Documents
Living Out Laudato Si’: A Commentary and Practical Resource for Canadian Catholics
Friday, September 01 2017
On the occasion of the third World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has published a new resource entitled Living Out Laudato Si': A Commentary and Practical Resource for Canadian Catholics. The preface of the document, written by the Honourable Graydon Nicholas, CM ONB, former Lieutenant Governor of…
“I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me”: Pastoral Letter on Welcoming Refugees
Monday, October 26 2015
"I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me," the Pastoral Letter now being released by the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), comes at a critical time for the staggering and unprecedented number of refugees and displaced persons now present in our world. It aims at making Canadian Catholics more aware of the current situation, while also…
A Church Seeking Justice: The Challenge of Pope Francis to the Church in Canada
Thursday, September 03 2015
The Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has published a new resource entitled A Church Seeking Justice: The Challenge of Pope Francis to the Church in Canada. Since his election as Bishop of Rome, the Holy Father "has brought an immediacy and specificity to Catholic social teaching that has made it a strong mark of his pontificate…
Letter to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding a young Sudanese mother found guilty of converting to Christianity
Tuesday, May 27 2014
May 27, 2014 The Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P.Minister of Foreign Affairs125 Sussex DriveOttawa, Ontario K1A 0G2 Dear Mr. Minister, I am writing you in my capacity as the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is with great shock and concern that I have become aware of the situation of Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, the Christian Sudanese mother…
The Word of God and Social Action: Insights from Verbum Domini
Thursday, March 27 2014
Following two important events for the Church in 2012-2013, the Synod on the New Evangelization and the Year of Faith, the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) offers a short reflection on Verbum Domini and its social teaching. The Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini was published in 2010 after the Synod on the Word of God, held in October…
Building a New Culture – Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment
Monday, April 08 2013
The world today is rightly concerned about the state of the environment. These concerns are shared by the Church. In his audience with representatives of the Churches and Ecclesial Communities and other religions, after being elected to the See of Peter, Pope Francis said that “The Church is likewise conscious of the responsibility which all of us have for our world, for the whole of…
Letter to the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada regarding the young girl suspected of desecrating the Qur’an
Wednesday, September 05 2012
August 31, 2012 His Excellency Mian Gul Akbar ZebHigh Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada10 Range RoadOttawa ON K1N 8J3 Your Excellency, We wish to express our concern regarding the recent incarceration of a young girl with Down’s syndrome who is suspected of desecrating the Qur’an. The girl, who is from a Christian family, risks being sentenced to life imprisonment. This serious situation has prompted the President…
Letter to the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Canada from the Chairman of the CCCB Human Rights Committee
Thursday, May 31 2012
May 30, 2012 His Excellency Osamah Al Sanosi AhmadAmbassador of Saudi Arabia201 Sussex DriveOttawa, ONK1N 1K6 Your Excellency, In a statement on March 12, 2012, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, reputedly one of the most influential voices in the Islamic world, said that “only one religion”, Islam, “should exist in the Arabian Peninsula”, and thus “it is necessary to destroy all churches in the region”.…
Letter to the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Canada regarding continuing attacks against Christians in the northern region of Nigeria
Thursday, May 10 2012
May 9, 2012 His Excellency Professor Ivorwuese Hagher, PhD, OONHigh Commissioner for Nigeria295 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, Ontario K2P 1R9 Your Excellency, In an interview on April 30, 2012, with Aid to the Church in Need, the Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama, Archbishop of Jos and President of the Nigerian Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed grave concern that the Government of Nigeria is failing to protect Christians in…
Letter to the High Commissioner of Nigeria in Canada from Bishop François Lapierre, P.M.É., Chairman of the CCCB Human Rights Committee, regarding the recent violent attacks by the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria
Tuesday, November 15 2011
November 14, 2011 His Excellency The High Commissioner of NigeriaProf. Iyorwuese HagherHigh Commission of Nigeria in Canada295 Metcalfe StreetOttawa, ON K2P 1R9 Your Excellency: We would like to share with you our deep concern about the recent violent attacks by the Boko Haram sect in the States of Yobe and Borno. Some of these attacks, directed against churches as well as mosques, claimed many victims. In…
Letter to the Ambassador of Egypt from Archbishop Brendan M. O’Brien, Chairman of the CCCB Human Rights Committee, regarding the violent confrontation by Egyptian law enforcement agents against Coptic Christians
Friday, October 14 2011
His Excellency the Ambassador of EgyptMr. Wael Ahmed Kamal Aboul MagdEmbassy of Egypt in Canada454 Laurier Avenue EastOttawa, ON K1N 6R3 Your Excellency: We wish to share with you our deep concerns following the violent confrontation by Egyptian law enforcement agents against Coptic Christians that took place in Cairo on October 9, 2011. There are accounts by witnesses, testimonies from hospitals, and video recordings of peaceful demonstrators being…
Letter to the Chargé d’affaires and Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran from Archbishop Brendan M. O’Brien, Chairman of the CCCB Human Rights Committee, regarding Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
Friday, October 07 2011
Mr. Kambiz Sheikh-HassaniCharge d'affaires and Head of MissionEmbassy oflslamic Republic of Iran245 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, ON K2P2K2 Dear Mr. Sheikh-Hassani, I wish to bring to your attention the urgent case of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani who was condemned to death in Iran for converting to the Christian faith. Although his sentence has been commuted, his life remains in danger as he is still being detained on…
Message to Young Catholics on Social Justice
Wednesday, September 21 2011
(CCCB – Ottawa)… In light of the International Year of Youth proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations (2010-2011) and the recent World Youth Day that took place in Madrid, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a message of hope and encouragement to young Catholics. It invites young people to commit themselves, in…
Letter to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, from Archbishop Brendan M. O’Brien, Chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission, regarding Bill C-49
Thursday, November 25 2010
Useful link: Letter by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, C.S.B., expressing similar concerns The Honourable Jason KenneyMinister of Citizenship, Immigration and MulticulturalismCitizenship and Immigration CanadaOttawa, OntarioK1A 1L1 Dear Minister Kenney:The Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops wishes to express its concerns regarding Bill C -49, an Act to amend The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, The Balanced Refugee Reform…
Reflection by the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – October 17, 2010
Friday, October 15 2010
On this day, when the world reviews the situation of poverty globally, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops senses a need as in past years, to offer Canadians a brief message of concern, reflection and hope. The challenge to struggle against poverty and to live with our fellow human beings in equality is not a new message. Centuries ago,…
Pastoral Letter on Human Trafficking
Wednesday, January 27 2010
Pastoral letter on human trafficking issued within the context of preparations for the 2010 Olympic Games to be held in Vancouver. Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops What is human trafficking? In 2010, Canada will host the Olympic Winter Games. Many are looking forward to watching some of the world’s best athletes compete. Others, in Vancouver and elsewhere – especially…
Canadian Bishops publish pastoral letter on environment
Wednesday, March 12 2008
(CCCB – Ottawa) – As part of the United Nations’ International Year of Planet Earth, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has published a pastoral letter which calls for a collective consciousness to face critical environmental problems affecting the earth. Produced by the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs, the pastoral letter is titled “Our Relationship with the Environment: The Need for Conversion.” (CCCB –…
Practices by Canadian mining companies in other countries raise concerns
Thursday, February 22 2007
In a letter addressed to the federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Most Reverend Roger Ébacher, Archbishop of Gatineau and Chairman of the Commission for Social Affairs, indicates the concerns of the Commission on practices by Canadian mining companies in other countries. This intervention is part of a collaborative effort with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace in support of the efforts by Cardinal…
Brief presented by the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
Tuesday, November 28 2006
[Mgr. Ebacher:] Mr. Chairman, honourable members, to mark the 93rd World Day for Migrants and Refugees, Pope Benedict XVI has taken "the migrant family" as his theme. Recognizing that the experience of migration often leaves refugee and immigrant families "disfigured and weakened", the pope challenges us - churches, civil society and governments alike - to make certain "Everything is done to guarantee the rights and…
Canadian Bishops Issue Pastoral Letter: Canada must demonstrate every effort to welcome immigrants and refugees with dignity
Tuesday, January 10 2006
(CCCB – Ottawa) … Never before over the past 70 years has such a large proportion of Canadians originated from other countries. With almost 20 percent of Canadians being immigrants, a pastoral letter released today by the Canadian Catholic Bishops outlines a number of problems which they say are having a serious impact on immigrants and refugees. The document is by the Episcopal Commission for…