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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

Letter to the Federal minister of Health Anne McLellan Regarding the Final Report of the Canadian Institutes of Health Reserach on Stem Cell Research


Wednesday, March 06 2002

The Honourable Anne McLellan, P.C., M.P. Minister of Health 16th Floor, Brooke Claxton Building Tunney’s Pasture Postal Locator 0916A Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 Re: Final Report of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research on Stem Cell Research Dear Ms. McLellan: In the name of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops…

Commission of Social Affairs of the CCCB: Open Letter on the Future of Health Care in Canada


Wednesday, February 27 2002

This month, the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, led by Mr. Roy J. Romanow, Q.C., released its interim report entitled Shape the Future of Health Care. While the first phase of the Commissions work was related to fact-finding, the next phase initiated by the release of…

Pastoral Letter By Most Reverend Jacques Berthelet, C.S.V., President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, To the Canadian Catholic Community on Marriage


Sunday, November 24 2002

On 7 November 2002 the Minister of Justice issued a discussion paper entitled Marriage and Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Unions. The Minister has asked the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to study this issue, to hear from Canadians and to produce recommendations. In releasing the discussion…

Comment by the CCCB on the Report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health on the Draft Legislation "The Assisted Human Reproduction Act"


Tuesday, December 11 2001

Given the complexity of the issues and the time that members of the Committee on Health have taken to consult with Canadians and the care that they have taken to listen to a variety of perspectives, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops will study the Report carefully. The Canadian Conference…

Christmas Message from the President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops: Peace on Earth!


Thursday, December 06 2001

Christmas guides us back to Bethlehem as a symbol of peace. The Christmas liturgy, using the words of Isaiah, proclaims the “Prince of Peace”. It urges us to sing with the shepherds of old, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours.”…

CCCB Presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health Regarding the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.


Sunday, November 25 2001

The CCCB has made a presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health regarding the draft legislation The Assisted Human Reproduction Act. The presentation was made by Most. Rev. Terrence Prendergast, SJ, Archbishop of Halifax, and Rev. Ron Mercier, a Toronto ethicist. Archbishop Prendergast is a member of…