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

Submitted by: Dodie Bond

Dear Sisters in the League;

Blessings to you!  I concur that we have to speak for the voiceless and that the League’s policy regarding the precious gift of life is that it must be respected from conception to natural death.  We must continue to oppose the legalization of laws that threaten the lives of vulnerable members of society – the unborn, the disabled, and the aged or chronically ill.  The League supports groups that share its values and sometimes withdraws when they behave in opposition to these values.  We as members of the Catholic Women’s League must act in non- violent ways, by writing letters, petitions, resolutions, etc to achieve goals.

The theme for the 12th annual National March for Life is “Exodus 2009 – A Future Without Abortion”.  Campaign Life Coalition submitted proposed bills to legislation, to our Pro-Life MPs for their consideration:

• To make it a criminal offence under section 264.5 of the criminal code to knowingly coerce a female person to attempt or procure an abortion
• Protect health care workers by respecting their conscience when making a decision to not participate in an abortion
• A woman seeking an abortion to fully informed of the full truth about the procedure including a clear understanding of the reality of the child in her womb
• Require parents of their minor aged daughter living at home to be notified when she presents herself for an abortion
• The National Organization Committee of Campaign Life Coalition asks all Pro-Life people in Canada to join them in prayer at 8:45pm CDT on May 13th and again on May 14th.  Please call your MP and give them your support in prayer.

“Never Again” is the theme for the second symposium on euthanasia and assisted suicide.  Members of the national executive will be attending will be attending this conference.  The guest speaker will be sharing their views on how to become part of the strategy to influence culture to care, not kill.

Francine Lalonde a Member of Parliament will be soon presenting her bill calling for the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide.  These acts are currently criminal offences. We ask that all League members appeal to their members of parliament to request that euthanasia and assisted suicide criminal offences, as all life should be protected.  Please write letters to your members of parliament.  Personal letters are more effective.   A sample letter is attached to this communiqué as a guide only.  Please note that if it is used exactly as provided, it will not be counted by the government as an individual letter.  It must be modified by members prior to mailing.

Dear____________________:
I am writing to express concern over the private members bill, to be presented by Member of Parliament Francine Lalonde . The proposed bill, if successful would legalize Euthanasia and assisted suicide.

I (We) believe that life is sacred and must be protected from conception to natural end. The current Criminal Code recognizes both euthanasia and assisted suicide as criminal offenses.

I(We) urgently and respectfully request that you vote to keep euthanasia and assisted suicide within the Criminal Code as criminal offenses.
As a member of parliament it is your responsibility to protect the life of the vulnerable and the defenseless. What is needed in Canada is more accessibility to quality palliative care to reassure Canadians that they need not resort to euthanasia or assisted suicide when they are challenged by catastrophic illness.
Canada needs an immediate standardized approach to hospice palliative care that creates equal access to consistent, high quality end-of-life care.

Yours truly,

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
In the League as in a family, there must be a focus on developing the gifts of each other and at the same time developing the life of the League as a community.  We must think of the League as a whole and not only as individuals.  When we see the importance of each sister supporting the League community then the League functions as it should.  This is a real challenge today when there is so much focus on individual rights and individual freedom rather than on responsibility for one another in a community.  Finding the way to honor both the individual and the community is not easy to say the least.  When making decisions that will compliment both the individual and the whole League, it must be done in an atmosphere of peace and love.  We must pray to the Holy Spirit to enlighten us in all our endeavors.  So let us trust in the Lord.