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Note: Registration or subscription to the host news sites may be required to read some of the stories linked here.
Stories about religion in public and private schools:
Religious and public schools: Closing the gap
We need more interaction between students, taxpayers from disparate educational institutions
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, November 7
Who is a real Jew? Private school raises debate
A British court case over who should be allowed into a Jewish private school highlights more of the complexities involved in the Canadian dispute between proponents of secular and religious schools. The British case cuts to the heart of who is Jewish, and who gets to do the defining.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, November 9
Crucifixes should be removed from Italian schools
Let's be clear about two things right off. First, I'm a Christian. And I'm an old-fashioned, creed-reciting, church-going, eucharist-receiving, Bible-believing Christian. Second, I'm deeply and fiercely resistant to secularism: to the ideology that opposes all belief in God or the gods and parades itself in the robes of Reason, Justice, and Liberty. But I still think the European Court was right to conclude that Italian public schoolrooms should be denuded of crucifixes. Why? Two reasons.
John G. Stackhouse, Jr., Holy Post, National Post, November 10
Stories about climate-change belief as a religion:
Environmental beliefs get same legal protections as religious ones: U.K. judge
Environmental beliefs are worthy of the same protection as religion in matters of workplace discrimination, a judge has ruled in Britain. The landmark decision, which upheld a previous employment tribunal judgment, means that workers who are victimized because of their green beliefs may have the right to bring compensation claims against their employer.
National Post, November 6
Crucifix out, warming in
It's official -- global warmingism has court-warranted standing as a religion
Rex Murphy, Globe and Mail, November 6
Climatism is more than a belief system
A fired official believes climate change is equivalent to a religious belief. Who could disagree?
Peter Foster, Full Comment, National Post, November 10
Science is only human
Global warming first surfaced as a scientific question, all but devoid of ideology. Today it's an ideological position, all but devoid of science. What happened? Nothing, really: Science has revealed itself to be human. . . . Science is only human, but that's okay. The law has finally caught up with the obvious. A belief in man-made climate change isn't a science. It's a religion. Thanks, judge.
George Jonas, National Post, November 11
Stories about Michael Coren's defense of the Catholic Church:
The two Catholic Churches
Is the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) being "bashed" these days, as writer Michael Coren recently claimed on these pages? Coren even goes so far as to say that RCC-bashing is "the last acceptable prejudice" in Western society -- which suggests an element of base religious bigotry. On the other hand, is it possible that the torrent of criticism aimed at the Church is both fair and constructive?
Philip Mathias, National Post, November 7
David Barber to Michael Coren: 'If you're right, we're in big trouble'
In his recent complaints about what he calls "Catholic-bashing," ("A Church and its haters," Oct. 27) Michael Coren seems unable to distinguish bashing - of which there has been some - from legitimate criticism and justifiable anger.
David Barber, Holy Post, National Post, November 7
Stories about Islam and the West:
Fort Hood massacre a 'betrayal' of medical oaths, says top military MD
Similarly, one of the country's most vocal Muslim organizations appealed to Canadians not to link the massacre with religion. The plea for calm came from the Calgary-based Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, which is also calling on all Muslims in the country to condemn the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas.
Canadian Press, November 6
Fort Hood
For a person with old-fashioned values, and an old-fashioned sense of English word meanings, the reports of the Fort Hood massacre were almost as provoking as what happened there. In the larger view of things, they may be more consequential. Let me make that latter point plain. I am saying the words and attitudes conveyed in the reporting of a massacre can be, and in this case are, more consequential than the massacre itself.
David Warren, Ottawa Citizen, November 7
Spreading intolerance, one fatwa at a time
For some time now, I have been following the questions posed by Muslim youth and the responses (fatwas) issued by such Saudi-based clerics. It is fascinating to see how medieval-minded scholars serving a dictatorial theocracy named after an 18th century brigand are shaping the mindset of a segment of Canadian youth.
Tarek Fatah, National Post, November 9
Taking Islam seriously
It's a loosely bundled set of propositions, not a single personal characteristic
Colby Cosh, National Post, November 10
Cultural suicide
The most disturbing aspect of last week's Fort Hood shootings -- aside from the horrendous loss of life, of course -- has been the triumph of political correctness in the analysis of Maj. Nadil Hasan's motives. Many "experts" have assiduously avoided the obvious cause: Hasan's fundamentalist, radicalized Muslim views.
Lorne Gunter, National Post, November 11
'Muslim garb' of accused killer adds sinister twist to actions
The only Arabs who wear the 'shalwar-kameez' that Maj. Nidal Hasan had on are those who live in the hotbed of al-Qaida, Taliban activity
Tarek Fatah, Vancouver Sun, November 12
The Fort Hood double standard
Add Fort Hood to the list. It's getting longer: New York, Washington, Jerusalem, Bali, Madrid, London, Bombay. It's the list of places where, we are told, it is important to be vigilant about anti-Muslim activity.
Father Raymond J. de Souza, National Post, November 12
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Switzerland's 'battle of the minarets'
So far, the story is familiar to any Western observer: a right-wing political party incites hatred of Islam and Muslims, and tries to restrict and persecute them. But the reaction of the Swiss has been interesting. Independent intellectuals, left and centre parties, the Greens, and Christian, Jewish and Muslim organizations all mounted a big counter-campaign defending the right of Muslims to build minarets, and called SVP's proposal a violation of the right of Swiss Muslims to freedom of worship and belief.
Alaa Al-Aswany, National Post, November 12
Earlier: Stories about Islam and the West
Other stories from the past week:
Book denounces 'horror' Christianity
A strong, dangerous movement within North American evangelicalism uses fear to scare people into Christianity and weaken democracy, says a new book titled Religion of Fear: The Politics of Horror in Conservative Evangelicalism, by Jason C. Bivins (University of Oxford Press).
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, November 5
Bomb attack survivor speaks out for first time
A year after a gift-wrapped bomb arrived on his doorstep and exploded in his hands, a Langley, B.C., missionary is telling his story on television for the first time. In an exclusive interview with CTV News, Pastor Gary Stevenson shared his remarkable tale of recovery.
CTV, November 6
Earlier: Campus for Christ worker victim of bomb
Prosecutor not malicious in pressing satanic sex-abuse case: Supreme Court
Miazga, police officer Brian Dueck, and child therapist Carol Bunko-Ruys were all accused of malice in the 1991 case against the Klassen and Kvelo families based on complaints from three children. The children told police that they had been sexually abused and forced into satanic rituals including the mutilation and killing of animals, dismemberment of babies and drinking of human blood. The charges were all stayed after the children admitted to making up the accusations.
Canadian Press, November 6
Westhead: India's new Bible wears a bindi
The Virgin Mother in a sari, Joseph donning a turban. These are just some of the depictions in an Indianized version of the Bible. The controversy that followed means a toned-down second edition this year
Toronto Star, November 7
On a fearful day, you can see forever
Does the notion of life everlasting console us - or control us? John Allemang discusses eternity with Yale author Carlos Eire
Globe and Mail, November 7
Prince Charles and wife Camilla attend Anglican church service in Victoria
Bunny Campbell says she was excited, but also a bit frightened to be part of the front-row crowd waiting to greet Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, before Sunday church. Campbell, 87, said she's seen Queen Elizabeth twice in Victoria, but never Charles or Camilla, who is making her first visit to Canada.
Canadian Press, November 9
Elsie Wayne suffers stroke
Elsie Wayne, one of the most colourful characters to sit in the House of Commons, is in a Saint John hospital recovering from a stroke. . . . In politics, Ms. Wayne was as a social conservative who spoke out in opposition to same sex marriage.
Globe and Mail, November 9
Earlier: Stories about retiring Tory MP Elsie Wayne
Vatican and Ottawa make natural allies
Late last month, Ottawa bid farewell to Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the apostolic nuncio to Canada since 2001. The news apprised many, no doubt, to the fact that Canada maintains formal relations with the Vatican.
Adrian Ciani, Holy Post, National Post, November 10
Why anti-business crusaders are sinners
Big businesses create employment, pay the taxes that create services and help the needy on a large scale
Fazil Mihlar, Vancouver Sun, November 10
Why we must not overlook capitalism's moral shortcomings
Sure, big business has a positive side. But nobody's without a deadly sin or two
Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun, November 10
Worshippers work to combat flu in the pews
From communion bread on toothpicks to bleach in the holy water, religious groups are taking measures to prevent the spread of H1N1
Globe and Mail, November 11
Earlier: Schools prepare for H1N1 onslaught
Religion Returns to Montreal
Religion is back in Montreal, a city that, when it tore off the habit of de facto clerical rule during the last century, thought it had done away with the stuff. Body parts and sexual acts aren't the bad words here (the neon awnings of strip clubs abound); say the name of a part of a Catholic church out of context in Quebecois French, and chances are you're cussing. But over the last week, frustrating every hope for blessed laicite, 4,500 religion scholars converged under the shadow of the royal mount for the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion.
Nathan Schneider, Killing the Buddha, November 11
New accusations of trustee abuses rock troubled Catholic school board
Two long-time Toronto Catholic trustees, one of them chair of the board, are facing conflict-of-interest allegations less than a year after the former chair was ousted in a similar case.
Toronto Star, November 12
Earlier: Stories about the Toronto Catholic school board
The Charter for Compassion: Will it gain momentum?
Eloquent religion scholar Karen Armstrong discussed her Charter for Compassion before an appreciative audience when she was in Vancouver at September's Dalai Lama Peace Summit. As of today, the much-vaunted Charter was officially released. Now the fascinating group of interfaith leaders who put it together are seeking more supporters.
Douglas Todd, The Search, Vancouver Sun, November 12
November 12/2009
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