Religion

Deborah Lyons attends a press conference, at the European headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. Canada’s special envoy for combatting anti-Semitism says she’s “very interested” in exploring the idea of seeing someone’s religion removed as a possible defense in the Criminal Code against hate speech charges. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP

Removing religion as hate speech defence worth exploring: anti-Semitism envoy

Bloc Québécois also looking to eliminate that section from Criminal Code

 

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong is questioning why the government has spent “a fortune” on court proceedings related to churches that said their constitutional rights were violated during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)

Abbotsford MLA Mike de Jong questions why government is ‘targeting’ churches

Says ongoing court proceedings related to COVID-19 lockdowns have cost ‘a fortune’

 

Parksville is facing legal action over a prayer spoken at council’s inaugural meeting on Nov. 7, 2022. (City of Parksville Youtube)

Humanist association plans legal action against B.C. city for council prayer

BCHA: Inaugural Parksville meeting included ‘explicitly Christian’ prayer

 

Congregation Emanu-El synagogue in downtown Victoria is one of numerous synagogues in Canada. In 2024, Passover begins on April 22. (Submitted)
Passover, an important Jewish observance, begins on April 22, 2024. How much do you know about the customs and traditions associated with Passover. (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: Are you ready for Passover celebrations?

An important event for Jewish people around the world begins on the evening of April 22

Congregation Emanu-El synagogue in downtown Victoria is one of numerous synagogues in Canada. In 2024, Passover begins on April 22. (Submitted)
Passover, an important Jewish observance, begins on April 22, 2024. How much do you know about the customs and traditions associated with Passover. (Pixabay.com)
The Langley Latter-day Saints temple, dedicated in May, 2010, was at the time the seventh built in Canada. The president of the Latter-day Saints recently announced a temple will be built in Victoria. (Google street view)

B.C.’s 2nd Latter-day Saints temple to be built in Victoria

The president of the church announced it will be one of 15 new temples worldwide

The Langley Latter-day Saints temple, dedicated in May, 2010, was at the time the seventh built in Canada. The president of the Latter-day Saints recently announced a temple will be built in Victoria. (Google street view)
FILE - Christine Zuba poses for a portrait at her home in Blackwood, New Jersey, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. After coming out as a transgender woman at age 58, Zuba, expressed dismay at a Vatican document issued Monday, April 8, 2024, that rejected the idea that one’s biological sex can change. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski, File)

Transgender Catholics say new Vatican document shows no understanding of their lives

Transgender Catholics — as well as a priest who welcomes them to…

FILE - Christine Zuba poses for a portrait at her home in Blackwood, New Jersey, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. After coming out as a transgender woman at age 58, Zuba, expressed dismay at a Vatican document issued Monday, April 8, 2024, that rejected the idea that one’s biological sex can change. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski, File)
(Photo courtesy of Google images)

Ramadan Begins: A Time of Reflection, Fasting, and Celebration

As Ramadan, the Islamic Holy Month, commences this week, approximately 1.8 billion…

(Photo courtesy of Google images)
The BC Supreme Court ruled Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, that two Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations, including one in Coldstream, must hand over personal information records requested by their former members to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. (File photo)

B.C. Court orders Jehovah’s Witnesses to hand over personal information

BC Supreme Court acknowledges infringement on religious rights, say those rights are not absolute

The BC Supreme Court ruled Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, that two Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations, including one in Coldstream, must hand over personal information records requested by their former members to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. (File photo)
While some are welcoming the Vatican’s declaration on blessings for same-gender couples as a sign of progress, other Canadian Catholics see the document as cementing the church’s existing position: that romantic relationships between people of the same gender are lesser than those of their heterosexual counterparts. Pope Francis delivers a speech during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini

Vatican same-sex blessing not the blessing some were looking for

‘A blow’: Some LGBTQ+ Catholics disappointed in pope’s statement on blessing couples

While some are welcoming the Vatican’s declaration on blessings for same-gender couples as a sign of progress, other Canadian Catholics see the document as cementing the church’s existing position: that romantic relationships between people of the same gender are lesser than those of their heterosexual counterparts. Pope Francis delivers a speech during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini
(File photo)

Secular group petitions B.C. municipalities to stop prayer at meetings

‘We’re asking for specific commitments that these communities will end the unconstitutional practice’

(File photo)
A report by the BC Humanist Association states prayers that were offered at West Kelowna council’s, one of seven B.C. municipalities, inaugural meeting in Nov. 2022 were in violation of a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision that ruled ‘opening municipal council meetings with a prayer was an unconstitutional violation of the state’s duty of religious neutrality.’ (Gary Barnes/Capital News)

Prayer at B.C. councils violates Supreme Court ruling: Secular group

The information is contained in a report by the BC Humanist Association

A report by the BC Humanist Association states prayers that were offered at West Kelowna council’s, one of seven B.C. municipalities, inaugural meeting in Nov. 2022 were in violation of a 2015 Supreme Court of Canada decision that ruled ‘opening municipal council meetings with a prayer was an unconstitutional violation of the state’s duty of religious neutrality.’ (Gary Barnes/Capital News)
Maria Lia Zervino one of the first women chosen by Pope Francis to be on the Dicastery for Bishops poses for a picture during an interview with the Associated Press in Rome, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. For Zervino, who worked alongside the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio when both held positions in the Argentine bishops conference, the upcoming synod of bishops is a watershed moment for the church and quite possibly the most consequential thing Francis will have undertaken as pope. This edition is different because Francis has allowed women and other laypeople to vote alongside bishops. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
Maria Lia Zervino one of the first women chosen by Pope Francis to be on the Dicastery for Bishops poses for a picture during an interview with the Associated Press in Rome, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. For Zervino, who worked alongside the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio when both held positions in the Argentine bishops conference, the upcoming synod of bishops is a watershed moment for the church and quite possibly the most consequential thing Francis will have undertaken as pope. This edition is different because Francis has allowed women and other laypeople to vote alongside bishops. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)
The Supreme Court of Canada is shrouded in fog in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov 4, 2022. The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from three British Columbia churches who argued their constitutional rights were violated when provincial restrictions banned indoor religious services during the COVID-19 pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Highest court refuses to hear B.C. church appeal on COVID-19 ruling

Langley, Chilliwack and Abbotsford churches contesting ban on indoor religious services

The Supreme Court of Canada is shrouded in fog in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov 4, 2022. The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from three British Columbia churches who argued their constitutional rights were violated when provincial restrictions banned indoor religious services during the COVID-19 pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
FILE - A bronze statue of the Archangel Gabriel blowing a trumpet stands at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine as the sun rises in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

Do you believe in angels? Poll says about 7 in 10 Americans do

‘People are yearning for something greater than themselves — beyond their own understanding’

FILE - A bronze statue of the Archangel Gabriel blowing a trumpet stands at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine as the sun rises in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York on Sunday, March 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
In June, a pride flag was hung from the bell tower at Summerland United Church. The flag was later moved to the overhang at the front entrance to the church. The flag has since been taken. (Contributed)

Pride flag taken from Summerland church

Summerland United Church displayed flag as sign of inclusiveness

In June, a pride flag was hung from the bell tower at Summerland United Church. The flag was later moved to the overhang at the front entrance to the church. The flag has since been taken. (Contributed)
Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald speaks during her closing address at the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. Archibald says the Pope’s willingness to return Indigenous artifacts stored at the Vatican Museum suggests the items will make their way home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Pope’s willingness to return sacred items means they will come home: national chief

Much of the Vatican’s current collection is from a world exposition in 1925

Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald speaks during her closing address at the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. Archibald says the Pope’s willingness to return Indigenous artifacts stored at the Vatican Museum suggests the items will make their way home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Pope Francis leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope allows women to vote at upcoming bishops’ meeting

‘This is a significant crack in the stained glass ceiling’

Pope Francis leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in a ceremonial yellow hat arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple to give a sermon in Dharamshala, India, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama apologized Monday after a video showing him kissing a child on the lips provoked outrage.(AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia,file)

Dalai Lama apologizes after video shows him kissing boy

Incident occurred at a public gathering in February in Dharamsala, where the exiled leader lives

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in a ceremonial yellow hat arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple to give a sermon in Dharamshala, India, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama apologized Monday after a video showing him kissing a child on the lips provoked outrage.(AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia,file)
Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls of the Anglican Church of Canada will tour the Northwest during Easter weekend, April 6 to 9, visiting eight different parishes and serving community members in the Smithers soup kitchen.

Canada’s first female Anglican Archbishop to tour Northwest B.C. Easter weekend

Visit will take Linda Nicholls, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, to 8 parishes

Archbishop and Primate Linda Nicholls of the Anglican Church of Canada will tour the Northwest during Easter weekend, April 6 to 9, visiting eight different parishes and serving community members in the Smithers soup kitchen.
Pope Francis waves to faithful during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Pope Francis went to a Rome hospital on Wednesday for some previously scheduled tests, slipping out of the Vatican after his general audience and before the busy start of Holy Week this Sunday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Responding to Indigenous, Vatican rejects Discovery Doctrine

Vaticans says decrees ‘did not adequately reflect the equal dignity and rights of indigenous peoples’

Pope Francis waves to faithful during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Pope Francis went to a Rome hospital on Wednesday for some previously scheduled tests, slipping out of the Vatican after his general audience and before the busy start of Holy Week this Sunday. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)