Issues, ethics, memory
By Dennis Gruending The federal New Democratic Party has created a Faith and Justice Commission as a forum for progressive people who come to politics from a faith based perspective [www.ndp-faith-justice-foi-npd.ca/]. Its chair is Joe Comartin, one of several Catholic MPs who were denied communion by the church because of their support for same sex marriage legislation.... Continue Reading →
By Dennis Gruending Ted Schmidt is a former teacher in the Toronto Catholic school system and a staunch critic of a church hierarchy that he says is "patriarchal, misogynist and out of touch." Schmidt also served as editor of the defunct Catholic New Times and has now written a book called Journeys to the Heart... Continue Reading →
By Dennis Gruending The Economist magazine in a recent edition published a special 18-page section called In God's name: A special report on religion and public life. Editor John Micklethwait said in an accompanying interview, "In the 20th century people, particularly among the elites, tended to think that religion was disappearing. That obviously hasn't happened."... Continue Reading →
By Dennis Gruending The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) has released A Health Care Covenant, a short book that describes the involvement by churches in our country's various debates about health care. The Ecumenical Health Care Network of the CCC says that it produced the book to "contribute an ethical voice to the ongoing dialogue... Continue Reading →
By Dennis Gruending When Donald Rumsfeld left the Bush Cabinet, he quickly found a new job at Hoover Institution, one of dozens of powerful and wealthy right-wing think tanks (such as the Heritage Foundation, the Hudson Institute and American Enterprise Institute) that wield tremendous influence in US politics. Canada’s best-known counterpart is the Fraser Institute,... Continue Reading →
I plan with this blog to explore the growing influence that religion is having upon politics and society in Canada and elsewhere. This relationship is not merely a topic of interest but rather it has an effect upon the lives of millions of people. There has been a perception among academics, journalists and other opinion... Continue Reading →
Each year the Rotary Club sponsors Adventures in Citizenship, a program where high school students drawn from across Canada spend time in Ottawa to see how our government works. I participated on a panel of former MPs speaking to 200 students and I talked to them about dreams they might have of one day sitting in... Continue Reading →
Introduction The Canada School of Public Service provides leadership, training and development skills to public servants. Dennis spoke to a group of about 60 in Ottawa in what is called an Armchair Discussion. His topic: "Throw away your script: speech making redefined." Bill Clinton does it. You can too. Speech making redefined Good morning everyone. I... Continue Reading →
Introduction Dennis published a biography of Emmett Hall in 1985. Mr. Hall was a Supreme Court judge but is best known for leading the royal commission that recommended medicate for Canada. Dennis revised and updated the book in 2005 and spoke about Hall at the Ottawa Public Library in November. Speech Many people have asked... Continue Reading →
Fitzhenry & Whiteside (2005) A revised and updated version of Dennis' 1985 biography of Emmett Hall, a Supreme Court Justice and father of medicare. Introduction by the Honourable Roy Romanow. Toll-free order: 1-800-387-9776 Toll-free fax: 1-800-260-9777. Email orders: godwit@fitzhenry.ca Reviewer Comments Dennis Gruending's book compellingly documents Emmett Hall's failings and strengths, and above all his... Continue Reading →
Pulpit and Politics 