Archdiocese to hold special collection Nov. 24

Philippines struck by the worst disaster in their history

Residents pray inside a damaged Catholic church Nov. 10 after Typhoon Haiyan battered Tacloban, Philippines. The Category 5 storm, one of the strongest in history, made landfall Nov. 8 with sustained winds of 250 kilometres per hour. Romeo Ranoco / Reuters / CNS.

The official death toll from Typhoon Haiyan's destructive swath through the Philippines stood at 2,500 lives Nov. 14. With 11 million people from the 7,000-island nation affected, aid from numerous countries is being rushed to homeless refugees from flattened cities. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Church is 'depository' of God's forgiveness, Pope says

In his weekly general audience, Pope Francis spoke about the power Jesus gave the apostles to forgive sins in His name, stating that priest's should exercise this ministry with "humility." For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

NDP MLA asks for expansion of 'bubble zones'

An NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly has moved to expand the so-called "bubble zone" around abortion clinics. Maurine Karagianis, the MLA for Esquimalt - Royal Roads, wants to enlarge the no-protest range from 50 to 60 metres, after complaints were made to West Shore RCMP detachment about a prayer vigil in Greater Victoria. She has written to Terry Lake, the provincial health minister. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.