Catholic Women’s League of Canada | BC and Yukon Council

Submitted by: Carol Penno

I started this March 13 and didn’t finish as I was waiting for some information. Easter is upon us and this has to get out. I wish you all a blessed Easter. Christ is Risen, he is risen indeed. Alleluia. We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.

I think this is my last communiqué as Provincial Community Life Chairperson and it should provide you with some material to use for your oral reports to convention. Dr. Rayleen DeLuca recently prepared communiqué #8. I submitted my annual report to National on March 7. Thank you for your excellent annual reports, Rayleen congratulated us. If Rayleen sends out more info I will be sure to communicate again.

I read an interesting news article on Life Canada regarding Liberal MP Dr. Keith Martin (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca riding) wanting an end to Human Rights Commission Assault on Free Speech. Dr. Martin introduced his private member’s motion M-446 on January 30,2008 calling for the removal of subsection 13 (1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act from the Act. This subsection deals with so called “hate speech” against individuals or groups. I have read stories of complaints against Maclean’s Magazine, Catholic Insight and the Christian Heritage Party. It seems the case against Ezra Levant (editor) was dropped in February. Write to your MP and pray.

I’ve received numerous emails from ECP centre in Langley where a convention is taking place March 28-29th 2008. The headlines say “Freedom of speech for Christians is a fairytale”. Theme: New media and a Christian perspective on free speech

Free Speech is under attack in Canada as never before. The Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant prosecutions before various Human Rights Commissions have brought the issue into sharp focus. What should the Christian response be in the midst of all the hype? Are free speech rights absolute? Does government have a role in regulating speech? How does the media fit into the picture? And how does all of this relate to “New Media” in this Internet age? Join us for an insightful weekend of discussion, analysis, and perspective on one of the most important issues facing Christians in our day. There is a registration fee. Regular conference price after March 17, 2008 Town hall only event – $55.00; Full conference event – $95.00 LOCATION Willoughby Christian Reformed Church, 20525 72nd Ave, Langley, British Columbia, V2Y 1T2. SPEAKERS Tristan Emmanuel, ECP Centre , Connie Fournier, Free Dominion , Ron Gray, Christian Heritage Party of Canada, Stephen Pidgeon, Lawyer , Al Siebring, No Apologies News Michael Wagner, Author. I don’t believe any speakers are Catholic but we should pray for the success of this conference as the topic affects us very much.

Excerpts from Dr. DeLuca’s Communique

Clemency for Canadians

The headline of the Toronto Star on March 5th read: “Canada to seek clemency over beheading sentence”. The article stated that according to a high level government source, Prime Minister of Canada, The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper “…has ordered Canadian officials to seek a reprieve from a death sentence for a young Canadian man sentenced to beheading in Saudi Arabia. …The young man is jailed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where he was arrested along with his younger brother Sultan, who turns 17 this week, in the death of a participant in a large schoolyard brawl.” The family of the young man has articulated that “clemency is not enough and that a fair retrial is necessary”. Canada abolished the death penalty in 1976 and for years have pressured foreign governments for clemency when its citizens faced execution. It is critical that members write to their members of parliament (MPs) requesting that the government continue to pressure foreign governments for clemency when Canadian citizens face execution. Further, it is important that members include a strong message that the young Canadian be given a fair retrial.

Call for Peace

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops President Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, recently called on the federal government to engage in a peace process in Afghanistan, debate Canada’s future involvement, and give citizens more information on Canada’s role in the armed conflict in Afghanistan and the implications for Afghan people. Clearly, members of the League, support Archbishop Weisgerber’s plea for a peace process.

Earth Hour, March 29th KAIROS wants you to turn off your lights for an hour at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 29th. KAIROS suggests that the federal government’s “lack of action on climate change” has been contrasted by the “amazing response to Earth Hour”. Throughout the world, people are asking their communities and governments to turn off the lights. Cities across Canada have made a commitment to turn off the lights. For example, the Mayor of Winnipeg recently announced that all buildings owned or operated by the City of Winnipeg other than skywalks and parkades will have all lights turned off between 8 and 9 p.m. on March 29th. To learn of the many creative actions planned for Canada, see the website.

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking continues to be a focus for the League. It is imperative that we continue to strive towards eliminating the trafficking of women and children. I thank you for your communicating that you have attended and conducted workshops, written letters and have become educated on this most horrific problem. As indicated in a previous communiqué, MP Joy Smith (Kildonan/St. Paul CPC) has been instrumental in bringing forward human trafficking to the forefront of government business. Mrs. Smith has extensive information on this topic and indicated in a recent League meeting with her in Ottawa that she would be pleased to share it with members.

On February 28th the age of consent was finally raised from 14 to 16 years of age. Undoubtedly, this change in the law will aid in eliminating human trafficking. Of course, members must continue to have their voices heard especially with the serious concern relative to “co-op” brothels for sex trade workers. As indicated in an earlier communiqué, League members in B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council have already taken concrete action in developing and promoting a postcard campaign against legalization of prostitution.

Poverty

Rayleen extends her thanks to the councils that have contacted her about adopting a child. This is a most exciting project and another way members show that “we not only talk the talk – we walk the walk”. Yes, we are fighting child poverty – one child at a time.

International Women’s Day

In 1977 the United Nations General Assembly (UN) adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women’s rights and international peace. Following the UN’s lead, Canada chose March 8th as International Women’s Day. I hope members had the opportunity to celebrate the collective power of women, past, present and future on March 8th. Rayleen states:

Serving as the keynote speaker at an International Women’s Day celebration in Winnipeg, I spoke on “Women and Stress”. It was most interesting to me to find studies citing the importance of friendships between women. For example, a study conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) found that female bonding activities serve as very important stress management strategies and have quantifiable health benefits that males miss out on. League members not only gain benefits spiritually and psychologically – but it would seem they can benefit physically as well!

While compiling the annual report there were comments about the postcard campaign. The postcard campaign is still ongoing and we would love to have more dioceses participate! They will ALL make an impact, If you wish to receive numerous postcards you can email Krista Bones at this email canadacanpostcards@gmail.com and she will mail them to you. Do it now so you can distribute the postcards at your conventions. No postage is necessary if the title MP is in the address. To read all the articles about decriminalization of prostitution visit www.CanadaCan.blogspot.com scroll down and you will find the address of your member of parliament. Act now while there is time!!! Please circulate to all your circles of influence. We need a flood of postcards send now. This comment is from Rayleen ” I strongly encourage members to join in B.C. & Yukon Provincial Council’s initiative to ensure that we don’t have legalized prostitution at the 2010 Winter Olympics”.

An item I mentioned in my Communique# 08 February 06.2008, needs clarification and more information. The last thing I want to do is create confusion. This is what I wrote “E. Audet mentioned a $15 donation to Plan Canada to pay for a birth registration in Sudan. Apparently this would help in the problem of trafficking.” “While a worthwhile project, we are advised to support our Catholic organizations” was the next sentence and was a reply from Dr. DeLuca after I wrote to her requesting information about Plan Canada to see if their aims and objects are compatible with our faith and morals. I found this info on their website. Plan Canada is the new name for Foster Parents Plan. They have a few projects under Gifts of Hope A $25 donation pays for a mosquito net in Uganda to help prevent malaria. The $15 donation to pay for a girls birth registration would ensure that the child has a national identity. Because they are not registered they have no legal rights and are vulnerable to trafficking, exploitation and abuse. I sent an email to Plan Canada asking them to clarify their position and they have not responded. Delving into the myriad options on www.Plancanada.ca I discovered: 1. click on Work With Us 2. click on “About Plan” 3. click on “How we Work” 4. click on CIDA projects and 5 choose Uganda for a country. Under HIV/AIDS read that they support sexual and reproductive health.

Now having said all this, continue on with working through our Canadian Catholic Organizations so our Catholic Church is seen as working for the glory of God. To propagate the faith we must be seen as working for God. We must also support countries whose citizens are predominantly Christian. To come to their aid is a duty of justice even prior to being an act of charity Do you remember about six years ago Fr. Tom Rosica telling us that it was important to support the Canadian Missionaries as they were doing Gods work and needed to be taken care of? Care for your own first.

A quote from Pope Benedict XVI

“In this way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt 5,16). Everything, then, must be done for God’s glory and not our own. If, in accomplishing a good deed, we do not have as our goal God’s glory and the real well being of our brothers and sisters, looking rather for a return of personal interest or simply of applause, we place ourselves outside of the Gospel vision.”

Remember to bring something Red along with you to your conventions so we can be a sea of Red on Friday to show support for our Military Troops and their families.

Sheila Quinn kindly drew up a chart to track your personal 1% donations to Development and Peace. I do not have a copy of this but it would be easy to draw a chart, have five columns, column 1 would have a listing of things that you would consider a luxury. The other four columns would be one for each week of the month. Some suggestions of luxuries, perms, hair colouring, movies, starbucks or coffee shops, lunches out, clothing, travel, makeup and perfume. You would tick off items on your list and give 1% of the value to be totaled up at months end and donated at the next CWL meeting. The Diocesan Presidents all have a copy of Sheilas handiwork so perhaps they could give you a copy and see how mine stacks up against it.

May the Risen Lord bless you and May His Mother Mary our patroness under the title of Our Lady of Good Counsel guide you in the path of charity and love.