Category Religion
Montreal’s MAGA Mayor
The official statement read: “Freedom of expression is one of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory speech is not accepted in Montreal and, as in other Canadian cities, the show will not be tolerated..” This was Mayor Valerie Plante’s position on a worship concert by Christian singer Sean Feucht as she canceled the permit […]
Mixing Politics and Religion
If you needed an example of why politics and religion don’t mix, this past week is a prime example. It started with Parks Canada pulling the permit for a concert for an American Christian worship leader aligned with Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, and snowballed into multiple permit revocations in different Canadian cities. I should point […]
The Golden Rule
This cartoon reminded me of a scene from the Monty Python film Life of Brian, where some in the crowd mishear and then misinterpret Jesus when he was speaking what we now call the Sermon on the Mount. I’ve only seen otters in the zoo, where they can be very entertaining. I’m not sure if […]
Roman Reflections
Pope Francis died on Monday. Not being Roman Catholic, his death didn’t impact me emotionally, but it brought back memories of 2018, when I heard him speak in St Peter’s Square. It was Easter Sunday morning, the annual Urbe et Orbe (City and the World) sermon, kind of like an American State of the Union […]
Remembering Easter
Five years ago they tried to cancel Easter. Well, not really, but the COVID-19 precautions were extreme and certainly church services were canceled. But where we were they didn’t stay canceled, and people found a way to celebrate. This post is from April 19, 2020. For those in the Orthodox and Coptic traditions (and a […]
A Day of Reflection
I have been mostly absent here the past couple of months. I have rarely been so busy – explanation coming soon. But I can’t let Good Friday pass without comment, so here’s what I wrote in 2019. How is it possible to believe, how can anyone believe without fear and trembling that all of God […]
Feeling Breathless
I’d say no musical instruments were harmed in creating this sculpture, but they were. At least they weren’t currently being used.. “Breathless” is the creation of British artist Cornelia Parker. When I saw it in 2024, it was hanging in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. These surplus horns, acquired from the British Legion and the […]
Christmas Day
No angels. No shepherds. No wise men. No manger. No mention of Joseph and Mary. It isn’t your traditional Christmas story. But it is. The Apostle John opens his Gospel with a theological look at the birth of Jesus Christ. I doubt anyone has ever turned it into a Christmas pageant, even though the message […]
Christmas Eve 2024
My grandson has a job he takes very seriously. During Advent, every time he has visited us he has made a beeline for the Christmas tree and turned on the lights. That there are presents under the tree with his name on them hasn’t sunk in. For him, Christmas isn’t about what he will get […]
Fourth Sunday
Feeling in a festive mood and too laid back to write some new reflections. For the fourth Sunday of Advent I am reposting this piece from December 2021. I was struck by this photo when I saw it online. It is a reminder at this time of year there is more to Christmas than a cultural […]
random thoughts from lorne 
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