Afshin-Jam, de Souza speak at 47th Prayer Breakfast events

Nazanin

The 1,000 or so people who attended the two main events of 47th National Prayer Breakfast, just steps from Parliament Hill, received contrasting and complementary exposures to the theme of “faith and freedom” from this year’s two keynote speakers. At the pre-breakfast dinner, on Monday, … [Read more...]

OttawaWatch: Are there any adults left?

Conrad_Black

Today, we turn our attention to William Swinimer, Conrad Black and Shaul Mofaz. There are certain facets from all three of their stories that offer hope in the sometimes rocky world faith-political interfacing. When you get to the end, there will be an explanation of today’s headline: “Are … [Read more...]

Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows

Rob_Nicholson2

The Canadian and Ontario governments have decided to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada a lower court ruling that Canada’s laws against brothels and “living off the avails of prostitution” are unconstitutional. The ruling was made March 26 by the Ontario Court of Appeal. In announcing the … [Read more...]

The Last Good Neighbours

Samaritans

According to Assist News Service, the last remaining Samaritans continue to exist in two small communities, in Holon near Tel Aviv and in Nablus on the West Bank. The Assyrians deported most of the inhabitants of the northern kingdom of Israel to Mesopotamia (Iraq) about 722 BC and brought in other … [Read more...]

OttawaWatch: Totally invested

JCWatts

Each party has reached the point where it is “totally invested in the failure of others.” The words inside the quotation marks came from J. C. Watts, when he was interviewed this past Sunday (April 29) by Craig Oliver on CTV’s Question Period. He was referring to the two major American … [Read more...]

OttawaWatch: Colson, Commitment and a College

Frank Jones

We take note, this week, of the recent passing of Charles Colson and Frank Jones. *  *  * Jones was a retired Statistics Canada executive who, in recent years, developed the Christian Commitment Research Institute (CCRI). In that role, he “mined” many of the available statistics to … [Read more...]

OttawaWatch: A peek into The Hot Room

The press-gallery

On Monday, April 16, The Hill Times (THT), the tabloid that serves up sumptuous political and policy fare for the several thousand people who toil in and around Parliament Hill, did a story on what the Parliamentary Press Gallery might do or not do, when renovations begin to the Centre Block … [Read more...]

Brothers in power

Muslim brotherhood majority

The Muslim Brotherhood is consolidating its power in Egypt. The moderate Islamist party won 47 percent of the 508 seats in the People's Assembly and 59 percent of the 180 elected seats on the Shura Council. (Another 90 lawmakers will be appointed to the Shura Council, the country’s upper … [Read more...]

Conscience rights

SmithRedford

Premier Alison Redford of Alberta’s Conservative government has criticized the opposition Wildrose Party for its support of “conscience rights of health-care professionals.” Redford said that doctors should be forced to commit abortions and prescribe contraception even if it goes against their … [Read more...]

Underground Christians

The Mohabat Christian News Agency reports that some members of Afghanistan’s Parliament have become Christians. Despite repression of Christians in the Islamic country, there are suggestions that an underground church in Afghanistan is experiencing some growth, particularly among the young. … [Read more...]