Lama's vision
The robust 64-year-old Bowen Island resident has brought his tenacity to founding and expanding Vancouver's four-year-old Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education, which is bringing a galaxy of spiritual and humanitarian stars to the city from Sept. 26 to 29. Yet one of Chan's toughest goals remains unfulfilled. He has yet to obtain the ideal downtown Vancouver location to construct the first non-sectarian building in the world devoted to the goals and values of his mentor and friend, the Dalai Lama.
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, September 21

Good deeds, Dalai Lama build roads to compassionate society
This week The Vancouver Sun is undertaking two unique and very special initiatives celebrating the coming visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the Sept. 26-29 Vancouver Peace Summit and We Day on Sept. 29.
Patricia Graham, Vancouver Sun, September 21

Stories about Islam and the West:

For 33 years, doors open wide for Eid celebration
When Haroon Khan brought his mother and three younger siblings to Toronto from Pakistan in 1976, most of his friends were bachelors like him. So every year his mother, Zafar Sultan, cooked up a storm to host 30 or 40 of their young friends for Eid-ul-Fitr, the celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, Islam's holy month of fasting.
Toronto Star, September 20

Has Jack Layton converted to Islam?
The annual Muslim holiday of Eid has come and gone, and once more the community has been showered with messages from politicians tripping over one other to prove their credentials as lovers of Islam and all things Muslim. I have an offer to make to all these men and women who stumble and mumble to utter .Salaam Alaikum. messages written by their Muslim staffers: If you are so enamoured by my faith and impressed by the conduct of my community, then stop these annual shenanigans and once and for all come join our ranks. Convert to Islam.
Tarek Fatah, Full Comment, National Post, September 22

Rights commissioner dismisses complaints
Alberta's Human Rights and Citizenship Commission has dismissed nine complaints filed against The Journal and the Calgary Herald in connection with a controversial editorial published seven years ago. The complaints were lodged by Muslim and Palestinian organizations and their supporters, who alleged the editorial was likely to incite hatred or contempt toward Palestinian Arabs and Muslims, contrary to Alberta's Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act.
Edmonton Journal, September 24

Gaddafi, Ahmadinejad and the Muslim political world's ongoing clown show
Pop quiz: Who is the President of Indonesia? If you knew the answer was Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, award yourself a gold sticker in the shape of the Wikipedia logo. But if you.re among the 99% of readers who didn.t, don.t worry: You.re in good company. Virtually no one could pick the leader of the world.s most populous Muslim state out of a lineup for one simple reason: because Indonesia is a stable democracy, with a responsible government that quietly focuses its attention on domestic issues, and which fights terrorism, rather than sponsoring it.
Jonathan Kay, National Post, September 24

Earlier: Stories about Islam and the West

Other stories from the past week:

Lives lived: David Dale Thompson
Maintenance worker, church usher, "bad boy," brother. Born July 4, 1944, in Jimma, Ethiopia. Died April 9 in Langley, B.C., of cancer, aged 64.
Jeff Dewsbury, Globe and Mail, September 14

A resource more precious than gold
Canada's Hope International working to quench the thirst of Ethiopia's parched plains
Vancouver Sun, September 19

Jewish 'home away from home' ready for students
While the city's 175,000 Jews prepared to ring in the new year yesterday with sweet bread and honey, Rabbi Yishaya Rose was nervously getting ready for his first Rosh Hashanah service as co-director of The Chabad House at the University of Toronto.
Toronto Star, September 19

Ten suggestions
Because I am a bit of an anomaly in the Canadian "mainstream media" -- because I am, to put no finer point upon it, not only rather conservative in my political outlook, but what is called a "social conservative"; and as one of my critics once patiently explained, "not just conservative, but Christian; and not just Christian, but Catholic" -- because of this I get many e-mails.
David Warren, Ottawa Citizen, September 20

End religious persecution, families of jailed Falun Gong believers beg government
Vancouver woman pleads for release of daughter, who has spent nearly two and a half years in jail
Vancouver Sun, September 21
Earlier: Stories about CBC's documentary on Falun Gong

Temple hit by arson reopens to smiles
Sinhalese Buddhists restore centre targeted during Sri Lanka strife
Toronto Star, September 21

Law society probes Senator over billing
Two days before Christmas in 2004, an angry Canadian Senator wrote to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in New Westminster, B.C. A Vancouver lawyer appointed to the Red Chamber in 2001, Mobina Jaffer was responding to questions about legal charges that she and her son, also a lawyer, had billed to the Catholic order. The Oblates were troubled enough to hire another set of lawyers to examine the Senator's bills.
Brian Hutchinson, National Post, September 21

Homage to a holy river that needs room to flow
Sometimes a choreographer can become too wedded to his material. A case in point: Janak Khendry's ambitious new work. Ganga - the title is the Sanskrit word for Ganges river - is Khendry's heart-felt homage to this holy Indian icon.
Paula Citron, Globe and Mail, September 22

Gay marriage gone wrong creates Catch-22
U.S. women took vows in Toronto, but can't get divorce on either side of the border
Toronto Star, September 23

Get the state out of our bed and breakfasts
A debate ensued among the trio during which the guest allegedly insisted Jesus was just a minor prophet, to which Mr. Vogelenzang is alleged to have responded that Mohammad was a warlord. The guest's complaint to police also claims Mrs. Vogelenzang described the hijab as a form of bondage. Police questioned the Vogelenzangs in April and again in July. Following this second visit, they charged the couple with using "threatening, abusive or insulting words" which were "religiously aggravated."
Lorne Gunter, National Post, September 23

September 24/2009