Documents
Refugee Appeal Board: The Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the CCCB is very disappointed in the refusal of the government
Tuesday, November 08 2005
The Honourable Guiseppe Volpe Minister of Citizenship and Immigration House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Re: Refugee Appeal Board Dear Minister: As Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), I wish to express to you our disappointment regarding the decision of your government to refrain from implementing the refugee appeal mechanism provided under Canadian law. The CCCB Social Affairs…
On the eve of the G-7 meetings, in Scotland: CCCB Social Affairs Commission is asking Canadian leadership
Monday, June 27 2005
Rt. Hon. Paul Martin, M.P., P.C. Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 Dear Prime Minister Martin: We write to you on the eve of the G-7 meetings that will take place this July in Gleneagles, Scotland, to encourage you to propose farsighted initiatives to eradicate global poverty. In particular, we ask you to demonstrate Canadian leadership in two specific areas:…
Letter to Minister of International Cooperation: Concern about the suspension of funding by the Federal Government to many Canadian non-governmental organizations
Thursday, March 24 2005
The Honourable Aileen Carroll Minister of International Cooperation Canadian International Development Agency 200 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0G4 Fax: (819) 953-6088 Dear Ms. Carroll: I write to express the concern of the Bishops of Canada with the 22 February 2005 announcement that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has indefinitely suspended funding to a great many Canadian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive support…
Briefing Note for the Bishops of Canada Concerning Sanctuary for Refugees in Catholic Churches
Tuesday, January 04 2005
Click here to read the document prepared by the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs For More Information Contact: Sylvain Salvas Director, Communications Service Tel: (613) 241-9461 Fax: (613) 241-9048 salvas@cccb.ca
CCCB Letter to the Ambassador of Guatemala: Open-pit mining project is a source of worry
Thursday, December 30 2004
(sent on 20 December 2004) His Excellency Carlos Humberto Jiménez Ambassador of Guatemala to Canada Embassy of Guatemala 130 Albert Street, Suite 1010 Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4 Your Excellency: The purpose of my letter concerns the Marlin gold and silver mine in the municipalities of San Miguel Ixtahuacán and Sipacapa, located in the Department of San Marcos. Montana Exploradora, a subsidiary of Glamis Gold, has…
Letter to Federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale Concerning the Elimination of Third World Debt
Thursday, September 30 2004
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, MP Minister of Finance House of Commons Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 Dear Mr. Goodale: On behalf of the Social Affairs Commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, I write to you today to encourage you to do all in your power to bring Canada’s firm support to the renewed international efforts to cancel 100 percent of the onerous and unpayable…
Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Letter of Bishop Blaise Morand to the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs
Tuesday, June 01 2004
The Honourable Bill Graham Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Dear Mr. Graham: We are writing to join our voice to those of a growing number of Canadians who are concerned about the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Although this is not the first time that the Bishops of Canada have addressed you on this…
Letter to the Federal Minister of Agriculture: CCCB Social Affairs Commission is concerned with the situation of cattle farmers in our country
Thursday, April 29 2004
The Honourable Bob Speller, P.C., M.P. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Sir John Carling Building 930 Carling Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C5 Fax: (613) 759-1081 Dear Mr. Speller, As you and the Prime Minister meet with senior officials of the United States of America later this week, I write to express our grave concern with the situation of cattle farmers in our country. We are worried…
Letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin on the International Policy Review
Monday, April 26 2004
A letter, jointly signed by a number of Canadian Church organizations, labour and social justice groups, has been sent to Prime Minister Paul Martin regarding the International Policy Review announced in its Speech from the Throne. In the letter the government is urged to make space for the contributions of civil society organizations in the early days of the Review. The letter maybe viewed by…
Next Federal Election: Bishops Call on Catholics to Make an Informed Choice
Monday, April 19 2004
(CCCB-Ottawa) With a federal election on the horizon, Canadian Catholics are being encouraged to weigh the issues carefully, be inspired by the Church’s moral and social teachings and to exercise their right to vote which is an important responsibility for the common good of society. The invitation is contained in a new document entitled Election 2004: Responsibility and Discernment issued by the Social Affairs Commission…
Election 2004: Responsibility and Discernment
Monday, April 19 2004
(CCCB-Ottawa) With a federal election on the horizon, Canadian Catholics are being encouraged to weigh the issues carefully, be inspired by the Church’s moral and social teachings and to exercise their right to vote which is an important responsibility for the common good of society. The invitation is contained in a new document entitled Election 2004: Responsibility and Discernment issued by the Social Affairs Commission…
Eliminate Racial and Religious Discrimination: See Every Person as My Sister or Brother
Friday, March 19 2004
To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21, 2004, the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs and the Episcopal Commission for Interfaith Dialogue have issued a pastoral message entitled: Eliminate Racial and Religious Discrimination: See Every Person as My Sister or Brother
Nuclear Disarmament and Ballistic Missiles: A Letter from Canadian Church Leaders to Prime Minister Paul Martin
Monday, March 15 2004
(This letter was issued by the Canadian Council of Churches of which the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is a member.) The Right Honourable Paul Martin Prime Minister of Canada 80, rue Wellington Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 Fax: (613) 941-6900 Our help is in the name of the Lord… who made heaven and earth… Psalm 124:8 Dear Mr. Prime Minister: We write to urge…
CCCB Letter to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham Calling for an Inquiry into the Treatment of Mr. Maher Arar
Wednesday, December 17 2003
The Honourable Bill Graham Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0G2 Dear Mr. Graham: Congratulations on your re-appointment to the important post of Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this responsibility you continue to express to the world the values of Canadians and of the Government of Canada. Please be assured of my prayerful best wishes as you continue to respond to…
CCCB Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs Publishes a Pastoral Letter on Ecology
Saturday, October 04 2003
(CCCB – Ottawa) In a pastoral letter published today on the feast of Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, the Social Affairs Commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has called on Canadian Catholics to care for the environment and to have deep respect for the wonders of the earth. The pastoral letter, entitled the Christian Ecological Imperative, is inspired by the…
Social Affairs Commission: Letter to Federal Citizenship and Immigration Minister Denis Coderre Regarding Refugee Policies in Canada
Friday, March 07 2003
The Honourable Denis Coderre Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Fax: 613-952-5533 Dear Mr. Coderre: We are writing today to raise several issues of importance relating to refugee policy in Canada. Reflecting on the Message of the Holy Father, John Paul II, for the 89th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (2003), we realize that “this should be a time of special prayer for the needs…
Letter to Federal Finance Minister John Manley Regarding the Forthcoming Federal Budget
Thursday, February 13 2003
The Honourable John Manley Deputy Prime Minister Finance Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5 Dear Mr. Manley: Like many Canadians, the members of the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs are awaiting the forthcoming federal budget with hopeful expectations. When attempting to discern the most heartfelt desires of our communities, we have heard their cry for justice and equity. In carefully listening…
Letter from the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs to Federal MP Réal Ménard Concerning Proposed Legislation on Anti-Poverty
Wednesday, January 29 2003
[CCCB translation] January 29, 2003 Mr. Réal Ménard M.P. for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Fax: (613) 947-4579 Dear Mr. Ménard: I am pleased to learn that your proposed anti-poverty bill will be presented to the House of Commons in February. As you know, the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has long supported and continues…
A Letter to The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, Calling for Canada to Ratify the Kyoto Protocol and Begin a Program of Emissions Reduction
Tuesday, June 25 2002
The Honourable David Anderson Minister of the Environment Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3 Dear Mr. Anderson: We write to express our gratitude for your leadership over the past several years in working with the 168 countries that have agreed to adopt the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. We join our voice to those of religious leaders around the world who are urging their governments to ratify…
Open Letter to Colombian President-Elect Alvaro Uribe Velez
Wednesday, June 19 2002
Mr. Alvaro Uribe Velez President-elect of Colombia Dear Mr. Uribe: As you make your first official visit to Canada as President-elect of Colombia, we are writing to you on behalf of a broad cross section of Canadians and Canadian institutions to express our profound concern over the state of human rights in your country. We call on you to take decisive measures to ensure an…