| Canadian bishops issue statement on religious and conscientious freedom |
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OTTAWA, ON May 15, 2012 – The permanent council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops recently issued a pastoral letter on Freedom of Conscience and Religion. The CCRL recommends a complete reading of the document, which summarizes numerous current concerns. The letter emphasizes the importance of religious freedom and freedom of conscience, noting that they are “essential for ensuring the common good.” It encourages people, “especially those in professions where |
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| CCRL criticizes suspension over “Jesus” T-shirt |
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| TORONTO, ON May 7, 2012 – The Catholic Civil Rights League commented on the week-long suspension given to a student by the South Shore Regional School Board in Nova Scotia last week for wearing a “Jesus” T-shirt to school. The board had argued that the shirt, with its slogan “Life is wasted without Jesus,” offended some students by telling them their beliefs are wrong.While the board finally lifted the suspension after it achieved national attention, the fact that i |
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| Appeal of prostitution ruling welcome, says CCRL |
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| OTTAWA, ON April 26, 2012 – The Catholic Civil Rights League is pleased to learn that the federal government is seeking leave to appeal the ruling from the Ontario Court of Appeal that struck down several anti-prostitution laws. The League, an intervenor in the case, urged Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to appeal the ruling just after it was announced. We also suggested that introducing a new prostitution law, and the use of the notwithstanding clause, may both be needed. “The |
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| Sex selection a consequence of legal void on abortion, says CCRL |
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| TORONTO, ON April 18, 2012 – The Catholic Civil Rights League today commented on new reports that the selective abortion of females is happening in Canada among ethnic groups where boys are preferred. An editorial in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association in February recommended withholding the gender of the unborn child from parents in an effort to curtail the practice; a study reported this week by the same journal finds evidence that Indian-born mothers living in Canada are mor |
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| League gala dinner set for June 7 |
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| TORONTO ON April 11, 2012 – The Catholic Civil Rights League is pleased to announce that its annual gala dinner will take place June 7 at Spirale’s Banquet and Conference Centre in Toronto. The evening will include a keynote address by Professor Robert Ventresca, chair of the Department of History at Kings University College, London, Ontario, and the presentation of the 2012 Archbishop Adam Exner Award for Catholic Excellence in Public Life. Professor Ventresca will discuss popu |
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| Bill 13 concerns grow in Ontario |
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| TORONTO, ON April 11, 2012 (CCRL) - In Ontario, recent events surrounding the second reading and debate on Bill 13, the government anti-bullying bill requiring Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in all schools where students request them, have strengthened concerns that Catholic schools will have to downplay Catholic teaching in the implementation of the Bill. Catholic parents must insist that their constitutionally-guaranteed school rights are respected. About 2,000 parents demonstrated March 29 at |
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| League supports 2012 March for Life |
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| OTTAWA ON April 9, 2012 - The national March for Life takes place on Parliament Hill Thursday May 10, with related events beginning May 9. The League is pleased to once again be able to support the march by providing advertising support and a donation to help organizers with the costs.This is the largest annual pro-life event in Canada, and the League is encouraging as many of its members as possible to participate. Last year’s march drew a record-breaking crowd of more than15,000 particip |
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| Decision in prostitution appeal disappointing, says CCRL |
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| TORONTO, ON March 26, 2012 – Today the Court of Appeal for Ontario released its decision in Bedford v. Canada (Attorney General), an appeal of the 2010 Ontario Superior Court decision that declared that the three provisions in the federal Criminal Code that regulate prostitution are unconstitutional. In today’s decision the appeal court maintained that public solicitation would remain illegal but also found that keeping a common bawdy house and (with a modest amendment) living off th |
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| CCRL opposes recommendation to liberalize euthanasia law |
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| MONTREAL, March 23, 2012 – The Quebec legislature has received the report of the Select Committee on Dying with Dignity, which recommends the limited legalization of euthanasia among its recommendations for end-of-life care. The report of the all-party committee, which follows two years of hearings and more than 400 submissions, including some from CCRL Quebec members, also calls for improvements to palliative care both in institutions and within the home. “We support the recomm |
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| Bill 2 needs clarification, says CCRL |
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CALGARY, AB March 20, 2012 – The League has contacted Alberta bishops and school officials to express concerns about Bill 2, the new Education Act. The bill raises questions about the ability to teach religious beliefs that could be interpreted to conflict with the Alberta Human Rights Act.
With the assistance of Alberta director Luke Campbell, we have asked for clarification that the changes will not negatively impact Catholic schools’ rights.
“This bill does not fully en |
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| SCC decision limits parental rights, says League |
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| OTTAWA, ON February 17, 2012 - The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) provides this comment on today’s decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of Quebec parents who sought an exemption for their children from the mandatory Ethics and Religious Culture (ERC) course. The League intervened in the appeal as part of the Christian Coalition for Parental Rights in Education (RCDPE), in support of the right of parents to exempt their children from the course. “T |
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