I decided to wait a day to post some northern lights pictures.

“Budgets are moral documents.” That quote is attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. King never said that exact phrase. But it is in keeping with his general philosophy that how governments choose to spend money reveals their moral character. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/11/if-g...

Canadian churches and religious groups can relax. The federal government is not going to take away their ability to issue tax receipts for donations. Not that it ever was. But, you know, misinformation is so much more fun to share. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/11/ever...

During his career as foreign correspondent, Brian Stewart kept bumping into religion. He writes about that in his new book, and speaks about it in my interview with him for the @winnipegfreepress.com onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/10/on-g...

When psychologist Hillary McBride encountered clients from religious backgrounds who had been hurt by their churches, she found their challenges didn’t fit into standard psychological categories. So she wrote a book about it, called Holy Hurt. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/10/holy...

In a polarized world, where many may feel lonely and isolated, Paul Jenkinson has a message: “You are not alone. I will listen.” That’s what it says on a sign the retired social worker plunks down in public spaces during his cross-country listening tour. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/10/you-...

Uncertain times. But sunsets.

If you want to understand what's happening in the U.S. today, you need to know about the Seven Mountains Mandate, the belief by some evangelicals that Christians should dominate the seven pillars of society, including the government. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/09/if-y...

What does it mean to be a Canadian Muslim? That is the question being asked by Imam Sikander Hashmi, the new executive director of the Canadian Council of Imams. “It’s a work in progress,” he said. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/09/new-...

“We May Not Be Big, But We’re Small.” That was the motto of The Vinyl Cafe by CBC radio host Stuart McLean. It could also be the new motto for the United Church of Canada, according to its newly-elected moderator. @unitedchurchcda.bsky.social onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/09/new-...

Should aid for homeless people and evangelism be mixed? Some experts weigh in. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/09/mixi...

A new paper promoted by the Pew Research Centre describes what it says are the three stages of religious decline in countries around the world. Canada is near the end of the second stage. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/09/new-...

Some people leave complicated legacies. James Dobson, who died on Aug. 21, was one of those people. For some, he was a positive force. But others viewed him in a very different light. This included Christians who were members of the LGBTTQ+ community. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/09/jame...

Aug. 29 is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I spent a week there with Mennonite Disaster Service in 2008, doing repair work on homes damaged by the storm and writing about my experiences for the Winnipeg Free Press. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2021/12/ive-...

Is traditional religion obsolete, like the typewriter? It still works, but it's been supplanted by new ways of practicing spirituality, the way computers replaced typewriters. That’s the argument made in a new book by religion scholar Christian Smith. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/08/is-t...

A Canadian bride realized her dream of a lifetime after her wedding when she and her husband received a personal blessing from Pope Leo XIV in Rome. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/08/winn...

Is Sean Feucht, the American evangelical worship leader, being persecuted in Canada? Is he really bringing revival, or will his appearance in that country cause the opposite? Why is he so unwelcome here? Some questions and observations. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/08/sean...

Should we move homeless encampments off main routes, like Donald Trump wants to do, because that sight offends us? A new book by a Mennonite pastor in Winnipeg says we need to see people who society regards as "nothing" for our own salvation. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/08/when...

Sometimes you need a sunset.

Driven by faith, frustrated by funding: Faith-based care-home operators in Manitoba say miracles are in short supply when trying to feed residents with 2009-level resources. @winnipegfreepress.com www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

Muslim youth from across Canada gathered in Winnipeg July 26-27 for the first-ever national Muslim Youth conference. @winnipegfreepress.com www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

If the Anglican Church of Canada is going to survive and thrive, it will need to make deep changes — and Shane Parker, the denomination’s new primate, is ready to guide that change. @cdnaffairs.bsky.social onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/07/i-wa...

The goal of a Vatican conclave is to choose a new pope. But a conclave is also a referendum on the previous pope and his legacy. That’s the argument former Vatican correspondent Christopher White makes in his new book about Pope Leo’s election. www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

2025 is the 25th anniversary of GrowWinnipeg, which has helped bring more than 6,800 Jews have to Manitoba through from 13 countries. @winnipegfreepress.com www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

Canadian Imams, church leaders issue joint letter urging Ottawa to call for a lifting of the blockade of humanitarian aid, to condemn the use of food as a weapon, and to support calls for a permanent ceasefire. www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/07/20/i...

Antisemitism in Canada has reached record-setting levels. In response, a group of Jewish and Christian leaders from across Canada have decided to partner together to combat it. www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/07/16/j...

Anglican church inspires vision for greening of downtown Winnipeg. @winnipegfreepress.com onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/07/a-vi...

If you are a Christian, how often do you go to church? Do you go weekly? Once a month? Christmas and Easter? If you are in the latter group, you are not alone. That has become normal for a growing number of churchgoers in Canada. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/07/occa...

Canadian connection to Live Aid on 40th anniversary of groundbreaking concert to raise funds for Ethiopia famine; retired Manitoba pilot flew in the BBC crew whose reporting led to Band Aid and Live Aid. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/07/mani...

“Judaism is a 4,000-year-old tradition that still has something to say to the world today,” Carnie Shalom Rose returns home to be rabbi at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Winnipeg. @winnipegfreepress.com onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/07/carn...

It's crazy, I know, but some American Congressional Representatives have sent a letter to Canada's Ambassador asking us to control our wildfire smoke because it interferes with their summer fun in that country. Well, I thought, two can play that game.

"I want to be a voice for trans people in the church." Anglican priest Theo Robinson leaving Manitoba for new role in B.C., but will continue ministry to LGBTTQ+ community. @winnipegfreepress.com onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/07/i-wa...

Ring around the sun.

All the “fireworks” I need tonight.

It was a day of mixed emotions as members of Winnipeg's Lutheran Church of the Cross said goodbye to their building on June 29. Sadness mixed with joy that it will be converted into senior's housing. @winnipegfreepress.com shorturl.at/Mwlsy

The United Church of Canada, a merger of 3 denominations, turns 100 this year. 100 years later, Canada is a less religious place. But the need for collaboration is as great as back then. Is it time for a new kind of “united” church in Canada today? onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/06/100t...

After smudging and a prayer for the Creator’s blessing, a grandfather rock and symbolic sweat lodge were unveiled Friday on the grounds of the Archdiocese of St. Boniface bishop’s residence. @winnipegfreepress.com www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

How can people today find hope to promote and sustain collective action in a divided world? That was a topic addressed at the June 15-17 Our Whole Society Conference at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/06/our-...

Release of 140 Oblate priest names ‘gets us one step closer to a complete understanding of the residential school system.’ www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/06/11/f...

A a time like this we could all use a nice sunset photo.

According to Statistics Canada, seniors are the fastest-growing group in Canada. But it’s not just society that’s greying; so are churches. But many churches are mainly focused on serving young people and families. Can that focus be changed? onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/06/god-...

Anglicans in Manitoba have selected the first Black person to be their bishop, Jewish women in Winnipeg want to “wage peace” between Israelis and Palestinians, and 15,000 local Muslims gather for prayer during Eid al-Adha—three of my recent stories about faith in Manitoba. shorturl.at/7v8Mc

Anglicans in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario have selected the first Black person to be their bishop — and the first who was born in Africa. Naboth Manzongo was elected to be the 14th bishop of the Diocese of Rupert’s Land May 31. @winnipegfreepress.com shorturl.at/efbF0

Setting sun.

Gord Johns, national defence critic for the Canadian federal NDP, tabled a petition from the Peace Train in the House of Commons on May 29. The petition calls on the Canadian government to “reestablish a centre of excellence for peace and justice." peacetraincanada.blogspot.com/2025/06/peti...

In Canada, over 2 million people have Long Covid. Arnold Neufeldt-Fast is one of them. The dean of Tyndale Seminary in Toronto has had it since 2023. I asked him how has it changed his view of God. What about prayer? His view of suffering? onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/06/so-g...

Canada faces an affordable housing crisis. What can churches do? Some are responding by turning their places of worship into housing, in whole or in part. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/05/chur...

The death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo brought 7,000 reporters to Rome. For a few weeks there was wall-to-wall coverage. Then they all went home. What happens to the media coverage of that church now? And other religions? A few thoughts. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/05/pope...

What’s really going to happen at the conclave? Nobody knows for sure, of course. But Hendro Munsterman, a veteran Vatican correspondent for Nederlands Dagblad, a Christian newspaper in The Netherlands, has some inside information. @winnipegfreepress.com onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/05/vete...

Another Bunn’s Creek sunset.