The Hijacking of Gospel Values

On April 18, 2011, I attended the Toronto Catholic District School Board's (TCDSB) consultation meeting on implementing the Ministry of Education's new Equity and Inclusivity document. It was held at St. Mary's Secondary School. The were four panelists: Kirk Mark, Ashleigh Molloy, Moira McQueen and Chris D'Souza who addressed those present. The audience was not permitted to speak or ask questions. Three people that did directly address the panel had to voice their concerns out loud because there were no microphones for those in attendance to intervene.

If you wanted to raise a question, you were told to write the question on a piece of paper, and at the end of the speakers' talks the moderator chose some of the questions and put them to the panelists. The message from three of the panelists was clear: accept the Equity and Inclusivity policy or else face the wrath of OHRC (Ontario Human Rights Commission). Chris D’Souza is the Equity Officer hired by the Ministry of Education to promote the new policy in both Catholic and public schools. He has spoken in many schools and boards across the province. In his talk, he stressed that if you believe that heterosexual relations to be normal and are not ready to accept open homosexuality in Catholic schools as well as gay clubs, then the Ontario Human Rights Commission will soon open your mind to the "truth". Was this meeting not about consultation with Catholic parents?

Should you disagree with their idea based on your faith, well you’re suffering from a strong dose of indoctrination and need to find ways of curing any traces of homophobia. One cure offered is for Catholic schools and parents to just accept the Equity Policy. Every Catholic parent should find these ideas very disconcerting. The people present were clearly told that that there will be no gay clubs or alliances in Catholic schools because they will now call them equity groups. The deception is to rename what’s has the potential to promote immoral behavior as something good. Orwell must surely be rolling in his grave as doublespeak is alive and well in the Ministry of Education and the TCDSB.

All of this is more evidence that Catholic moral teaching with this new policy will be challenged and in the long run rejected. All the “correct” words are used such as “Gospel values”, “Catholic” and “Christ-centered” but only as an optional source to form one’s conscience. The language of the Gospel must be used to promote and defend the teaching of the Magisterium, not to undermine it with ambiguity. The Ministry of Education needs to be told that Catholic boards have no need for this Equity Policy. Both the Ministry and the TCDSB are subverting the language of the Gospel in an attempt to make homosexuality and the further sexualization of students "normal", "just" and "loving". This is morally wrong. What happened to the virtue chastity?

Catholic trustees and board administrators must be told to reject this policy. Trustee John Del Grande has told me that he personally supports Catholic moral teaching and would like to see the Equity Policy voted down or at the very least to be brought fully in line with Catholic teaching, but he needs our support to do this. Most trustees have bought the Ministry propaganda. Write, call or email your Catholic trustee and board administrators before it's too late.

• Director of Education: Ann Perron, 416.222.8282, ext. 2296 or email: ann.perron@tcdsb.org
• Diocese of Toronto: Archbishop Thomas Collins, 416.9343400, ext. 609
• Trustees: List of Board Trustees

Mark Mallett: Disciple of the New Evangelization

Do you remember what you did when you heard that John Paul II had died? I made a point to get up early in the morning, Toronto time, to watch the live coverage of his funeral mass from Rome. Many people prayed and thanked God for having given the world a giant witness of the faith. The Canadian lay evangelist Mark Mallett went to church and prayed in front of the Blessed Sacrament; he grieved and gave thanks to God “for this lighthouse in the darkness.”

You may be asking who is Mark Mallett? If you haven't heard of him, let me begin by telling you that he's a family man who has used his musical and speaking talents to spread the Word. John Paul II’s words and example have had a profound impact on Mark's ministry, and helped to renew Mark's love for the Catholic Church. But before I tell you more let me finish the story about his visit to the church that evening because it resulted in a truly special musical work.

That night leaving the Church with tears in his eyes, Mark began to hear a melody and then the words came. He had no intention of writing a tribute to John Paul II, but he couldn't stop the flow of music in his heart. So he returned to the Church later that evening. And sitting close to the Sacrament, he finished a song. From that visit to the Blessed sacrament, Mark ended up writing a beautiful song dedicated to the pontificate of John Paul II; he called it, “Song to Karol” because Karol Wojtyla was the Pope's Polish name. His wife Lea who works with Mark added some lyrical touches.

"Song to Karol" is a spiritual work of love for a Servant of God who loved his flock and wanted to bring them to the Good Shepherd. In October 2006, Mark along with many other artists were at the Vatican for a series of concerts to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the John Paul II Foundation. Mark was able to personally give a copy of the song to Pope Benedict XVI.

(You may want to take a few minutes now to listen to this beautiful composition. It’s a perfect way to help mark Divine Mercy Sunday 2011 when John Paul II will be beatified. I hope you visit Mark's website and learn more about his efforts to use music and the new technology to support what John Paul II named the new evangelization.)



John Paul II's life and writings inspire Mark in many ways and of course and this has helped to shape his music. The heart of his message when he speaks and sings to groups in schools, in retreats and church missions is simple: “We need Jesus.” Another example of the influence of the late pope is in Mark’s song titled, “Through Her Eyes: A Journey to Jesus.” This composition was written to help celebrate the Year of the Rosary. John Paul II was appealing to the faithful to pray the Rosary for peace and for the family. But also to tell us to turn to our Blessed Mother and see Jesus through her eyes and be transformed. “Totus Tuus” (“entirely yours”) was John Paul II’s motto and Mark captures this devotion beautifully in this song.

Mark began singing and playing the guitar from the age of nine. He left a successful career as a television journalist in 2000 in order to do what he’s doing. It was while singing a song he had written for the Liturgy of the Mass ("Holy, Holy, Holy") that felt called to go to the church and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. While there he heard the Lord telling him to become a watchman for this generation, as Pope John Paul II asked the youth at World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada.

In his Letter to Artists John Paul II says, “The Church also needs musicians. How many sacred works have been composed through the centuries by people deeply imbued with the sense of the mystery! The faith of countless believers has been nourished by melodies flowing from the hearts of other believers, either introduced into the liturgy or used as an aid to dignified worship. In song, faith is experienced as vibrant joy, love, and confident expectation of the saving intervention of God.” (LA. 12)

Mark is using his God given talents to spread the faith. By humbly trying to serve the Lord both his family and Canada are better because of it. Mark is trying live his life to help build the common good and a culture where the Gospel of Life can thrive. As Christians, we should support and get to know what Catholic artists like Mark are doing to promote and live the Word. It's one way that we too can strengthen and be reminded of the transformative power of our faith.

Why the CHP Deserves Our Support

Are you like so many other Canadians frustrated by the fact that none of the major Canadian political parties represents your views? What's a voter to do in order to defend Christian principles when the sad reality is that the Conservatives, the Liberals, the Greens, the New Democrats and the Quebecois refuse to even discuss the issues of abortion, euthanasia and assisted-suicide? In good conscience, for whom does one vote? There's only one option: support the Christian Heritage Party of Canada.

If one follows the mainline media political reports, you would never know that there’s a Canadian federal party whose platform states that life begins at conception and ends with natural death, that marriage is between a man and a woman and that strong families are important to Canada’s future. The party also believes that new immigrants must acknowledge and respect that Canada’s cultural heritage is rooted in Christian principles which are the foundation of our national identity and laws. In addition, choosing to live in Canada must be accompanied by patriotism and loyalty to Canada and our democratic values and morals.

The CHP is the only federal party that will stand with to uphold the dignity of human life in our nation. So the best voting strategy is to support and promote the principles of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada. If you visit the CHP web site, you can find out if a candidate is running in your riding and help that person get elected. Let your family and friends know about the party. (Watch the video with Ron Gray, the former leader of CHP as he explains why Canada needs a Christian party.)



CHP believes we should not be rewriting our constitution and removing God from it. The party supports citizens’ right to be protected from the Canadian Human Rights Commission to restrict our conscience rights and our religious freedom. Let’s get informed and raise these important issues at candidates’ meetings. Stephen Harper has already said he will not touch the issues of abortion and same-sex marriage. This view is hardly democratic. So, it’s up to us to put on the electoral agenda life, family and religious issues.

To help the Canadian family the CHP would give a Childcare Allowance: a payment of $1,000 a month for families with school age or younger children, if one parent chooses to stay home to care for their own children. This policy would allow parents to spend more time with their children. Stronger families would make for a stronger Canada. Why haven’t any of the other major parties put this policy in their platforms? I will leave the answer to this central question with you.

Many people will tell not to vote strategically because you will be wasting your vote. I strongly disagree with this view. If we believe in a democracy, then we should vote with our conscience and our faith. With the approach suggested above, we will we have a better chance to send a message to the new Parliament that morality and Christian beliefs are important matters to us.

The Unsung Heroes in Our Community

A good friend of the family went in for heart surgery at St. Michael’s hospital just before Christmas. The operation was a success, but unfortunately three days later she had a serious stroke. Just weeks ago, she was moved to West Park Health Care centre.

West Park provides specialized rehabilitation and this includes complex continuing and long-term care services, helping individuals manage difficult health challenges like lung disease, diabetes, stroke, amputation and musculoskeletal issues arising from a life-changing event or illness.

My wife and I went to visit our friend the day she received her wheelchair. We were happy she was able to recognize who we were, but the stroke has severely limited her ability to speak. We spent some time together and then we heard piano music coming from the main hallway, actually the area had this sign: functional enhancement. It turned out to be the day that patients are brought together as a group and they listen and try sing with the music. With permission from the nurse, my wife wheeled our friend close enough so she could hear the music and be with the others.

The chaplain there was very polite and inviting. He welcomed us and quickly made room for our friend. He gave us a songbook so we could join in. The piano player began and they soon started singing. Both the chaplain and another man lead the singing. The patients, if they could, tried to sing along. They were even asked to make requests. What were they singing? Most of the songs were hymns or at least religious songs such as, “Go Tell on the Mountain”, ‘Amazing Grace”, “For His Eye Is on the Sparrow”, “Evening Prayer” and How Great Thou Art”.

There were several other caregivers supervising the group and joining in the singing. I noticed that as the singing went on, a therapist went around and methodically moved the limbs of patients who could no do that on their own. I know that in the case of our friend she has changed in a very short time from being a totally independent lady to one who now depends on others for just about everything: feeding, cleaning and everything else we take for granted in life. I'm writing to tell the chaplain, the other medical staff and the volunteers whose names I do not know that they are ministering angels to those souls. You and all those doing similar work are the true unsung heroes in our society. Your work builds a culture of life. Your work gives dignity and value to life. Your work helps give patients the hope needed to get through each day.

Hope is that virtue that all Christians must try to live. There is no pain, no sickness and not even death itself that can remove that hope. Why? Because it’s a hope founded on Christ and the mystery of the resurrection. Hope arises from the Easter message: no human condition is so terrible that in the hands of God will not end in triumph. Life is God’s gift to us here on earth and in eternity. Then, surely sickness is a signal that we must give it back to him.

There are some in our society who have begun to question the value of life when it’s reduced to so much pain and suffering. Why spend so much money to extend the life of people who can no longer care for themselves or make an economic contribution to society? But if we get close enough to listen to the silent words of patients who can no longer talk, isn’t their silence speaking to us of the human need for love, for compassion and for caring for our neighbor? Aren’t they the ones teaching us how to be better human beings and better Christians?

As I sat there watching and hearing the music I thought, if in our busy lives we just stopped for a brief moment to look beyond the external catastrophic physical infirmities these patients have, to peek on the other side of a dying body, wouldn’t we see that they all have beautiful souls? Weren’t they all once little innocent babies? And aren’t we all, both the healthy and the sick just days or even seconds away from facing our own mortality? We are all on the same spiritual journey to save our souls. This is why it’s worth taking care of these patients. This is why it’s worth spending our tax dollars to provide the best care they need. This is why we need to pray for these patients, for those that care for them and for ourselves so that God’s mercy will help us to see His image in the sick and dying.

I wonder if the minister, the piano player, the wonderful singer, the visitors and all the caregivers from West Park realize they have a wonderful mission to shepherd these souls. Some may in time go home, but others are facing their final days here on earth. While the bodies may be old and tired, eroded by time and broken by illness, it’s important to keep in mind that their souls are eternally young and whole. As we left West Park and said goodbye to our friend, I thought yes, God, “How Great Thou Art”.