LINK: Letter to CMA (PDF)

There is no shortage of resources for the issues dealt with in this standing committee. I always carry reading material with me in case I am stuck waiting somewhere. Conferences are fun to attend and are a wealth of information. Right now Edmonton is the place to be. A conference on euthanasia and end-of-life issues was held in May 25 in Edmonton.The newly formed Diocesan Vocation Directors of Canada are holding a conference in Edmonton June 11 – 15. Novalis has published an excellent resource aimed at teens 12 – 17 years old titled “It’s Your Call”. It reminds young people who feel lost and aimless that God has a call for each one of them. Also in Edmonton June 15 & 16 is a conference on Towards a New Sexual Revolution, National Symposium on the Theology of the Body. Margaret Beardon, as national sub-committee chairperson, will be representing our league. Watch out for conferences you are able to attend. It will be well worth your time and money. What you do with your time and money shows what is important to you.

We must continually be on defense of our beliefs and morals. The National Post recently reported that the National Abortion Federation is lobbying the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) to remove its “conscientious objector policy, which allows physicians to refuse to refer patients for abortions.”

Currently, the CMA’s abortion policy allows doctors to refuse to make an abortion referral when it would violate their religious/conscientious beliefs. The director of ethics at CMA recently clarified CMA’s position in the April 24, 2007 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal after the CMA’s policy was misrepresented in a guest editorial in the CMA Journal last July by lawyers who claimed that doctors who refuse to refer for abortion are committing ‘malpractice’. The National Abortion Federation is lobbying CMA to change its policy to take away a physician’s right to freedom of conscience.

If CMA’s policy were to be changed so that doctors were obligated to make abortion referrals against their conscientious/religious beliefs, Canada may one day find itself without any practicing pro-life doctors. Canadian Physicians for life are already in dialogue with the CMA.

We should write and thank CMA for upholding conscience protection for Canadian doctors. The address is 1867 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON K1G 3Y6.

The right to life is scared from the moment of conception to natural death. We must affirm groups that respect life and uphold the right to freedom of conscience and religion.

Respectfully submitted
Marilyn V…….

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

Years ago, my mother and her League sisters approached local merchants with concerns about magazines with questionable content being a) offered for sale and b) displayed where children/teens could see them. We’ve continued to protest as pornography and violence seem to dominate our world – in books, on television, on the internet, and now delivered right to our cell phones!

I’ve [linked] an article from Focus on the Family that sums up this latest concern. And, while we can protest to Telus, and we should protest, we must also be aware that other service providers do, or probably will, offer this ‘service’; some have new positions created for directors of adult content. Become informed, share the news, and make the powers that be aware of our concerns – and I think we had better pray even harder! [editor's note: Congratulations, B.C. members! Your action and prayers succeeded in removing this "service" from Telus cell phones!]

Resolution – 02.11 Responsible Internet Use for Children
It’s time to revisit this resolution – attached for easy reference, with some information on online safety. Also is information on children’s sites that may not be offensive in content, but may lead to other problems and costs. Remember, be aware of what your children/grandchildren access on the internet.

While there are other issues (like who has access to “Salt & Light”, and the age of consent, and television content…), please concentrate on the cell phone pornography topic and get members to write/call Telus. [editor's note: Congratulations, B.C. members! Your action and prayers succeeded in removing this "service" from Telus cell phones!]

Love and prayers,
Sandra S.

[Feb08/07 Enclosure with CWL BC/YK Provincial Communications Communique #4]
Click for Resolution BC02.11 Responsible Internet Use for Children

Take Back The Net – Worry Less About Online Safety

It’s time to TAKE BACK THE NET and give your children every opportunity to explore the Internet safely. When it comes to your kids you’ve got enough to worry about, the Internet shouldn’t be one of them.
According to a recent Microsoft Canada and Ipsos Reid survey 72% of parents are confident that their own child age 10-14 uses the Internet safely. But did you know that”¦

• 30% of children age 10 – 14 spend 6-10 hours a week online
• 11% of children age 10-14 have been asked by a stranger for personal information
• 7 in 10 children believe the information they put online and send to friends is private

It’s time to TAKE BACK THE NET and help your children explore the Internet safely. You’ve heard all about the potential risks – so find out about the few simple rules that will keep your child’s Internet experience, safe, rewarding and fun. Microsoft Canada is inviting parents and their children between the ages 10-14 to attend a free presentation called TAKE BACK THE NET. Former Police Officer, Internet safety expert and father Paul Gillespie will explore some common online misunderstandings and provide basic tips to help protect your children while they’re online. For information about TAKE BACK THE NET presentations in your city please check back here for details.

• Be Web Aware
• Cybertip! – Canada’s National Tipline
• Security at Home: Child Safety Online

Cyberland Developments
Fr. John Pungente of the Jesuit Communications Project in Toronto has long been one of, if not the premier teacher of media literacy in Canada for decades. His alumni includes people like Kevin Evans, former CBC anchor, and many other media professionals of conscience. He sent out this note on what appears to be a relatively new development in “cyberland”. The response from a teacher (below Fr. John’s) helps contextualize the threat this could represent to our younger teen children and grandchildren.

“Today marks the launch of Nicktropolis.com, Nickelodeon’s new virtual world where kids can create their own avatars, and personalize their own rooms by using points to purchase accessories. With their avatars, kids can travel through the Nicktropolis world playing games, interacting with the network’s characters and the environment, as well as other kids all in real time. The new stand-alone site is targeted to kids in general, but the network expects that it will be Tweens 9-14 that will spend time in Nicktropolis, because the younger ones don’t have as fully developed reading skills, and young teens tend to be more attracted to games. Nicktropolis will launch without any advertising, though Nickelodeon is planning to explore a variety of different advertising content. Kid safety being an obvious concern, Nicktropolis has several built in checks and balances including supplying a parent’s email address upon registering for the site. Parents then have to approve their child’s membership and even then they can manage the specific settings ( e.g. not allowing them to take part in live chats). Other safeguards include no sharing of personal information, a regularly updated dictionary of approved words/phrases for use on the site, and a trigger that can be used if a user finds themselves in any interaction where they feel uncomfortable. The site features four unique areas where kids can take their avatars: Nickname Lane where kids create own rooms; The Pier, a play area with games; Nicktoon Boulevard where they can visit with Nickelodeon characters and interact in a show’s world; Downtown Nicktropolis, a main shopping street with a parks and stores.”
John J. Pungente, SJ
Jesuit Communication Project

“Hello (fellow media literacy teachers),

This sounds like a copycat of a site called Habbo www.habbo.com. The problem with Habbo is that the kids have to buy credits with real money in order to get things for their rooms and other areas. (On this new site how do the kids get the points in order to buy accessories for their rooms?) The kids can either buy the credits at stores like they would buy a phone card ($5 worth etc.) or they can give a credit card number online or over the phone. I have seen cases where kids have spent thousands of dollars in a few hours or days buying stuff for their habbo rooms in order to attract more “friends” and traffic – which then becomes a status symbol. This has bled out into the classrooms where the kids are only talking about who got what into their habbo rooms; how many friends / visitors came to their habbo rooms; and therefore who they met and entertained in the virtual habbo rooms. Also they talk about what they did in the other areas of the habbo hotel where it becomes a contest as to how many credits they spent where and what they got for it. One parent was able to get the charges from his credit card removed because the child was under 14 years of age but another parent of a 16 year old was stuck with the bill of a few thousand dollars – the parent would not admit to how much his child had charged to the card before he discovered the charges.”

The Hon. Shirley Bond
Minister of Education
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Dear Minister Bond,

The Catholic Women’s League of Canada is a national organization rooted in gospel values. One of the eight objects of our League is “to contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace, and harmony.”

The settlement agreement between the BC Ministry of Education and two private citizens (Murray Corren and Peter Corren) has given them an unprecedented role in influencing provincial curriculum development in all subjects from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This settlement agreement has the potential to denigrate the legally protected moral and religious beliefs of parents and children.

Therefore the BC & Yukon Provincial Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, representing nearly 9,000 members and their families, urges the BC Ministry of Education to continue in its history of acknowledging religious freedom, social justice, peace, and harmony by allowing parents of children in the public school system the right to educate children in conformity with their moral and religious convictions. This right can be affirmed by allowing parents to use the alternate delivery option in areas of the curriculum that conflict with their moral and religious convictions.

I will be in Victoria for meetings with the Provincial Government on March 28 and I am very much looking forward to that. It would be a good opportunity to meet with you as well should your schedule permit.

Sincerely,

Barbara Dowding
CWL BC/YK Provincial President

Greetings,

What beautiful fall and Thanksgiving weather we have had. Today is a typical November, drab, dull and wet day, time for reading and perhaps consider researching an issue of concern that could be presented as a resolution.

Welcome to Margaret B., Life member and former Provincial President who has agreed to be my sub-convener.

Action on resolutions is necessary otherwise it just becomes words on paper!

Bishop Smith stressed the importance of resolutions going back down the ladder to the grass roots level of our organization to follow through with the suggested action plans, please encourage parish councils and members to do so.

The power of writing letters and making phone calls, even if it only relates to one resolution is important, together we can make our voices heard.

When writing letters on behalf of your council, use your League letterhead and state who you are representing. Writing on your own behalf do not use League letterhead.

Here are suggestions from Betty Anne B., National counterpart, as how to communicate with MPs:

• e-mail doesn’t really work to further your cause
• get to know your local MP personally
• call in to talk radio programs with a positive message
• pray, allow God’s spirit to speak through you
• write letters to editors
• contact and work with neighbouring faith groups
• be up-to-date on facts
• share your excitement, your passion, for the cause

Holy Father advised the Ontario bishops when they went to Rome recently “In your discussions with politicians and civic leaders I encourage you to demonstrate that our Christian faith, far from being impediment to dialogue, is a bridge”.

Of the six resolutions adopted at National convention, Religious Freedom was the only one from our Province. The following were passed to standing committee chairpersons for recommended action and ongoing awareness and can be found in the League magazine listed under standing committees:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (education and health)
Relationship Between Abortion and Breast Cancer (education and health)
Discontinue Use of Polystyrene Disposable Ware (Styrofoam) (education and health)
Protection of the Child Re: Sexual Consent (legislation)A copy of the disposition letter was previously sent to you, stating the reason the resolutions listed above, and also Adult Stem Cell Research and Pay Child Care Support Direct to Family, were not accepted for presentation at the national convention. I presume you were all able to open it as I haven’t heard otherwise.

One other suggestion is to invite a speaker to a meeting to address the topic of one of these resolutions that the council is most interested in or perhaps even on an issue of a proposed resolution.

Reminder – encourage councils to produce a resolution adhering to the new guidelines and advise that the back-up material they provide must be clear and up-to-date.

Communicating is important and keeps us all informed and connected so I look forward to receiving a copy of your communiques and any questions/concerns you may have.

The national delegation of the League meets with federal government officials were scheduled to take place from November 1-3 to present our resolutions and we look forward to their report.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide and companion us on our resolutions journey.

Sheila

Remember: A resolution is one member’s concern becoming the voice of the League. More than ever we need to make our voices heard!

Greetings to my Resolutions companions -

Whitehorse members, Lucille W. (Kamloops), Elaine R. (Vancouver), Lorraine T. (Prince George), who are serving their second year; also, Ann M. (Nelson), like myself, starting her first year and hopefully a new chairperson from my home diocese of Victoria.

Congratulations and welcome to National Resolutions chairperson, Betty Anne Brown, a widow, who, when she is not tending grapes in her vineyard in Prince Edward County, Ontario, is busy raising her eldest grandchild and enjoying her ever increasing brood of grandchildren.

Betty Anne and I served on the Toronto Archdiocesan level together many years ago and I look forward to journeying with her again and hope that we will accept her invitation to pray, co-operate, make good things happen “For God and Canada”.

With conventions at all levels behind us and fall meetings fast approaching, it is time to set goals for a new League year and to encourage and assist parish councils in preparing resolutions.

At national convention, Bishop Smith encouraged CWL members to write personal letters, which are more effective that petitions, and also make phone call to members of Parliament especially regarding redefining marriage. He suggested that more attention be focused on moving resolutions passed at the national level back down to the parish level for action.

Bill C-338 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (procuring a miscarriage after twenty weeks of gestation). On behalf of the 801 members attending the National convention, a letter was sent to Mr. Paul Steckle, MP registering support of his efforts in tabling this Bill and wishing him success in this worthy endeavour. (quote from National President’s letter)

Attached is a copy of a letter (3 pages) from National stating the reasons why some of our resolutions were not accepted by the committee to be presented on the convention floor. Please note the recommendations, suggested plan of action and make sure this information is passed down to parish councils, especially to those where the resolutions originated. Thank them on behalf of the Provincial council for the work and time they spent preparing the resolutions and not to be discouraged.

One resolution from our Province – Religious Freedom – was accepted and passed. You will find all resolutions passed on the national website www.cwl.ca and also in the fall issue of the League magazine.

Previous resolutions chairperson, Dr. Rayleen De Luca, in her convention oral report, stated that a total of 17 resolutions had been received and that it was decided that only six would come to the floor of the convention. Six were forwarded for action and five were not accepted. She urged councils at all levels to hold resolution workshops.

In communiques you are sending please remember when quoting from another source to give mention of that source.
I look forward to receiving your communiques and suggestions.

More than ever we need to make our voices as Catholic women of faith heard, we need to promote and defend Christian and moral values that are in contradiction to the teachings of the church and what better way than through resolutions!

Diocesan meetings are a great time to start planting the seeds of resolutions, nurture them and pray they will produce a bountiful harvest.

May Our Lady of Good Counsel guide and bless you.
Sheila A. Q.

Dear League Sisters and Father Terry,

I’m excited (and yes, nervous too) to be part of the Provincial team, and I look forward to working with everyone. I’m sorry that I could not attend the convention in Whitehorse, to put faces with the names of those I haven’t met, and re-connect with those “companions” that I met during my terms as Diocesan President-elect, President, and Past President (Diocese of Nelson – term completed 2006). I hope to get to know all the Diocesan Chairpersons through our shared communiques, and perhaps at future conventions.

Thank-you to Carol and Carol and Elaine for getting my ‘box’ and ‘books’ from Whitehorse to Trail, and many thanks to Dodie for having everything in such good order. I have looked through everything, started my own files, and have many more questions than answers! Communications is the only standing committee that I have never chaired before!

I belong to St. Joseph’s Council, Warfield – with a membership of 17 wonderful women. We have no church, meet in each others homes, and get lots of work done. I have coordinated the WRAP campaign, written meeting reports and articles for the newspapers, and worked on our Parish council newsletters, and I access the National website regularly, so I do have some experience related to the Communications committee. The Provincial Newsletter will be a challenge, and I am becoming familiar with our provincial website www.cwl.bc.ca and hope to work with the webmaster on bringing it up to date (with all of your help and co-operation!). I am on the Diocesan convention committee for 2007 (Trail). Looks like my CWL life will be busy.

Sandra S….