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Mòrar's Musings
April 17, 2026
In this holiest of times, we carry a heaviness in our hearts because of the violence in the Middle East. The stories of our faith teach us this should not be the way, but the stories in the news cry out to us.
In January, the Primate of the Canadian Anglican Church visited the Anglican diocese of Jerusalem to attend the consecration of the Rev. Kmad Haddad as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. He, in addition, visited Anglican-run hospitals and schools. He met with the Anglican Primate in Jerusalem and the Middle East and the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem. He has raised the plight of Palestinian Christians on his return.
You may remember the journalist Michael Coren. At times quite controversial, he has had a few ‘epiphanies’ in the last decade. One of these took him out of the Catholic church, where his children were raised, and into the Anglican communion, where he serves as a priest in the Diocese of Huron which includes Mississauga.
Michael had three grandparents who were Jewish and has experienced antisemitism first hand throughout his life. His Christian son recently drove home to discover an anti-Semitic slogan sprayed on his wall. My ophthalmologist of many years spoke of her children’s experience in Toronto after they were on the first plane out of Israel in October last year. They went back to Israel because they felt safer there than here.
Chatting with my friend and colleague, Rabbi Stephen Wise, whose synagogue is a bit south of our home in Oakville, they now pay for Police protection for all their services and special events. Pope Leo XIV has chastised those in the U.S. Catholic church who have been speaking out in anti-Semitic ways.
Interfaith Coalitions have been challenged to hold together during these difficult times and they do so because they see one another as individual children of God, as friends and colleagues.
The Rev. Coren, Primate Shane Parker and the Pope remind us not to confuse government policy with people. So as we worship the Easter Christ, let us remind ourselves that we in Mississauga have the privilege of interacting with people of all nations and faiths, no matter the politics of their places of origin. We can lead by example by continuing to value those we encounter in our daily lives, who are often seeking to help us to live our lives fully.
Blessings,
Mòrar
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