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

Submitted by: Jeanne Wilson

Dear League Sisters and Father Tran,

I hope everyone had a rejuvenating summer and were able to find some sun somewhere.  Fall is definitely here in Yukon.  The leaves are turning, the berries are ripe and the mountain tops are white with fresh snow.

Resolutions:

Three resolutions were passed at the National Convention in Winnipeg under Education and Health:

2008.02 – Restrictions on the Sale of Products Containing Triclosan
2008.03 – Toxic Substances in Household Products
2008.04 – Accurate Food Labelling

Awareness, Prevention and Treatment of Depression, a resolution passed at the B.C. Provincial Convention, was not presented to be voted on as a resolution but has been given to the National Chairperson of Education and Health for further action.

Euthanasia:

I would urge all councils, diocesan and parish to educate their members on this topic. The Keynote Address at the National Convention in Winnipeg was given by Dr. Moira McQueen, Executive Director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute; Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and Senator Sharon Carstairs.  Their presentations were followed by a workshop on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.

All three presenters gave passionate talks on why we should be concerned about end of life issues.  The workshop created lively discussion based on real life experiences.

Dr. Moira McQueen is the author of a book, Bioethics Matters – A Guide for Concerned Catholics.  The book is designed to inform and educate Catholics about vital topics in bioethics. These matters often call for detailed knowledge of Catholic teaching, but many of us do not know enough about what that teaching says on these kinds of issues.  We want to know more about that teaching when we are making moral decisions in these areas, for good conscience decisions call for good information. The book is available from Novalis at www.novalis.ca.

Alex Schadenberg has a website at Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.  Also, available from Euthanasia Prevention Coalition is a DVD and discussion guide, Turning the Tide, Dignity, Compassion and Euthanasia.

Catholic Organization for Life and Family has two publications on this topic, Choose Life! and Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide –Urgent Questions.

The CWL National website has two workshops on euthanasia, on the website under programs – Christian Family Life: Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide 1 ¾ hr. and Euthanasia 15 min.  Both can be used for diocesan or parish use.  I have purchased the DVD, Turning the Tide to be used throughout the province.  It is an excellent presentation and can be used in conjunction with the two workshops.   The DVD also has a guide to use with it.  Or using all these resources, you can create your own workshop to fit your individual needs.  If you would like to borrow the DVD, just email me and I will send it out to you.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide is a topic that is back in the news.  Bloc Quebecois MP, Francine Lalonde has reintroduced Bill C-407, a bill that would have legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada.  Robert Latimer has been released from prison and has moved to Ottawa to lobby for legalizing euthanasia.  If a federal election is called, CWL members must be educated to ask their federal candidates where they stand on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Senator Sharon Carstairs talked about end of life care.  Palliative care provides dignity and comfort to the dying.  It attends to spiritual, emotional and physical needs of the person. It involves living well to the very end. Resolution 2007.03 Hospice Palliative Care: An Integral Component of the Canadian Health Care System was adopted last year at the National Convention and according to Senator Carstairs still needs addressing as she is concerned that palliative care is not being delivered to every Canadian.  Those in urban centres are more likely to receive palliative care than Canadians in rural areas.

The Catholic Health Association of British Columbia is holding their annual conference on September 18th in Coquitlam on “Best Practices in End of Life Care”.  Registration deadline is September 12th. I encourage Education and Health Standing Chairs to attend this conference if possible and send a report to the other chairs not able to attend and to me since I am too far.

Education:

The children have gone back to school (school starts at the end of August for most children in Yukon). Many parishes do not have Catholic schools and parents and volunteers are starting their catechism classes. Also, Rites of Christian Initiation are beginning.  This is a good time to volunteer to help teach and to volunteer in the Catholic Schools to keep in touch with what is happening in our schools. Please keep abreast of what is happening in curriculum development through the BC government’s website, The new IRP for Social Justice 12 has been released.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel continue to guide you in your work.