Canada's Anglican Church provisionally approves same-sex marriage ceremonies
TORONTO (RNS) If it passes a second reading, the Canadian church will join the Episcopal Church, which formally approved marriage ceremonies regardless of gender in 2015.
Muslim woman can wear niqab for Canada citizenship oath
TORONTO (RNS) The ruling is the third legal defeat for Canada's Conservative government on the Muslim face veil, which has become a hot-button issue in the Oct. 19 federal election.
Toronto's 'atheist minister' to face church hearing
TORONTO (RNS) The Rev. Gretta Vosper, known as the "atheist minister," is back in the news now that a church panel will soon begin a review process to determine whether she should be removed from the pulpit.
Quebec bills aim to prevent Islamic 'radicalization,' limit face-covering
(RNS) Lawmakers seek a $2 million for an "anti-radicalization center" in Montreal, and limit public employees and people seeiking public services from covering their faces.
'Blessing of the bikes' helps churches make climate change a local issue
(RNS) Trinity-St. Paul's United Church in Toronto this week held its sixth annual Blessing of the Bikes -- a type of local event that has become more common as a growing number of churches consider the idea that protecting the environment is not just a scientific or political debate, but a spiritual one.
Canadian Supreme Court rules against prayer at city council meetings
TORONTO (RNS) Canada's top court ruled that the state must be neutral when it comes to religion.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper vows to appeal face veil ruling
TORONTO (RNS) "I believe, and I think most Canadians believe, that it is offensive that someone would hide their identity at the very moment where they are committing to join the Canadian family," said Stephen Harper.
Canada bill would ban polygamy, other 'barbaric cultural practices'
TORONTO (RNS) The "Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act" would ban arranged marriages of minors and deport polygamists.
For Ismaili Muslims, a Toronto milestone
TORONTO (RNS) When the Aga Khan set out more than a decade ago to build a landmark museum to house his family's collection of Islamic art, he wanted to locate it in London. When those plans fell through, he chose Toronto.
Ontario Sikhs 'deeply disappointed' with new helmet law
TORONTO (RNS) The open road is now closed for devout Sikh men who can't fit a turban under a motorcycle helmet.
Search warrants allege physical abuse in fringe Canadian Jewish sect
(RNS) In the warrants, according to reports by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a young woman in the sect said she was hit with a belt and a coat hanger. Another female, a pregnant 17-year-old, told nurses at a hospital she was beaten by her brother, sexually abused by her father and forced to marry a 30-year-old man when she was 15.
Canadian archbishop bans eulogies at funeral Masses
(RNS) The Feb. 2 decree from Archbishop Terrence Prendergast reminds the faithful that Catholics gather at funerals "not to praise the deceased, but to pray for them."
Judge orders foster care for children from Canadian sect
TORONTO (RNS) An Ontario judge has ordered 13 children in an Orthodox Jewish sect into foster care in adjacent Quebec. But the judge stayed the order for 30 days to give the sect time to appeal.
Canadian authorities to rule on foster care for children in reclusive sect
TORONTO (RNS) Last month, about 150 members of the group Lev Tahor ("Pure Heart") decamped from a village north of Montreal to Chatham, Ontario, about 200 miles southwest of Toronto. Comprising about 40 families, the sect fled just before a Quebec court ordered 14 children into foster care.
Quebec's secularism charter heads to lawmakers
TORONTO (RNS) The measure would ban all "overt" and "conspicuous" religious headgear worn by public sector employees, including hijabs, yarmulkes and Sikh turbans, as well as large crosses and crucifixes.