December 2010 National Updates

December 1, 2010

Bishops raise concern about human smuggling bill
THE CANADA'S Catholic Bishops have added their voices to an array of advocacy groups opposed to legislation aimed at preventing human smuggling.
Comment: A friend remembers the charitable side of David Lam
David See-chai Lam passed away November 22. The 25th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, he was also an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a devout Christian.
OttawaWatch: Faith and/or a gold mine
KERRY COOK was in Ottawa November 30 in the interests of saving the economy of Williams Lake - without hurting the environment.

December 8, 2010

The art of welcoming the stranger
AS THE FACE of Canada keeps changing due to a steady influx of people from other countries, many churches now find themselves ill-equipped to deal with this reality.
OttawaWatch: Voice from a Jesuit past
THE HEADLINE was "Real Social Justice." My first thought on seeing it was that this was another rant about how fundamentalist Christians - and right wingers who hang out with them - are the bane of society.

December 21, 2010

'Harvest time' predicted for UBC campus
BAPTIST CHAPLAIN Craig O'Brien recalls a spiritual conversation he had with "a very, very bright guy" who felt his humility ruled out any personal need to pursue God.
OttawaWatch: The good news was buried
IT WAS a good news Christmas-like story which, while incomplete at this point, showed promise of a renewed relationship between Kairos, a faith-based, multi-denominational advocacy group and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).