Fr. Raymond J. de Souza
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Fr. Raymond J. de Souza
Fr. Raymond J. de Souza

Articles

Carbon taxes remain a great way of ... collecting more taxes
Carbon taxes remain a great way of ... collecting more taxes

In practice though, the carbon tax will change carbon consumption decisions only if set at the right level. If the cost of reducing carbon emissions is, say, $45/tonne for a particular producer, then Alberta’s carbon tax will have no effect on its energy consumption.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 28, 2017National Post, Canada, Politics, Economics
Chair of St. Peter strong as ever
Chair of St. Peter strong as ever

I have a special affection for the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s. I was ordained a deacon there in 2001, and always stop to offer a prayer of thanksgiving whenever I am in Rome. So it was a blessing to be able to offer the Holy Mass in St. Peter’s this past Feb. 22.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 24, 2017Catholic Register, Faith
Michael Novak (1933-2017): Large in Life, With an Even Larger Heart
Michael Novak (1933-2017): Large in Life, With an Even Larger Heart

The news that Michael Novak had died Feb. 17 at age 83 was properly an occasion for celebrating his massively influential scholarship and writing. He lived a large life, and his even larger heart meant that a great many people had a place in it.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 24, 2017National Catholic Register, Church Affairs
Four questions for Cardinal Coccopalmerio
Four questions for Cardinal Coccopalmerio

Readers, like us writers, are perhaps getting weary from the dizzying twists and turns on divorce, remarriage and the sacraments. Alas, the latest whirl on the Amoris Laetitia carousel, provided by Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, cannot be ignored.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 23, 2017Catholic Herald, Church Affairs, Marriage & Family
What kind of state would Palestine be? A Jordan, or an ISIL-dominated Syria?
What kind of state would Palestine be? A Jordan, or an ISIL-dominated Syria?

What might a Palestinian state look like? Would it look like Jordan or Egypt? Or like Syria, Iraq, Libya or Yemen? Or Lebanon? Or like Gaza? 

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 22, 2017National Post, Politics, Israel
Cardinal Joseph Zen is a voice for China’s Catholics
Cardinal Joseph Zen is a voice for China’s Catholics

Cardinal Zen’s admiration for St. John Fisher is easy to understand. The Chinese communist regime will grant Catholics the ability to practice the faith freely only on the condition that they belong to a government bureau of religion, and do not acknowledge the full authority of the Holy Father.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 17, 2017Catholic Register, Church Affairs
In the Middle East, whispers of breaking the mould — and the dangers that poses
In the Middle East, whispers of breaking the mould — and the dangers that poses

Neither Netanyahu nor Abbas believes the other is sincere in wanting a two-state solution. Neither trusts the other to keep promises made. And on the Israeli side, there is no confidence that Abbas will be succeeded by a stable partner for peace.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 14, 2017National Post, Politics, Israel
Launching Questions
Launching Questions

When we planned our launch for the new digital Convivium at our Cardus office in Ottawa, we sought a conversation about how faith plays its part in various aspects of our common life: the arts, the press, politics and the relations between faiths themselves.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 10, 2017Convivium, Culture, Canada
The Queen's sapphire jubilee reminds us of her quiet fidelity
The Queen's sapphire jubilee reminds us of her quiet fidelity

On Feb. 6, Queen Elizabeth II marked 65 years on the throne. It’s the “sapphire” jubilee, a designation which I did not know; 65th anniversaries are rare enough, but welcome as reminders that enduring fidelity is possible.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 8, 2017Catholic Register, Politics, Canada
The sports gods smiled on Brady

The drama of Super Bowl LI was the great role reversal. The Patriots – by far the best team in football for years, having finished their last five seasons in at least the semi-final game – managed to win as underdogs.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 6, 2017National Post, Culture, Sports
Murder an evil act, in a place of worship it is even more heinous

My first thought, upon hearing the news of the massacre at the mosque in Ste. Foy, was that there must be a special place in hell for those who kill men at prayer, all the moreso in a house of worship.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 3, 2017Catholic Register, Canada, Culture
Who Are We?
Who Are We?

The burials began yesterday, and it was likely the first time most Canadians had ever seen Islamic funeral rites. It was an impressive witness of prayer from the Muslim congregation gathered at Montreal’s Maurice Richard hockey arena.

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Newman House ManagerFebruary 3, 2017Convivium, Culture, Canada
Quebec mosque attack was murder and hate in a house of God
Quebec mosque attack was murder and hate in a house of God

In many places in Canada the rhythm of prayer has been largely forgotten. Our Muslim citizens tend to forget less, and therefore remind us of that common colloquy with God. The deaths of the six men at prayer in the Quebec mosque are a more powerful reminder still. 

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Newman House ManagerJanuary 31, 2017National Post, Canada, Culture
What will happen when Trump and Pope Francis finally meet?

The massive Women’s March against Donald Trump was billed as being open to all, but they would not have made room on the podium for the Little Sisters of the Poor as they did for Planned Parenthood. 

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Newman House ManagerJanuary 26, 2017Catholic Herald, Politics, United States, Donald Trump
Grouching Miser, Hidden Dragon
Grouching Miser, Hidden Dragon

Dickinson’s criticism is not just that O’Leary is a flawed man, lacking the necessary empathy we desire in our leaders. She accuses him of not understanding business, and the personal nature of the market system.

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Newman House ManagerJanuary 26, 2017Convivium, Canada, Politics, Economics
‘Amoris Laetitia,’ Malta and Conscience
‘Amoris Laetitia,’ Malta and Conscience

The Church opened 2017 with another ride on the Amoris Laetitia roller coaster, with bishops issuing contradictory guidelines on the interpretation of its ambiguous eighth chapter.

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Newman House ManagerJanuary 23, 2017National Catholic Register, Church Affairs, Marriage & Family
How Trump could help a broken Middle East

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Egypt want a Middle East dominated by Iran. They might welcome Trump’s skepticism over the nuclear deal.

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Newman House ManagerJanuary 23, 2017National Post, Politics, Donald Trump
Empathy
Empathy

It is remarkable that the celebrity-and-entertainment culture that birthed and nursed Trump is so opposed to him, and to his pomps and works. They react in horror and speak of him as the Devil incarnate. They refuse to acknowledge him as one of their own.

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Newman House ManagerJanuary 19, 2017Convivium, United States, Culture, Donald Trump
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