Catholic Register Found Wanting

We may wonder what the official archdiocesan paper of Toronto – or, perhaps it is, like L’Osservatore Romano is to the Vatican, more vaguely quasi-official – is up to when we read the following, which signify, if nothing else, what is deficient in modern Catholic media:

Here’s, a headline from the July 14-21 edition: A picture of a sombre and resolute Justin Trudeau, with the title ‘Defending Faith’, which is about as much a mockery of that title Defensor Fidei as its being bestowed on Henry VIII and his increasingly irrelevant royal successors. The article within waxes glowingly on Trudeau’s defence of ‘religious freedom’; has the author (Michael Swan) heard of the bill to outlaw ‘Islamophobia’ and any ‘hate speech’, which means anything critical of homosexuality, transgenderism. The irony is complete with a headline on the bottom of the front page “Another summer job grant refusal”. Yes, Trudeau again, denying federal money to any who dare criticize the right to murder the unborn in the womb, at the whim of the mother.

In the same issue is more misguided theology – forgive the term – from Father Ron Rolheiser, whose picture, with a hand curled over his chin in thoughtful pose, denies one the option of knowing whether is he wearing his Roman collar, or not. I dare not summarize his column – what would one say? – but will offer a couple of howlers: “The heavenly table is open to all who are willing to sit down with all.” One may ponder what that even means, but the pastor gets a bit more specific towards the end, when he confesses that “as I get older, approach the end of my life and accept that I will soon face my Maker, I worry less and less about going to hell and worry more and more about the bitterness, anger, ingratitude and non-forgiveness that still remains (sic) in me. I worry less about committing a mortal sin and more about whether I’m gracious, respectful and forgiving towards others”.

Behold, thus, the theology of Ann Landers.

Saint Jean-Vianney and Saint Alphonsus Ligouri – to mention but two holy and disciplined men celebrated of late, who believed most firmly in mortal sin and hell – would take some issue with Father Rolheiser’s rickety frame of mind and disordered hierarchy of values. The only thing that can exclude one from the kingdom is ‘mortal sin’, the avoidance of which should preoccupy some level of our moral focus and attention. We should also focus a majority of our efforts to growing in virtue, which means loving God first and foremost, and loving neighbour for the sake of God and his own salvation – respectful and graciousness being rather minor and ancillary in the scale of virtues.

And, finally, while on hierarchy of values, again from Mr. Swan, from the July 28-August 4^th edition: In June, for the first time ever, Canadians told pollsters their number one concern is the environment. This puts Canadians on the same page with Pope Francis, who has called on everybody – Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, even atheist – to face up to the reality of man-caused climate change in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si

Is the ‘environment’ really the Holy Father’s “number one concern”? And should it be ours, when we are facing – just a short list – abortion-on-demand, euthanasia, a moribund demographic, skyrocketing divorce and cohabitation, collapse of family life, feral children, rampant drug use, listless an despairing youth, a wrecked school and health system, and more or less society disintegrating all around us. But they’d probably blame all that on climate change.

The environment is a concern, in a local way, prescinding from whether or not anthropogenic climate change is a reality – which I doubt, and on which contingent topic we are not bound in conscience by the Holy Father’s opinion.

The medium is the message, wrote the Torontonian Marshal McCluhan. The message here is to immerse thyself in truth, dear reader, and in that light read and peruse what media you will.

A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop

As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→

Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk

(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→

Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk

As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→

Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace

Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→

Payette’s Payout

I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→

Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów

We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→

Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland

Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→

Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd

A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→

Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness

Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→

An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday

The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→