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By Lloyd Mackey
 So the Olympics are over -- and, even 2,500 kilometres away, Edna and I felt the slight letdown as everything returned to normal.
Much coverage on the faith-linked aspects to the Games has appeared on CC.com. I encourage OttawaWatch readers to check out those stories:
- Preparing for Olympic fever
- Churches ready to welcome a world of guests
- Olympic Games inspire a spectrum of Christian response
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As a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, I receive daily news releases from both opposition and government politicians, with announcements, attachments, photos and other paraphernalia. Their intention is to encourage the 400 Gallery members to use those releases as bases for stories about what they (the politicians) are doing in the political sphere.
A fair number of those releases come from the prime minister's office. Often they are announcements that the prime minister is commending people on special achievements.
Occasionally, the achievement is somehow related to a religious expression which may or may not fall within the purview of Stephen Harper's own particular faith.
Most days, I receive from 75 to 100 such releases. I look at all the headings and usually check out a dozen or so for closer attention.
On February 19, I was surprised to get a personal note from Sara MacIntyre, the prime minister's associate press secretary. (Most people who pay attention to these things will have heard of Dimitri Soudas, who runs the PM's press "shop". MacIntyre reports to him.)
Her message was simple: "I just wanted to make sure you receive this statement this morning."
The background to that note was my first meeting with MacIntyre, when about 100 members of the Gallery were invited, shortly before Christmas, to 24 Sussex Drive, the PM's residence.
MacIntyre's line of questioning established, for her, that most of my journalism is done for Christian faith-based publications and websites. So, two months later, she did her job -- and, as a result, my readers are learning the following from Harper:
"I join Catholics in Canada, as well as Quebecers and all Canadians, in welcoming the news that Brother Andre will be officially declared a saint. His canonization confirms the devotion of the countless people who came to him for help during his life, the million who attended his funeral and the two million who visit St. Joseph's Oratory every year.
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"Brother Andre's life shows us the power of faith, and the importance of concern for the sick and others in need. In this solemn act, the Roman Catholic Church is honouring a Canadian who achieve greatness through humility, determination and service to others.
"Brother Andre's devotion to St. Joseph, the patron saint of Canada, led to the building of the magnificent oratory on Mount Royal. Today's news heightens the inspiration we feel on seeing that religious landmark, a symbol and centre of faith in Montreal and all of Canada."
Edna and I were two of the two million in 2002 who visited St. Joseph's. It is a towering edifice built on several levels rising to a spectacular dome, under which is an imposing chapel/concert hall able to seat, I would estimate, about 1,000.
To this observer, there are two striking and contrasting features about the Oratory. The first is the series of steps up which praying pilgrims ascend, kneeling, to the first level. The other is the showcase hallway in which are displayed hundreds of crutches rendered useless and left behind by people who could not walk unaided when they arrived at the shrine.
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The prime ministerial statement, welcoming Brother Andre's canonization, is typical of Harper's quiet habit of encouraging constructive faith wherever he finds it. It does not mean he personally endorses the Catholic view of Sainthood; but he respects it. More than that, he understands the context from which it comes, which is the healing aspect of the Christian gospel.
I am given to understand that the next few weeks could be tumultuous, at times, on the Hill. Hopefully, the prorogation will have provided the breathing space and relational healing necessary to keep the tumult somewhat at bay.
Stay tuned.
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Lloyd Mackey is a member of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa and author of Stephen Harper: The Case for Collaborative Governance (ECW Press, 2006), More Faithful Than We Think: Stories and Insights on Canadian Leaders Doing Politics Christianly (BayRidge Books, 2005) and Like Father, Like Son: Ernest Manning and Preston Manning (ECW Press, 1997). Lloyd can be reached at lmackey@canadianchristianity.com.
March 04/2010
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