(CCCB – Ottawa)… A new dictionary, co-published by CCCB Publications and Burns and Oates, delves into the remarkable 2000-year history of the papacy. A concise guide to all the Popes from St. Peter to Benedict XVI, this pocket book offers a succinct outline of each Pope’s life and the main characteristics of his reign. This book is both a handy reference and an easy way to learn about history, making it valuable to students and specialists alike.

Packed with lesser-known facts, the Pocket Dictionary of Popes provides answers to questions such as: Which Pope tried to bring about world peace on the eve of the First World War? Which Pope refused Henry VIII a divorce? Which antipope was a pirate before embarking on his ecclesial career? Is Benedict XVI the first German Pope? Which Pope declared Anglican orders invalid? Who was the only English Pope? Who were the Borgia Popes? What was the occupation of John Paul II’s father?

The 184-page dictionary conveniently lists the Popes alphabetically according to their papal names (Pius, John Paul, Alexander) and their family names (Borgia, Wojtyla, Ratzinger). There is also a chronology of the Popes so they can be followed in historical order. Italics are used in the case of antipopes, and dates marked with an asterisk indicate an abdication.

A welcome addition to every school, parish or home library, this user-friendly guide will appeal to teachers, students, historians and all who are interested in the papacy. For travellers, the Pocket Dictionary of Popes is also a quick reference to the many Popes in important works of art.

To order this publication or to obtain more information, visit www.cccbpublications.ca or contact CCCB Publications by e-mail at publi@cccb.ca, by telephone at 1-800-769-1147, or by fax at (613) 241-5090.

For More information Contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca

Development and Peace is accepting funds to aid victims of the massive earthquake that struck Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Development and Peace, created by the Canadian Bishops in 1967, is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada.

The organization is the Canadian arm of Caritas Internationalis, the world wide Catholic humanitarian agency, which is already providing aid on the ground to survivors in Yogyakarta, also known as Jogja.

To read the media release or make a donation: http://www.devp.org/devpme/eng/pressroom/2006/communiques2006_16-e.htm.

For More Information Contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca

In 2006, the Bishops of Canada will travel to Rome for their ad limina visit which is normally scheduled every five years.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) held its seventh Seminar on Bioethics, in Ottawa, on March 23 and 24, 2006. For the second time in the past several years, bishops, physicians, lawyers, ethicists, theologians and historians were invited by COLF to discuss end-of-life issues.

Two participants at the seminar: Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the "Euthanasia Prevention Coalition", and Suzanne Philips-Nootens, Vice-Dean of Research and Higher Education and Director of the Law and Health Policy Programs at the University of Sherbrooke

After reviewing the actual situation regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada and in other countries, the 35 participants heard presentations by experts in the field and were able to exchange thoughts and ideas in workshop discussions. On several occasions, respect for human dignity was the main theme of the discussions.

Undertaking the question of palliative care, Doctor Joseph Ayoub, oncologist at Notre-Dame Hospital of the University of Montreal Hospital Centre, highlighted the hope patients have when facing extreme physical and existential distress. According to him, the goal of palliative care is to offer medical care by a multidisciplinary team and to surround terminal patients with human warmth. The doctor affirms that at the center of the philosophy, that underlies this movement, is attentive listening and a respect that testifies to the patients’ dignity at a time when they are perceived as a burden. “The voice of palliative care represents in our modern society one of the best ways to express compassion toward patients at the end of their life”, he added. 

For her part, Doctor Suzanne Philips-Nootens, vice-president of research and higher studies and director of the Program on Law and Politics of Health at the University of Sherbrooke, supported the view that dignity cannot be reduced to the exercise of autonomy, as important as it may be. Otherwise, what becomes of the dying patient, the unconscious patient, the person who is mentally disabled? “It is necessary for us to be constantly visible in this crucial debate and to fight relentlessly against the desire for easy solutions and simplistic speeches”, she declared. 

Throughout the seminar, other speakers spoke of the role of faith at the end-of-life; of the confrontation of technological promises and economic pressures; of advance directives regarding end-of-life issues addressed to medical personnel, etc. 

Doctor Margaret Somerville, professor in the Faculty of Law and Medicine at McGill University in Montreal, suggested that the question of euthanasia can be thought of as a test balloon for rival values in Canadian society. 

Three bishops participated in the seminar: Most Reverend Bertrand Blanchet, Archbishop of Rimouski and a biologist by training, Most Reverend Ronald Fabbro, C.S.B, Bishop of London and President of COLF, and Most Reverend Jean Gagnon, Bishop of Gaspé and Member of COLF’s Board of Directors. 

The annual Seminar on Bioethics allows COLF to better address ethical and moral issues in the public square. Over the last few years, participants have tackled subjects such as the production of embryos, stem cells, xenotransplantation, designer babies and the patentability of higher life forms. 

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus jointly founded the Catholic Organization for Life and Family. Its purpose is to promote respect for life, human dignity and the essential role of the family.

The Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network (CEARN) just issued documentation for the upcoming Canadian Churches' Racial Justice Week 2006, 19-26 March, on the theme "God so loved the people of the world". This network is an expression of Canadian Churches working together to support anti-racism programs, and in part involves member Churches of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC).

The CCC is the largest ecumenical body in Canada, representing 20 churches of Anglican, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is representing the Catholic Church.

"God so loved the people of the world" is a pilot project. More information on this initiative is available on the Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network website at the following address:

in English: http://www.ccc-cce.ca/english/justice/racism.htm

in French: http://www.ccc-cce.ca/francais/justice/racism.htm

For More information Contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca

(CCCB – Ottawa)… Memorial celebrations will soon be held in churches across Canada to commemorate Pope John Paul II, who died in Rome on 2 April 2005. With the approaching first anniversary of his death, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is informing Christian communities of commemorative materials available now for purchase to help mark the occasion, which this year falls on a Sunday, and to help memorialize this remarkable shepherd.

Items are available for use in churches, chapels and schools. A portrait of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, a reproduction of the original black and white rendering, is available in a limited edition. Printed on archival quality paper, each signed and numbered print comes with a certificate of authenticity, making it a true collectors’ item.

A poster, featuring this beloved Pope, offers a suitable space for parishes, communities and institutions to announce the place and times of memorial services.

Finally, a large-format banner is also available. Printed on weather-resistant vinyl, with hanging grommets at each corner, the banner is suitable for interior or exterior presentation.

To order these materials or to obtain more information, visit www.cccbpublications.ca or contact CCCB Publications by e-mail at publi@cccb.ca, by telephone at 1-800-769-1147, or by fax at (613) 241-5090.

• Portrait of His Holiness Pope John Paul II: Limited to 500 signed and numbered black and white copies, 29.2 x 40.6 cm (11 ½” x 16”), sized to fit in a standard 40.6 x 50.8 cm (16” x 20”) matted frame with a 26.7 x 34.3 cm (10 ½” x 13 ½”) opening, printed on premium-quality Superfine heavy stock, $100.
• Poster of Pope John Paul II: 23 x 61 cm (9” x 24”), available individually for $2, or in packages of 5 at $5 per package.
• Banner of Pope John Paul II: 91 x 182 cm (3’ x 6’), $47 each.

For More information Contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca

(CCCB _ Ottawa)… The English-language translation of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be available from the Publications Service of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as of March 31 in both paperback and hardcover editions. Until that date, CCCB Publications is offering the hardcover version of this 208-page synthesis of the Catechism at a special pre-publication price.

The Compendium is an abbreviated version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Its main characteristic is its engaging dialogical approach, presenting the entirety of Catholic teaching in question-answer format, making it accessible to all. Pope Benedict XVI describes the Compendium as "a faithful and sure synthesis of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It contains, in concise form, all the essential and fundamental elements of the Church's faith, thus constituting, as my Predecessor had wished, a kind of vademecum which allows believers and non-believers alike to behold the entire panorama of the Catholic faith."

Written as a companion to the Catechism, the Compendium constitutes an essential reference for all Christians, as well as a user-friendly tool for all who wish to know the foundations and moral precepts of the Catholic faith. The Compendium follows the same structure as the Catechism – The Profession of Faith, The Celebration of the Christian Mystery, Life in Christ, and Christian Prayer. Reference numbers to relevant paragraphs of the Catechism are indicated in the margins for each question and answer.

The Compendium comes in attractive paperback or hardcover editions featuring 598 questions and answers; a selection of common prayers, such as the Our Father and Hail Mary, in English and Latin; formulas of moral teaching, including the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and the theological and cardinal virtues; a complete analytical index; and high-quality colour reproductions drawn from the rich heritage of Christian art heritage, each masterpiece accompanied by a detailed commentary. As Benedict XVI explained, the "sacred images, with their beauty, are also a Gospel proclamation and express the splendour of the Catholic truth."

To order the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church or for more information, visit www.cccbpublications.ca or contact CCCB Publications by e-mail at publi@cccb.ca, by phone at 1-800-769-1147, or by fax at (613) 241-5090.

Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: hardcover: $19.95 until March 31, 2006, $24.95 as of April 1, 2006; paperback, 1 to 4 copies – $16.95 each, 5 to 19 copies – $15.50 each, 20 to 49 copies – $13.80 each, 50 or more copies – $11.95 each. Also available in hardcover in French: $24.95.

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For More information Contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca