John Longhurst, C.M.

The Olympics and Religion: Like a church, but without the dogma The winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are just over half-way over. So maybe it’s a good time to explore the pivotal role religion played in...

The winter Olympics are just about half-way over. It's a good time to explore the role religion played in the creation of the ancient Olympics, how religion caused those ancient games to come to an end, and how religion influenced the modern revival. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-...

Are you dead? Popular app in China serves people who live alone, but maybe we already have an "app" for that here in places of worship Are You Dead? That’s the name of the most popular paid app in China, according to the BBC.   The app is designed for the estimated 200 mil...

Are You Dead? The app is designed for people in that country who live alone, and who don’t have anyone to check on them regularly. With so many living alone in Canada, it might be useful here. Or maybe we already have an app for that: Places of worship. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2026/02/are-...

Canadian aid organizations respond to Israel’s Gaza aid suspensions The news cycle these days is nuts. Who can keep up? No sooner is there one major breaking story than it is replaced a day later by another...

The news cycle is nuts. Who can keep up? No sooner is there one major story than it is replaced by another—and so on. Soon, we don’t remember the item that made us angry or upset. Like when Israel suspended aid groups from working in Gaza.

whocaresaboutforeignaid.blogspot.com/2026/01/cana...

Get your wills ready to defend immigrants and other vulnerable people: American Episcopal bishop to clergy I was talking to an American friend who, like me, is appalled by the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapo...

What are some American church leaders saying about the current situation in that country?

onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2026/01/get-...

Sorry to say ( as a non-American), but you were told a lie.

Sort of puts plans to invade Canada in jeopardy. maybe Greenland, too. In winter, at least.

Amidst all the unpeace today, peaceful scenes from Bunn’s Creek In Manitoba.

News about the Canadian government and religion (the kind that doesn't fit the anti-religion narrative) We live at a time when some people of faith (mostly conservative Christians) view the current government as anti-religion for various reason...

News about the Canadian government and religion (the kind that doesn't fit the anti-religion narrative). About how StatsCan is moving up the date to ask about religious affiliation and Public Health reaching out to faith groups about measles. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/12/news...

A Canadian here. Could you Americans please stop saying the president is the “leader of the free world”? Because he patently is not.

It’s like liking to use em-dashes only to learn they are a give away for using CHATgpt.

Faith leaders warn of 'chill' if Ottawa reworks hate laws Religious organizations urge Ottawa to consult them before redefining the limits of protected expression for religious groups

Christian, Muslim and Jewish organizations are responding to a proposal to eliminate a religious exemption to Canada’s federal hate crimes legislation. www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/12/09/f...

Faithful whistleblowers resist ICE in the U.S. When Dan and Emily Coyne attend Sunday services at their church in Evanston, Il, they bring their Bibles — and their whistles.   The Bible...

When Dan & Emily Coyne attend Sunday services at their church in Evanston, Il, they bring their Bibles and whistles.

The Bibles are so they can follow along with sermons. The whistles are so they can warn their neighbors if ICE agents are in the area.
onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/12/fait...

And how did he get a gun? Nobody seems to be asking that question. Maybe because the answer is obvious: mMost anyone in America can get a gun. (Muses this Canadian.)

Per The Guardian: "The alleged gunman, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, came to the US in September 2021 under an Operation Allies Welcome program that gave some Afghans who had worked for the US government entry visas to the US."

Biker church in Winnipeg for those "who don’t fit into a normal Sunday morning scene” It’s called the House of the Risen Son, but everyone in Winnipeg calls it the “Biker church.”  It’s for people who don’t fit into a normal S...

It’s called the House of the Risen Son, but everyone in Winnipeg calls it the “Biker Church.” According to one member, "It’s for people who don’t fit into a normal Sunday morning scene." onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/11/bike...

A friendly letter to Global Affairs after the budget cuts As Global Affairs ponders the future of international assistance during a time of shrinking budgets, Nicolas Moyer, CEO of Cuso Internationa...

As Canada's Global Affairs ponders the future of international assistance during a time of shrinking budgets, Nicolas Moyer, CEO of Cuso International, has some thoughts about how it can do better. whocaresaboutforeignaid.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-fr...

Serving Soup with dignity on the side: People with disabilities find meaningful employment through the Raw Carrot Kieran Schellenberg wasn’t just stirring soup at the launch of the Raw Carrot on Thursday — he was mixing up hope and purpose. “It’s dif...

Serving Soup with dignity on the side: People with disabilities find meaningful employment through the Raw Carrot. “It’s great to get out, have work and be productive,” said Kieran Schellenberg, adding that having a job also aids with self-esteem. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/11/serv...

The Comfortable Pew 60 years later, and a chance to support religion journalism at the Winnipeg Free Press Sixty years ago, Pierre Berton’s book  The Comfortable Pew: A Critical Look at Christianity and the Religious Establishment in the New Age ,...

60 years ago, Pierre Berton’s book The Comfortable Pew was published. It received widespread media attention. That would be hard to imagine today--except at the Winnipeg Free Press, the only media outlet in Canada with a dedicated faith beat. onfaithcanada.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...

Canadian relief and development organizations express concern about aid cuts, see opportunity in government's trade agenda Canadian relief and development organizations are expressing concern and disappointment with the federal government’s decision to cut the co...

Canadian aid groups are expressing concern with the federal government’s decision to cut the country’s foreign aid budget. But they also note that aid can support Canada’s overall trade and investment strategy. whocaresaboutforeignaid.blogspot.com/2025/11/cana... @cdnaffairs.bsky.social

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

If government budgets are moral documents, what do various religious traditions have to say about them? “Budgets are moral documents.” That quote is attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. In fact, King never said that exact phrase. But it is in k...

“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...

Everyone can relax now; the Canadian government is not going to stop churches from issuing tax receipts Everyone can relax now; the federal government is not planning to remove the charitable tax status for churches and other religious groups. ...

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...

On the Ground: Brian Stewart on his time as a foreign correspondent with the CBC, the important role religion played in his reporting During his time as a foreign correspondent and senior reporter with the CBC from the 1980s to early 2000s, Brian Stewart interviewed world...

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...

Holy Hurt: New book aims to help those who have experienced spiritual trauma, alert faith leaders to its reality When psychologist Hillary McBride encountered clients from religious backgrounds who had been hurt by their churches, she found their chal...

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...

‘You are not alone’: retired social worker takes time to listen during cross-Canada tour In a polarized and divided world, where many may feel lonely and isolated, Paul Jenkinson has a message: “You are not alone. I will listen.”...

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 is happening in America, you need to know about the Seven Mountains Mandate If you want to understand many things happening in the world today, you need to check out the religion angle. This is especially true in the...

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...

I’m a senior. Twice a week is fine. Or less. I get very little useful mail, anyway. Mostly flyers. Everything else I do is online.

New executive director of Canadian Council of Imams exploring what it means to be a Canadian Muslim 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 Canad...

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-...

New moderator of United Church of Canada wants denomination to think small “We May Not Be Big, But We’re Small.”   That was the motto of The Vinyl Cafe, a fictional record store owned by Dave, a character featur...

“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-...