News round-up

Media challenge publication ban in spanking case

Last summer, social workers took seven children, aged six to 14, from their devoutly religious family in Aylmer, Ontario because the parents refused to promise not to use rods or switches when spanking them. The children were returned three weeks later, but the family, which comes from an ethnically Mennonite community and is affiliated with a branch of the Church of God that advocates corporal punishment, has been in the courts ever since. The latest trial began last week, and the National Post's Christie Blatchford observes that, although the family's supporters sought a great deal of media attention last summer (they even set up a website which, at one point, made the names of the children and their parents public), lawyers for the family have now asked the judge to impose a publication ban prohibiting reporters from describing the trial in detail. The Post and five other media outlets are contesting the ban, but for now, Blatchford does say, among other things, that the social worker who had carriage of the case "was just 27 and only two months into her first full-time job as a child-protection worker at the Child and Family Services of St. Thomas and Elgin County when she became involved with the sprawling family." Blatchford also says the children have "behaved with astonishing grit," and she adds that "what is also becoming apparent" is the "paucity" of the evidence against the parents "and arguably even the tenuous nature of the original grounds upon which the agency moved so harshly." Oh, and in an odd coincidence, Blatchford says the less-than-punctual judge hearing the corporal-punishment case -- Justice Eleanor Schnall -- has a name that means "strap" or "buckle".

Court rejects bid to prevent sale of schools

Two Catholic schools in Vancouver remain at risk of being sold to compensate victims of abuse at the Mount Cashel orphanage in Newfoundland, following the BC Supreme Court's decision this week to decline the BC government's application for an injunction to prevent such a sale, reports the National Post. Chief Justice Don Brenner said further legal challenges would have to go to the Ontario court, which first ruled in 1996 to liquidate the assets belonging to the Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada, who ran the two schools. Despite the ruling, lawyer George McIntosh said he was confident the schools would still be open in the fall. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Sun reports that some school supporters say the case has dragged through the courts long enough, and the Catholic Church should stop spending money on expensive lawyers and just buy the schools back from the liquidators. "It would be the ethical thing to do," said Chris Warburton, whose grandchildren attend one of the schools. "It would be a wonderful solution. I'm no millionaire, but I'd be more than willing to contribute to such a movement. A lot of parents of children at the schools are talking that way."

Other stories from the past week:

'We need a campaign on bullying'
Father to tell story of son's schoolyard death
Ottawa Citizen, May 22
Earlier: Dale Lang found freedom through forgiveness

100-year-old Grace worked with interned Japanese
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Tucker was working for the Anglican church at Holy Cross Mission in Vancouver's Japantown. When the federal government decided to forcibly relocate the Japanese-Canadian community to the B.C. Interior after Pearl Harbour, she opted to go with them.
Vancouver Sun, May 30

Sign of the crossover
With familiar faces and big budgets Cloud Ten Pictures is expanding beyond the niche market for faith-based films
National Post, May 31
Earlier: Non-Christians felt 'honoured' to be part of Left Behind

Wanted: donations that outlive donor
A new generation of fund raisers urge baby boomers to include charitable donations in their estate planning
Vancouver Sun, May 31

Manley takes over another key post
Promises no surprises
National Post, June 3
Earlier: Comment: A question of leadership

Ailing Pope should retire: Canadian poll
Poor health won't deter pontiff from visiting Toronto next month, his spokesman says: Too old, too sick
National Post, June 3
Earlier: World Youth Day momentum building

Finding God in a Pickle
Good gourd! Vegetables retelling Bible stories are such a hit with kids, they're going to the big screen
Time, June 3
Earlier: Penguins, pirates, planes and purple puffy puffin' lilies