Quebec's promised bill to bring in "medical aid in dying" will bring in Belgium-style euthanasia, warn critics.

While Idle No More protests and blockades continue sporadically across Canada, the Conservative's aboriginal caucus chair is busy tackling the outdated Indian Act.

When Venezuela's bishops spoke out against postponing the inauguration of ailing President Hugo Chavez, the president's supporters accused them of meddling in politics, while government opponents praised their comments.

OTTAWA – Canada's Catholic bishops have denounced recent statements made in Canada by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) superior that "the Jews" are the "enemies of the Church."

Horses and their riders attend an event for the blessing of animals outside St. Peter's Square in Rome Jan. 17.

Pope Benedict, to his credit, repeatedly challenges the old canard that religious divisions are a primary source of societal violence. Most recently, the pope told diplomats accredited to the Holy See that true religion reconciles men and women with God.

FR. RON ROLHEISER, omi

In virtually all of his novels, Milan Kundera manifests a strong impatience with every kind of ideology, hype or fad that makes for group think or crowd hysteria. He is suspicious of slogans, demonstrations and marches of all kinds, no matter the cause. He calls all these the great march and, to his mind, they invariably lead to violence, all of them. Kundera likes artists because they tend to steer clear of causes, wanting to paint or write rather than march.

JOHN CONNELLY

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 3, 2013

All of us have a dream. It may be covered by our losses and disappointments but it is there. It is a dream of freedom and love. A dream of making a real contribution to humanity. A dream of friendship, community and sharing life.

GORDON SELF

There is a saying that "good ethics is good business." In 2007, our senior leadership team developed a policy to address the ethical issues related to accommodating special requests. We wanted to define for our staff and physicians how best to respond if asked to accommodate a person of VIP status.

MARK PICKUP

January 2013 marked a horrible anniversary: It has been 40 years of unrestricted abortion across the United States under the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling.