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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

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


Tuesday, July 12 2005

On behalf of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), I would first like to thank the Honourable Members of the Senate for this opportunity to present our vision of marriage and the family as part of the debates on Bill C-38. Inspired by human and spiritual convictions common to…

Ordinances Issued by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in View of the Correct Application of the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae


Thursday, July 07 2005

PREAMBLE From earliest times, the Roman Catholic Church in Canada has sought to provide opportunities for higher education for indigenous peoples and Catholic settlers. In successive generations, clergy, religious and laity have joined together to promote and to preserve this precious educational legacy. Public demand—by Catholics and others—for the services…

Decree of Promulgation of the Ordinances for the Implementation in Canada of Ex Corde Ecclesiae


Thursday, July 07 2005

The Bishops of Canada, at the 2003 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, approved the Ordinances for the implementation in Canada of the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, according to the norm of law. The Ordinances received recognitio from the Congregation for Bishops, in accord with Article 82 of the…

CCCB Pastoral Letter on Catholic Health Ministry and the Catholic Church in Canada


Thursday, February 10 2005

(CCCB – Ottawa) To mark the World Day of the Sick, held annually on 11 February, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has issued a pastoral letter on Catholic health ministry in Canada. The pastoral letter is in response to the changing aspects of Catholic health ministry. Most hospitals in…

Pastoral Letter to Catholics in Canada on Redefining Marriage


Tuesday, February 08 2005

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: The Catholic Bishops of Canada are united in their belief that marriage is the unique, essential and fundamental relationship of a man and a woman. This has been the teaching of the Church since its beginnings, and reflects human history. For this reason, the…

CCCB Letter to the Ambassador of Guatemala: Open-pit mining project is a source of worry


Wednesday, December 29 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,…