CCCB staff reorganization

Friday, November 16 2012

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops today issued the following comment regarding the recent reorganization of its personnel:

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is presently completing the second of a three-phase, multi-year restructuring process. In the first phase, the Conference’s own governance was revised, leading to the reorganization of its Commissions, committees and leadership structures. In the second, staffing was adapted to this new structure, leading to the elimination of 18 positions and the creation of three new positions. In the third phase, funding policy will be reviewed and institutional bylaws revised. This restructuring process aims to make the CCCB more efficient, less costly and better equipped, in order to implement the projects to which the Bishops of Canada are committed as a whole, as well as to assist in supporting the ministry of Bishops in their dioceses across the country.

Recent news reports have focused on the elimination of a particular staffing position, interpreting this decision as a withdrawal of the CCCB from social justice issues. To the contrary, the CCCB remains committed to social justice causes not only in Canada but throughout the world. As one of the members of our Conference said at the recent Synod of Bishops in Rome, there is an “intimate link … between the proclamation of the Gospel and the service of justice and peace.” Indeed, in revising the CCCB governance structures several years ago, the Bishops chose to keep its social justice commission, known now as the “Commission for Justice and Peace”, as one of only three national commissions. 

The Bishops of Canada remain committed to justice and peace priorities, while also continuing to encourage the Government of Canada on a variety of social justice issues. For example, the recent CCCB Plenary Assembly included two analytic reflections on the current economic situation, and also welcomed Minister Jason Kenney in order to discuss with him concerns on refugee and immigration issues. The CCCB continues to work with other Canadian Churches and with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace on justice and peace questions. Furthermore, our Conference maintains active relationships with international social justice bodies, including the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum and Caritas Internationalis. The intention of the Bishops of Canada in the most recent step in reorganizing their present staffing is to allow the CCCB to respond in a more timely and efficient manner to the many social justice issues of the hour.

November 16, 2012