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.
Summary of the Factum Filed on the Marriage Reference in the Supreme Court of Canada by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Thursday, August 05 2004
The traditional definition of marriage as “the lawful and voluntary union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others” is constitutional. Marriage between a man and a woman is a natural institution as it predates all recorded, formally structured systems. It has accommodated many sets of…
CCCB Letter to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham Calling for an Inquiry into the Treatment of Mr. Maher Arar
Tuesday, December 16 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…
A Church Leaders’ Letter Against Anti-Semitism to the Churches of Canada, the Jewish Community in Canada, and to All People of Good Will…
Monday, December 08 2003
We, the leaders of nine Christian churches in Canada, speak to you together through the facilitation of the Canadian Council of Churches, of which we all are members. In this letter, we are addressing one situation only, which is a Canadian one. While we recognize that there are other serious…
Christmas Message for 2003 from CCCB President Archbishop Brendan M. O'Brien
Sunday, December 07 2003
“Glory to God in the highest. Peace to God’s people on earth!” These words from the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke are frequently repeated throughout the year in the hymn of glory and praise at the beginning of our Eucharistic celebrations. Peace is not something to be taken…
Letter to the Federal Minister of Health on the morning after pill
Wednesday, November 26 2003
The Honourable A. Anne McLellan, P.C., M.P. Minister of Health 16th Floor, Brooke Claxton Building Tunney’s Pasture Postal Locator 0916A Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 Dear Ms. McLellan: It has come to our attention that Health Canada is proposing to make what is commonly known as “the morning after pill” or…
CCCB Letter on the Occasion of the CAM 2/CAMLA 7, Missionary Congress of America in Guatemala City
Thursday, November 20 2003
His Eminence Rodolfo Cardinal Quezada Toruño Metropolitan Archbishop of Guatemala City President of the Episcopal Conference of Guatemala Km. 15, Calzada Roosevelt 4-54 Mixco – Apdo Postal 1698 01901 Guatemala Your Eminence: The Church in Guatemala and in all Central America is today celebrating an important event in its history:…