While government-run schools closed last spring due to the pandemic, many independent schools switched to remote learning without missing a single class. David Hunt, Cardus education program director, argues that they deserve more respect.

Freedom of religion in Canada is being eroded in a variety of ways, says Fr. Dcn. Andrew Bennett, Director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute. Fortunately, Canadians are not subjected to religious persecution, but Bennett nevertheless warns that there’s been a gradual erosion of religious freedom in Canada that he finds concerning. “It’s been a slow process, but it’s manifesting itself more clearly in our present time … in a variety of different ways,” he told The Epoch Times.

"The dignity of the human person, inherent to all without exception, lies at the core of a correct exercise of our freedom." A commentary by Fr. Dcn. Andrew Bennett, Director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute.

Jailed pastor James Coates is expected to have one of the charges against him withdrawn and will be released soon to await trial on a final charge. Commenting on this recent development, Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett, director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute said, “Different religious traditions have different understandings of the relationship between church and state, there are different theologies at play. The Constitution is quite clear that reasonable limits, the reasonable limits test, is an essential component of determining when can government lawfully restrict certain fundamental freedoms.”

The importance of the family undergirds many current policy debates including inequality, poverty, and child care. Unfortunately, we don’t want to talk about it, according to Nobel Laureate James Heckman, as Cardus Family Senior Fellow, Andrea Mrozek writes in this blog post featured by Institute for Family Studies.

Parliament needs to stand up for our fundamental freedoms by amending Bill C-6. Fr. Dcn. Andrew Bennett, director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute comments that harmful practices should be banned, but not at the cost of Canadians’ fundamental freedoms and ability to flourish.

Context Beyond the Headlines speaks with Cardus executive vice president Ray Pennings, for insight to the Christian view on the economy. As we move past the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the impact it has had on our economy.

Fr. Dn. Andrew Bennett, director of the Cardus Religious Freedom Institute had the opportunity to speak about Pope Francis's historic visit to Iraq in this news feature by EWTN Global Catholic News (starting at the 41:00 mark).

Payday loans are short-term, high-interest-rate loans that you generally need to pay back within the typical two-week payday cycle. Are these lenders filling a need, or are they preying on Canadians who aren't able to borrow money from conventional sources? In a conversation with Alexandra Macqueen, Cardus Vice President External Affairs, Brian Dijkema notes, "There’s a certain inequality to affordable credit in Canada.” He adds, “One way to ensure that people on the economic margins have access to reasonably-costed credit is to be open to the development of unique solutions—through technology or social networks, for example—that can provide positive examples of low-dollar lending.”