Cutting-edge science

The Church and the study of human anatomy

This detailed figure of an arm constructed of coloured wax and bone was made by Italian anatomist-sculptor Anna Morandi Manzolini, who was supported by 18th-century Pope Benedict XIV. The work is seen in the Poggi Museum in Bologna, Italy. Pope Benedict XIV, who created the first museum of anatomy in Italy, was an avid supporter of doctors using human cadavers to create more accurate anatomical studies that would promote public health.

Many readers of the Vatican's official newspaper might have been taken by surprise in mid-January by an article effusively praising a well-known exhibition of "plastinated" human bodies, which was making an extended stop in Rome.

"Body Worlds," which L'Osservatore Romano called a "wonderful ode to respect for the body," is an exhibition of preserved human corpses, displayed in often sporty stances.

Miss America got it from God

Newly crowned Miss America knows talent, gifts are from God, says mum

Miss Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler, poses at a news conference after being crowned Miss America 2012 Jan. 14. The 23-year-old Catholic attends St. Therese Church in Kenosha, Wis.

All smiles, Susan Kaeppeler, a Grade 4 teacher at Kenosha's St. Joseph Academy, got red-carpet treatment when she arrived for class Jan. 16 after a whirlwind weekend during which her oldest daughter, Laura, was crowned Miss America.

'Foundation of civilization' at risk

Allowing 'same-sex marriage' 'not in the public interest,' say bishops

Washington state Governor Chris Gregoire announces her support for legislation that would legalize 'same-sex marriage' in the state.

Legislation introduced by lawmakers in Washington state that would redefine marriage to allow 'same-sex marriage' "is not in the public interest," said the bishops of the state's three Catholic dioceses, calling marriage the "foundation of civilization."

40 Days for Life kicks off again

From Texas to Vancouver - 40 Days for Life!

40 Days for Life is a pro life campaign that began in Texas in 2004.


Last fall, Vancouver held its first 40 Days for Life campaign to draw attention to the plague of abortion. On Jan 28, a meeting for all representatives of parishes and groups will be held at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Family Parish hall, 4851 Beatrice Street.

Anyone coming, past reps or new reps, should RSVP to susankotnik@gmail.com or call 604-465-6911 by Jan. 24. Please bring your questions and information to share with newcomers.

Those who have chosen their sign up dates should contact Alexandra Kalewska at alexa0900@hotmail.com to be added to the master calendar.

A kick off Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 4925 Cambie Street on tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m. with Monsignor Stephen Jensen, Episcopal Vicar for  Evangelization and Education.

Calling all calligraphy fans

Check out the Alphabet of Healing calligraphy show at Regent College

Twenty-six biblical verses are enshrined in calligraphy at Friedrich Peter's exhibition of iconic lettering in Alphabet of Healing, his exhibition which got underway on Jan. 11 at Regent College's Lookout Gallery at UBC.

The German-born calligrapher is celebrated for his artistry in postage stamps, banners, and medals as well as paintings.

The exhibition, which concludes Feb. 11, is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 4.

Making the old new

Vatican encourages a recovery of 'apologetics'

These are the covers of "Knowing Right From Wrong: A Christian Guide To Conscience" by Thomas D. Williams, and "Living the Love Story: Catholic Morality in the Modern World" by Christopher P. Klofft. These and similar works help Catholics answer questions about their faith.

In the Catholic Church, it's true that everything old can be new again, and the Vatican wants one of those things to be the art of "apologetics," dusted off and updated to respond to new challenges, including those posed by militant atheists.

Not married in God's eyes

Letter objects to treating same-sex unions 'as if they were marriage'

Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire announces her support for legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state Jan. 4. A letter signed by more than three dozen U.S. religious leaders objects to the spectre of religious groups being forced to treat same-sex unions "as if they were marriage."

A letter signed by more than three dozen U.S. religious leaders objects to the spectre of religious groups being forced to treat same-sex unions "as if they were marriage."

Catholic Answers Live interviews Archbishop Miller

Popular U.S. radio show Catholic Answers Live has invited Archbishop J. Michael Miller to be interviewed Friday, Jan. 13, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern or 4 p.m. Pacific Time.

Patrick Coffin

Catholic Answers Live host Patrick Coffin is a dynamic presenter who handles both the guest interviews and questions from callers.

Guests range from theologians to lay men and women and the shows touch on every aspect of the Catholic Christian life.

You can hear the interview on Sirius Satellite channel 130 or online at www.catholic.com. If you can't listen live, subscribe to the podcast or download individual shows from the station's MP3 archive.

Phone in to 1-888-31-TRUTH to ask questions live during the broadcast.

Know your Catholic faith and pass it on

 The Winter Institute will answer your questions!

Mark Saturday, Jan. 21, on your calendar and come to Holy Cross Regional Secondary on 88th Ave in Surrey for the Archdiocesan Office of Catechetics Winter Institute courses on topics of general interest, or to earn a certificate in catechetical training.

Catholic apologist Graham Osborne will explain what the Church teaches and why, drawing from Scripture and early Church writings while Roland Carelse-Borzel will give an overview of Church history in the second millennium.

Other courses include Basics of the Faith by Father Anthony Ho and Madonna House and Adolescent Development by Jon Lee-Son from the Richmond School District.

Youth will be highlighted in Relational Ministry with Youth with Director of Youth Ministry Clayton Imoo and Basics to Running an Effective Youth Gathering is offered by Gerard Garcia.

For a full workshop schedule and to register go to www.rcav.org/winter or call 604-683-0281 and ask for the Office of Catechetics.

Report card on the way

Three-year study of women religious completed; Vatican reviews results

Mercy Sister Mary Winifred Ceravola receives Communion on her 50th anniversary as a nun during a Mass for religious jubilarians at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, N.Y., in September 2011.

A three-year study of U.S. women religious called for by the Vatican has been completed with the final comprehensive report recently sent to Rome.

Archbishop Miller to celebrate White Mass

The White Mass traditionally honours the service of Catholic health care workers.

Archbishop Miller celebrating a White Mass in 2011

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, will celebrate a White Mass at St. Augustine's Church, 2028 West 7th Ave., Vancouver, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

All health care workers are welcome to attend with their families, says Dr. Jim Lane, president of the Catholic Physicians Guild of the Vancouver Archdiocese. The Guild sponsors the White Mass each year.

The Mass, said Dr. Lane, will be followed by a reception.

"We look forward to hearing Archbishop Miller's message which always uplifts and inspires those of us engaged in ministry to the sick," Dr. Lane told The B.C. Catholic.

Pope calls for adopting new economic ethics

Keynote speech for New Year calls for economic reforms, religious freedom

Pope Benedict on the Solemnity of Mary

On Jan. 9, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the need for the world's financial systems to benefit all.

He also called for an end to violence across North Africa and the Middle East and for all countries to embrace religious toleration.

Disorientation and frustration, said the Pontiff, are the results from a world where young people don't feel they are able to build for their future.

"The (economic) crisis can and must be an incentive to reflect on human existence and on the importance of the its ethical dimension," said the Pope in his address which he gave on the Solemnity of Mary, Jan. 1, in French to diplomats accredited to the Holy See from 180 countries.

Religious freedom, said Pope Benedict, is under threat in Africa and Asia, and he denounced attacks against Christians in Nigeria where Christmas Day bombings killed at least 27 people.

Trying year at Vatican

Calm and collected: Amid crisis, Vatican diplomacy shows 'maturity'

Miguel Diaz, U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, and his wife Marian arrive for Pope Benedict XVI's celebration of Mass on the feast of the Epiphany in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 6.

Pope Benedict XVI's early January address to the Vatican diplomatic corps, an annual tradition that reaffirms the Holy See's commitment to its relations with foreign states, comes after an especially trying year for Vatican diplomacy.

Canada's 'most eligible bachelor' takes a bride

Nazanin Afshin-Jam is a name known to B.C. Catholic readers!

And now, the 32-year-old former parishioner of St. Anthony's Church in West Vancouver is the new wife of Canadian Defense Minster Peter McKay.

The couple married in Mexico on Jan. 4 with just friends and "loved ones" in attendance, said McKay in a Facebook message.

Afshin-Jam is a former beauty queen who used her high profile platform to save the lives of children on death row in Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.

Read more about Afshin-Jam in an upcoming B.C. Catholic.

Making a bold, new Assumption

New church for parishioners in PoCo

 

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, celebrated a special Mass for the opening of the new church for Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Port Coquitlam Dec. 16.

Over the years, the congregation outgrew the original parish church. They fundraised for more than a decade to build a church that would meet the growing needs of the parish.

OLOA pastor Father Ron Thompson and Abbott John Braganza, OSB, of Westminster Abbey in Mission also concelebrated Mass. 

Previous assistants and pastors who also concelebrated include Father Rufin Mika, Father Edwin Neufeld, and Father Anicet Pinto.

The celebration took place on the anniversary of the original church's opening.

Group wants the debate

Pro-lifers mount their offensive

We Want the Debate has debuted a new posters for its latest campaign, Legal Blindness.

The group is a project of Alliance for Life Ontario. It is a response to many politicians stating that the abortion debate is settled in Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said neither elected representatives nor the people of Canada would be allowed to debate abortion during his term, which the We Want the Debate calls "tyranny, not democracy."

The Legal Blindness poster campaign is part of a series of activities over the next few months to highlight the organization's viewpoint.

New study released on shroud colours

The Shroud of Turin has passed yet another examination


Scientists at Italy's National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Development are saying that the colours on the famous shroud must have been produced using some form of electro-magnetic energy not available in medieval times.

After testing the colours, the scientific team  concluded that their shade, texture, and depth must have been imprinted using something equivalent to ultraviolet lasers capable of generating extremely brief pulses of light.

As lasers weren't around at the time, the scientists think that the colours may have been created because of "some form of electro-magnetic energy (such as a flash of light at a short wavelength)."

The Vatican has never said the shroud was the authentic burial cloth of Christ - just that the image reminds believers of Christ's sufferings while the Italian scientific team called their findings "another piece of the puzzle."

Vatican confirms Canadian's miracle

Blessed Tekakwitha to be canonized 

Pope Benedict XVI has recognized the miracles of Kateri Tekakwitha, setting her up to become the first aboriginal saint in North America.

The Vatican announced Monday, that a miracle attributed to her has been confirmed, though they don't say which miracle was confirmed.

She died at the age of 24 in 1680 and is entombed inside the St. Francis-Xavier Church in Kahnawake, a Mohawk community near Montreal. It is said that her face was scarred from a smallpox outbreak that also killed her immediate family. However, eyewitnesses say her scarred face cleared after her death.

Historian Allan Greer from McGill University says Tekakwitha has long been considered an unofficial saint by her supporters in the Americas.

"It's very important for many indigenous Catholic people to have a saint that is their saint," Greer says. She practised a "heroic Catholicism but remained Mohawk in her language and culture. She takes a European religion but remains Mohawk at the same time."

A date for the canonization has not yet been set.

See The B.C. Catholic for Canadian reaction to Tekakwitha canonization.

D&P collects for typhoon disaster

B.C. and Yukon Development and Peace animator John Gabor says collections have now started for Filipino relief efforts.

Filipino flood victims

A devastating typhoon struck Mindanao, killing close to 700 people. Relief agencies are saying that 800 are missing.




NASSA (Caritas Philippines) and Catholic Relief Services will forwards donations from Canadian Catholics to Development and Peace as soon as they are received, says Gabor.


Donations can be made through the Development and Peace online donation page at www.devp.org/en/donate/givenow. Or call the emergency line at 1-888-664-3387.

Hitchens hitches a ride to eternity

Famous atheist succumbs to cancer

Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, died yesterday at the age of 62, due to complications from oesophagal cancer.

He is famous for numerous debates on the existence of God and the value of religion with a number of theologians, politicians, and other public figures, including former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The journalist, critic, and essayist also was a contributor to Vanity Fair for which he wrote the debatable "Why women aren't funny?"

Despite his polarizing opinions, he was rarely boring and highly quotable.

“Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god," he wrote in The Portable Atheist. "Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realise that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.”