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The Catholic Church’s Changing Position on the Death Penalty
A Presentation to the Edmonton Mennonite-Catholic Dialogue Glen Argan | 30 November 2018 ‘Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land.’ (Psalm 101.8) ‘Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.’ (Matthew 5.39) Although the death penalty is no longer employed…
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Truth takes a back seat in Khashoggi case
By Glen Argan (originally published in The Catholic Register, October 28, 2018, www.catholicregister.org) My plan had been to write this week on the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul’s encyclical The Splendour of Truth, the sainted pope’s most controversial document. However, as often happens, events intervened, and I put off writing that reflection. Maybe next…
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Positive focus helps us to take steps forward
By Glen Argan (Originally published in The Catholic Register, Sept. 30, 2018_ For several months, I have been attending yoga classes. As a tall man who has been crammed into ill-fitting chairs and desks all my life, I find these classes difficult. My body is stiff. I can be frustrated because of my inability to…
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Outsider Pope Francis was bound to draw hostile reaction
By Glen Argan In the current state of distress highlighted by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s claim that Pope Francis has long known about accusations of sexual abuse against American Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the story of the previous pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, should be recalled. In 2012, Gabriele was arrested and convicted of stealing sensitive documents…
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Bishops must be locally accountable
(Published first in The Catholic Register, www.catholicregister.org, September 2, 2018) By Glen Argan The Roman Catholic Church today has nearly 3,000 dioceses and archdioceses, each with at least one bishop. The first letter to Timothy in the New Testament describes the character of a bishop in these words: “A bishop must be above reproach, married…
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Dance celebration expresses reconciliation beyond words
By Glen Argan (Originally published in The Catholic Register, June 17, 2018) Words are rarely enough. Actions speak louder than words. When we want to restore a broken relationship, a simple “I’m sorry” or even a long, detailed apology may not suffice. More is required. In late April, I attended Ancestors and Elders, a performance…
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Archbishop speaks of a crucifix which reflects the bruised nature of the Church
By Glen Argan In his Easter message, Regina Archbishop Donald Bolen has given a stunningly beautiful reflection on the meaning of the cross and resurrection. The archbishop sits beside a crucifix in the parish church in Balgonie. The original church was destroyed by fire, but in the remains of the church, someone found the wooden…
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On Pope Francis’ new apostolic exhortation
Pope Francis has repeatedly shown himself to be a pontiff who does not pontificate. Rather, he is the world’s and the Church’s smiling spiritual guide to difficult endeavours such as family life and our relationship with the environment. This is just as true of his latest apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad),…
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Residential schools grew out of bad theology
(From The Catholic Register, April 8, 2018, http://www.catholicregister.org) Indian residential schools were established by Canada’s federal government, but Christian churches, including the Catholic Church, bought into the plan with enthusiasm. When the churches assumed the task of running residential schools in the 19th century, no one in the settler culture saw them with the same…
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Nicodemus seeks answers outside the organization
Originally posted on Glen Argan.com: (Originally published in The Catholic Register, http://www.catholicregister.org, March 25, 2018) By Glen Argan Nicodemus is the organization man who realizes his organization does not have the answers. So, he looks further afield. You are not supposed to do that, but he does it anyway. His heart hungers for more than…
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