Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops - Debate on Marriage in Canada: CCCB and COLF statements, briefs, comments and other backgrounders

Since the beginning of the debates on the redefinition of marriage in 2002, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), an organization jointly founded by the CCCB and the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, published numerous documents.

Here is a complete list:

Documents of Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)

Debate on Redefining Marriage: Letter of the CCCB President to the PM and Leaders of the Parties in the Opposition (published on 14 December 2006)
Debate on Redefining Marriage Not Over (published on 8 December 2006)
COLF Supports Restoring the Traditional Definition of Marriage (published on 8 December 2006)
Debate on Reopening the question of the Redefinition of Civil Marriage: Comment by the President of the CCCB (published on 1 December 2006)
Joint Declaration on Marriage (published on 9 November 2006)
Media Release: Religious Leaders Sign Declaration on Marriage (published on 9 November 2006)
Comment by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on the approval of Bill C-38: An Act respecting certain aspects of legal capacity for marriage for civil purposes (published on 20 July 2005)
Saving Marriage as a Fundamental Institution Recognized by the State: Brief by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to the Senate Standing Committee on Constitution and Legal Affairs (published on 13 July 2005)
Media release: The CCCB Takes Advantage of its Last Stand on Bill C-38 (published 10 July 2005)
Comment by the President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Passing of Bill C-38 by the House of Commons" (published 28 June 2005)
Letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin from CCCB President: "Why rush the legislation on same-sex marriage?" (published on 6 June 2005)
Letter to the Honourable Members of the Senate and the Members of the House of Commons: Proposed changes to the meaning and nature of marriage (published on 2 June 2005)
Brief by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to the Special Legislative Committee on Bill C-38, The Civil Marriage Act (published on 19 May 2005)
Press Release on Special Legislative Committee on Bill C-38: Bishops Encourage a Culture of Marriage (published on 19 May 2005)
CCCB Comment on Second Reading of Bill C-38 (published on 5 May 2005)
Letter to Marcel Proulx, Chairman of the Special Legislative Committee on Bill C-38 (published on 11 April 2005)
CCCB Continues to Urge Maintaining the Definition of Marriage (published on 13 April 2005)
CCCB Asks for Invitation to Appear Before Special Legislative Committee Studying Bill C-38 (published on 23 March 2005)
Does Marriage Have to be Redefined in Canada?: Good Reasons for Challenging Bill C-38 and Defending the Natural Definition of Marriage (published on 21 March 2005)
Bill C-38 and Debate on Marriage: Letter to Members of Parliament and the Senate Concerning Bill C-38 (published on 28 February 2005)
Letter to Prime Minister from Conference of Bishops: Freedom of Conscience and Religion Threatened (published on 15 February 2005)
Pastoral letter to Catholics in Canada on Redefining Marriage (published on Ash Wednesday, 9 February 2005)
Comments by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on Bill C-38, an act respecting certain aspects of legal capacity for marriage for civil purposes. (Filed 3 February 2005)
Letter to Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada: The Catholic Bishops of Canada encourage Stephen Harper to maintain his position on the definition of marriage (Filed 1 February 2005)
Letter to Leader of NDP, Jack Layton: The Catholic Bishops of Canada stand united in their opposition to legislation that would redefine marriage (Filed 31 January )
Letter to Leader of Bloc Québécois Caucus, Gilles Duceppe: The Catholic Bishops of Canada stand united in their opposition to legislation that would redefine marriage (Filed 31 January )
Letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin: The Catholic Bishops of Canada stand united in their opposition to legislation that would redefine marriage (Filed 31 January )
Statement by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Reference on Marriage. (Filed 9 December 2004)
CCCB Factum Filed with the Supreme Court of Canada on the Government of Canada Reference Regarding the Redefinition of Marriage. (Filed May 11, 2004)
Summary of the CCCB Factum Filed with the Supreme Court of Canada on the Government of Canada Reference Regarding the Redefinition of Marriage. (published May 11, 2004)
Message of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on marriage in the present day (published September 10, 2003)
CCCB Statement on the Tabling of Draft Legislation by the Federal Government Regarding Marriage (published July 17, 2003)
Letter from CCCB President Bishop Jacques Berthelet, C.S.V., to Prime Minister Jean Chretien Regarding Marriage and Same-Sex Unions (published June 19, 2003)
Statement by the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (published June 19, 2003)
Letter to Federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon Regarding the Ontario Court of Appeal's Decision on the Redefinition of Marriage (published June 11, 2003)
Letter sent by CCCB President Bishop Jacques Berthelet, C.S.V., to Federal Justice Minister urging the Government to appeal the decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal that decided that the definition of marriage be changed to include same-sex partners. (published May 16, 2003)
Letter sent by Msgr. Peter Schonenbach, P.H., the CCCB General Secretary
to all Members of Parliament (published March 27, 2003)
Presentation by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops To the House of Commons Standing Committee On Justice and Human Rights On the Discussion Paper Marriage And Legal Recognition Of Same-Sex Unions (published on February 13, 2003)
Marriage: For the Good of Society (media release published on February 13, 2003)

COLF publications on Marriage

The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) backgrounders on Marriage: