Articles — Fr. Raymond J. de Souza

Once again, a man dies so that others may be saved

On Good Friday, as on that Friday morning in Trèbes, the hostages are freed, not by overwhelming power, but because there is One to take their place.

Newman House ManagerMarch 30, 2018National Post, Faith

Canada's churches aren't interested in Trudeau's 30 pieces of silver

Trudeau's summer jobs 'attestation' is certainly illegal, but even worse, it reflects the view that the churches are like Judas, content to be bought off

Newman House ManagerMarch 30, 2018National Post, Politics, Popular

Arnaud Beltrame, Cardinal Sarah and Learning to Die in Lagrasse

Arnaud Beltrame's heroic sacrifice has spiritual roots in the Abbey of Lagrasse, whose canons learned to love and prepared for death at the bedside of their silent brother.

Newman House ManagerMarch 29, 2018Church Affairs, National Catholic Register

Cardinal Sarah, Friendship and Law

In Kingston, Cardinal Sarah invited us to think about the connection between friendship with Christ and obeying His commands.

Newman House ManagerMarch 29, 2018Convivium, Church Affairs

Why it is appropriate that Stephen Hawking’s funeral is on Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is the Church's own 'black hole' before the glory of Easter.

Newman House ManagerMarch 29, 2018Catholic Herald, Culture

Pope Francis’ Pontificate Takes Another Hit With ‘Lettergate’ Mess

Msgr. Viganò’s crude manipulation of a letter by Benedict XVI captured four troubling aspects of the current pontificate.

Newman House ManagerMarch 22, 2018National Catholic Register, Church Affairs

Cardinal Sarah, Man of Prayer

Cardinal Sarah has led one of the great Christian lives of our time. Yet the lasting impression on those who encounter him is not so much his biography or his message, but his capacity to lead people in prayer.

Newman House ManagerMarch 22, 2018Convivium, Church Affairs

For all his brilliance on matters cosmic, Hawking's world was rather small

It is an elementary part of the philosophy of science that there are limits to what physics can tell us, that there are questions "beyond" physics.

Newman House ManagerMarch 21, 2018National Post, Culture

A Pope's mission, reconnecting the church to charity

One of Pope Francis' greatest strengths has been his affirmation of the Church's closeness to the poor and afflicted of Rome and the world.

Newman House ManagerMarch 14, 2018National Post, Church Affairs

Martyrs, Saints and Oscar Romero

Saint-to-be Romero links the many Christian martyrs of the 20th century to the courageous martyr-bishops of centuries past.

Newman House ManagerMarch 14, 2018Convivium, Church Affairs

Five big surprises from Francis’s papacy

Surprises are frequent with Pope Francis, champion of the world's poor and Germany's wealthy bishops, promoter of both the peripheries and the Secretariat of State.

Newman House ManagerMarch 14, 2018Catholic Herald, Church Affairs

The Peterson Protests

The freedom to scream and shout and curse and crash is a certain kind of freedom, but it is a freedom without purpose.

Newman House ManagerMarch 12, 2018Convivium, Culture

Catholic politicians fail to walk the walk

We need to re-examine our default habit of inviting to Catholic events those who seek to drive Catholics to the margins of our common life.

Newman House ManagerMarch 12, 2018Catholic Register, Politics, Canada

Pope Francis’s first revolution – his clothing

Clerical dress – for himself and for others – is not the most important decision Francis has made. But it was the first one.

Newman House ManagerMarch 10, 2018Church Affairs

Cardinal Wuerl’s ‘Amoris’ Guidelines Bring Clarity, but Confusion Remains

Confusion will arise because what Cardinal Wuerl teaches — and what the Alberta bishops have taught — is not the same as what has been taught in Germany or Malta or Buenos Aires.

Newman House ManagerMarch 9, 2018National Catholic Register, Church Affairs

Jordan Peterson is right — struggle makes us stronger

The world promises us comfort, but we were not made for comfort. Jordan Peterson echoes poets and popes when he calls his audiences to strive for heroism and nobility of heart.

Newman House ManagerMarch 8, 2018National Post, Culture

Has Pope Francis boxed himself in over Bishop Barros?

In not accepting the Barros resignation earlier, Pope Francis may have boxed himself into further resignations now.

Newman House ManagerMarch 3, 2018Catholic Herald, Church Affairs

Jerusalem's mayor picks a fight with Christianity — and loses fast

If the mayor of Jerusalem cannot distinguish the identity and mission of the Mamilla Hotel from a pilgrim guest house, he fails to understand a constitutive part of the history of his own city.

Newman House ManagerMarch 1, 2018National Post, Politics, Israel