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Decrees, Statements, Letters, Briefs

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) releases numerous official documents every year. Some are under the form of decrees, while others are public statements, pastoral letters, or briefs. Only a few documents published before 1996 are available online.

List of official documents by the CCCB in chronological order

Statement by the Standing Committee for Family and Life to the Catholic Faithful in Canada and All People of Good Will Voicing Concern and Calling for Prayers on the 10th Anniversary of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide (“MAID”)


Wednesday, June 10 2026

A decade has passed since Bill C-14 received Royal Assent on 17 June 2016, legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide across Canada, and permitting eligible adults, under specified conditions, to access what is legally termed “Medical Assistance in Dying” (“MAID”). As we mark this sobering anniversary, the Canadian Conference of Catholic…

Letter from the President of the CCCB: Death of Mr. Carl Hétu, Executive Director of Development and Peace — Caritas Canada


Tuesday, June 02 2026

La Pocatière, May 27, 2026 To the family of Carl Hétu, To the members of the DPCC movement, To the employees and management team, To the members of the National Council. Peace be with you! It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Carl Hétu on…

Letter to the His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the First Anniversary of His Pontificate


Friday, May 08 2026

The Most Rev. Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, sent a letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of the first anniversary of his pontificate. Through this letter, the President conveyed the heartfelt greetings of the Bishops of Canada,…

Decree No. 38: Maximum Amount for Alienation of Church Property


Wednesday, April 22 2026

In accordance with the prescriptions of Canon 1292 §1, as well as Decree No. 38 of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and after taking into consideration the 2025 national cost-of-living increase of 2.4%, the CCCB Executive Committee determined that the current maximum amount allowed for acts of alienation without…

Statement by the Pemanent Council Calling the Catholic Faithful to Prayer for Peace in the Middle East


Wednesday, April 15 2026

The Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) expresses its deep concern about the war currently ravaging Iran and several countries in the Middle East.  We cannot remain indifferent to this armed conflict, which risks escalating into a protracted war. During the Angelus on Sunday, March 1,…

Christmas Message 2025


Wednesday, December 17 2025

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, God who draws close to us in humility and poverty. Even today, his faithful presence encourages us to renew our friendship with him. To achieve this, Pope Leo says: “One cannot love God without extending one’s love to the poor.” At this…