CCCB Virtual Plenary Assembly Draws to a Close

Friday, September 25 2020

Ottawa – The final day of the virtual Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) concluded with an update for Bishops on key initiatives for the Conference.

Bishops received an update on the activities of the four working committees established to implement the recommendations accepted by the Bishops of Canada and the National Council of Development and Peace – Caritas Canada (CCODP) following an organizational review of the latter conducted by Deloitte. Each working committee has established a work plan and objectives to be realized by the end of the year. To date, the activities of the committees involving four Bishops and staff from the CCCB, as well as members of the CCODP National Council and staff, has been marked by collaboration, authenticity and a joint commitment to achieve a stronger alignment between the Bishops of Canada and CCODP.

Bishops likewise received the conclusions of the final report of the CCODP-CCCB joint international partnership review. The next step is to present the conclusions of the final report to the CCODP National Council at their meeting in November 2020 with any further communication to follow when opportune.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the status of two pieces of federal legislation tabled in the House of Commons prior to the prorogation of Parliament, notably former Bill C-7 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) and former Bill C-8 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy). The Bishops will continue to monitor the status of these former Bills following the recent resumption of Parliament.