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Conscience in a free and democratic society

10/29/2023

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A top Ontario judge hopes to start a conversation about conscience rights among Calgary’s Catholic legal professionals attending this year’s annual Red Mass on Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023. 

“I thought I could use the occasion to say we should be talking a lot more seriously about freedom of conscience if we want to preserve a free and democratic society,” said the Honourable David Brown of the Ontario Court of Appeal.

He will give a talk titled: “Canada’s forgotten freedom? Conscience in a free and democratic society” at a reception following the Red Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary hosts the Red Mass as an opportunity for all members of the legal and law enforcement community to pray for the pursuit of justice and mercy at the beginning of the new judicial term and to build community together.

The Red Mass was first celebrated at the Cathedral of Paris in 1245, dates back to 1896 in Canada and re-instituted in Calgary in 2015. It commemorates the martyrdom of St. Thomas More who was executed by order of King Henry VIII for refusing to approve his divorce.

“The Red Mass is important both as a measure of tradition and the bond between the faith and principles that bind us to the Church,” said Tom Ross, Chairman of the Saint Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Calgary.

“We increasingly live in a secular world. The courts are run on principles that are timeless and it’s important not to forget these principles.”

​Conscience is a very fundamental principle in the pursuit of law and justice. In his discussion on conscience rights, Justice Brown will look at the writings of St. Thomas More and the philosophical development of conscience through the ages. He will reference Section 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states no right or freedom is absolute but may be subject to reasonable limits. 

“The device the courts have adopted to engage in that inquiry rarely looks into whether the limits on conscience can be justified in a free and democratic society. We’ve adopted a formulaic test known as a proportionality test that doesn’t contain the words free and democratic,” said Justice Brown. 

Justice Brown will draw on the example of legalized euthanasia and medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada which gives citizens the freedom to legally end their life under the law. 

“It’s been quite a journey for Canadian law from the Carter vs. Canada decision (in 2015), which thought that it was not opening a door too wide, to a situation where Canada has among the most expansive euthanasia laws in the world,” said Justice Brown.   

Thinking through conscience rights on a practical level, some argue that any government funded employee must set aside their personal conscience and adopt the current understanding of the nature of that public service, Justice Brown explained. 

“All judges are paid for by the government. We are all civil servants,” said Justice Brown. “Does that mean that judges have to put their conscientious beliefs to one side, so you are left with a body of judges who cannot operate with some notion of what is right and what is wrong? I don’t think people have really thought through a denial of conscience rights in certain circumstances.” 

Justice Brown’s own conscience is formed by his Catholic faith. For ongoing formation as a judge, he reads widely about history, philosophy, morality, which he encourages others to do as well. 

As a husband, father of three sons and grandfather of 11 grandchildren, Justice Brown shared three thoughts on living a faithful life in today’s world that he would offer to his own children 

“Common sense would dictate that anyone who wants to try to live in conformity with their particular faith needs to develop a very sound understanding of what their faith consists of. 

“One has to treat others in accordance with that faith…the Christian view of the world espouses regard and respect for all as creatures of God; one has to take that to heart when engaging with all members of the community. 

“And engage with all members of the community. If you are going to live your faith you can’t place yourself under a bushel basket, you’ve got to take the basket off and you’ve got to engage in the world in a way that respects others as created beings.”

All are welcome to join Bishop McGrattan as he offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 5 p.m. on Nov. 15 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Everyone can purchase tickets for the reception and keynote address in St. Mary’s hall following Mass by contacting [email protected] - or buy ticket(s) online for the reception.

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Written by Sara Francis, and submitted by Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary. The Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary hosts the Red Mass as an opportunity for all members of the legal and law enforcement community to pray for the pursuit of justice and mercy at the beginning of the new judicial term and to build community together. 

​All are welcome to join Bishop McGrattan as he offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Everyone can purchase tickets for the reception and keynote address in St. Mary’s hall following Mass by contacting 
[email protected].
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Making an Informed, Moral Choice

5/17/2023

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In preparation for the upcoming provincial election, the Catholic Bishops of Alberta wish to encourage all members of the Church to engage in the electoral process. By means of this letter, we offer to our Catholic faithful a reminder of important principles and concerns, which stem from the social doctrine of the Church, to guide the discernment of choices that accord with the Gospel’s vision for the right ordering of society.

  • We are one human family. Yet, in recent years especially, division has in many ways marred our common life. The Word of God calls us to see the other as our neighbour and pursue initiatives that promote justice among peoples. We look to our political representatives to work with us all as peacemakers in our communities, province, and nation.

  • Seeking together the common good. Elected officials ensure the common good when they seek to create a human environment that enables citizens to exercise their rights and fulfill their corresponding duties. The Church, through Catholic education and healthcare, her parishes, and many charitable and social service works, seeks to promote the flourishing of a just and human society. Let us continue to advocate for the support of our Catholic institutions in their service of the common good.

  • Freedom of conscience and religion. Conscience recognizes the obligation of every individual to seek the truth and live in accordance with it. Freedom of religion embraces not only the act of worship but also public witness to the truth as expressed in the tenets of faith. Those elected to govern must respect these liberties and uphold them.

  • The dignity and sanctity of every human life. We expect elected officials to recognize and respect human dignity by defending and promoting inalienable rights. First among these, and foundational to all others, is the right to life from conception to natural death.

  • Concern for poor and vulnerable persons. The litmus test for society’s moral health is the attention and care given to the needy among us. How do those seeking political office plan to address the serious matter of homelessness, for example, or what priority will be given to welcoming immigrants and refugees? How shall we offer care and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges or living with terminal and/or debilitating illnesses?

  • Walking with the Indigenous Peoples. During his visit to Alberta in 2022, Pope Francis apologized for harms of the past, advocated for the rights of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples of this land, welcomed the wisdom of their traditions, and praised the beauty of their cultures. This election campaign period presents an opportunity to encourage those running for political office to join the walk with Indigenous Peoples along the pathway of truth, healing, justice, reconciliation, and hope.

  • Care for God’s creation. Stewardship of our common home is a constitutive element of the Christian faith. The protection of both people and planet carries ethical demands that cannot be ignored. We are called to engage in dialogue with holders of political office on this important issue, and work with them to care for the world, which God has entrusted to us.

As Catholics, we have a moral obligation to be involved in the democratic process for the good of the human community. The considerations offered above can help each of us make voting choices that accord with our Catholic identity and moral values.

Please join with us in prayer for those elected to public office. They are assuming a heavy responsibility, often at great personal sacrifice. May they be granted the strength and wisdom to govern in accord with the precept of charity in service of the life and well-being of everyone.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Catholic Bishops of Alberta
Most Reverend Richard W. Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton
Most Reverend William McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary
Most Reverend Gary Franken, Bishop of St. Paul
Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas CSsR, Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
Most Reverend David Motiuk, Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton

  • Download Letter in PDF
  • Go To Catholic Conscience to compare party platforms
  • Listen to Archbishop Smith’s podcast on How to Vote As a Catholic
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A gathering for justice, mercy and faith

9/24/2019

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Freedom to live authentic Christian lives according to one’s conscience is under attack by an aggressive secularism and it must be resisted, said Canada’s former Ambassador for Religious Freedom. 

​Father Deacon Andrew Bennett, an ordained deacon in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, and the current Cardus Religious Freedom Institute Director, worries that if robust conscience rights are eroded in Canada, people who don’t hold the prevailing secularist values will be marginalized.  

“That’s not democratic, it’s not right, it’s not just,” he said. “There is a concerted attempt to demonize those people who hold different views on the nature of human sexuality, on the nature of the dignity of the human person, and that’s unacceptable.” 

“A lot of us often silence ourselves, or self-censor ourselves for fear that if we speak our minds or live according to our consciences, we will be demonized.” 

But Bennett said it’s the moral obligation of Christians to speak out in charity and truth or otherwise risk moral injury and distress.   

“For all of us as Catholics, we must live the faith truthfully and fully both in our private lives of faith and public lives of faith because our baptism calls us to be present in the world. And we must take courage, through our participation in the sacramental life of the Church, to step out into the public square and say what is true.” 
 
He points to the examples of St. Thomas More and Blessed John Henry Newman (soon to be canonized a saint on Oct. 13) for strength and guidance in the area of conscience rights.  

“We need both martyrs (like St. Thomas More) those who will witness to what is true in terms of religious freedom and conscience,” said Bennett. “These are people who might lose their jobs or status in their career, but they will be examples. We also need confessors (like Blessed John Henry Newman) those men and women who will step forward and give an account for why they hold the beliefs that they do, and to do so in a way that’s convincing to people.” 
 
Bennett will speak about the necessity of conscience rights at a reception following Calgary’s Annual Red Mass on Oct. 30 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Saint Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Calgary hosts the Red Mass as an opportunity for judges, lawyers, elected officials, paralegals, file clerks, law students and all members of the legal community to pray for the pursuit of justice and mercy at the beginning of the new judicial term and to build community among those in the law profession. 

The Red Mass celebrates the martyrdom of St. Thomas More who was executed by order of King Henry VIII for refusing to approve his divorce. It was first celebrated at the Cathedral of Paris in 1245, dates back to 1896 in Canada and re-instituted in Calgary in 2015. 
 
“That is why the Red Mass is a celebration of the rule of law rather than the rule of men,” said Tom Ross, Saint Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Calgary Chairman. “Part of the beauty of our legal system, compared to others in the world, is that we expect our laws to be honoured regardless of who may be adversely affected by them or who is in government. They apply equally to all.”

Written by Sara Francis for Faithfully
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All are welcome to join Bishop McGrattan as he offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2019 at 5 pm in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Tickets can be purchased for the reception and keynote address in St. Mary’s parish hall following Mass online here or email [email protected].
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How to vote as Catholics?

9/17/2019

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An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better that we found it. – Evangelii Gaudium, 183
 
As the federal election approaches on October 21, 2019, the Diocese of Calgary has compiled a set of resources to assist our faithful in making a faith-informed decision at the ballot box.
 
While we are all called to perfection (Mt 5:48), each one of us falls short. Similarly, no political party or candidate will embody all that we seek in leadership. Despite this challenge, Catholics “cannot relinquish their participation ‘in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good.’” (Deus Caritas Est, 28)
 
As a consequence, each Catholic is morally obligated to exercise the right to vote. (CCC 2240)
 
The decision you make will be a personal one, but we pray it will be one which is prayerfully discerned, takes into consideration the fullness of the gospel message and will result in the election of those representatives who will fight for justice, religious freedom, the common good and a moral ordering of the affairs of our nation.
 
If indeed “the just ordering of society and of the state is a central  responsibility of politics”, the Church “cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice” - Evangelii Gaudium, 183
 
 Resources:

  • Voting as Catholics: 2019 Federal Election Guide (Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops)
  •  Canada’s Federal Election and the Catholic Church: Educate, Reflect, Act (Archdiocese of Toronto) 
  • Federal Election Debate from a Catholic Perspective on Human Dignity (Archdiocese of Toronto) | Watch the entire debate here
  •  A Canadian Catholic Voters Catechism (Archdiocese of Vancouver)
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GrACE

4/17/2019

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WHY?
The gift of publicly funded Catholic education in Alberta is a true blessing. As a community we are called in gratitude, faith and action to ensure that our children and future generations continue to learn and grow in our Catholic schools. 

WHAT?
The mission of GrACE is to inspire, invigorate and embolden the spirit of Catholic education in order to unite, engage, educate and communicate with one voice on its behalf. GrACE is a partnership of stakeholders resolutely committed to Catholic education within the province of Alberta. 

WHO? YOU!
GrACE invites all those committed to Catholic education, through the unity of the Holy Spirit, to be advocates and witnesses for our schools’ successes and their future. 

WHERE?
In your homes, your neighborhoods, your schools and your parishes. Watch for and get involved with your local GrACE team. Tell your stories of Catholic education. Let your voice be heard. 

WHEN? NOW!
Every day is a celebration of Catholic education. Let us be grateful for our blessings and commit our support. 

Did You Know?
  • Catholic education affirms parents as their children’s primary educators and respects the rights of parents to choose the school that meets their needs
  • In Catholic schools, it is our deepest desire to ensure that every child knows and experiences the love of God through the witness of their community
  • Principles of diversity and inclusion are central in the teachings of the Catholic Church and permeate all aspects and curriculum in a Catholic school
  • 180,000 students currently attend Catholic schools in Alberta     
  • Alberta is one of three provinces in Canada with publicly funded Catholic education. Ontario and Saskatchewan are the other two. 
  • Catholic education in Alberta is 158 years old  
  • An organized effort of public school lobbyists are attempting to disrupt Catholic education in our province. Your engagement; your advocacy; your voice is vital. 

RESOURCES
  • Letter from the Alberta Catholic Bishops on Catholic Education Sunday 2019 | Download
  • Download GrACE Flyer
  • Connect with GrACE in Twitter
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Over 50 #RedWednesday events in Calgary!

10/31/2018

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​Aid to the Church in Need, a pontifical charity designated Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018 as Red Wednesday in Canada: a day dedicated to drawing attention to persecuted Christians throughout the world.

Currently, 200 million of the world's Christians are unable to freely live out their faith. They suffer from oppression or persecution. To raise awareness of this oppression, the Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) #RedWednesday is an initiative aimed at highlighting the persecution and injustice suffered by Christians, while promoting respect and tolerance between people of different faith traditions.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Red Wednesday 2018 such a success. Over 50 parishes, schools and religious communities in the Diocese of Calgary helped bring attention to the persecution of Christians across the globe.

If you are interested in assisting with the coordination of Red Wednesday 2019, please contact Theodoric or Kimberly at the Diocese of Calgary: 403-218-5501. 

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Pastoral Centre #RedWednesday - Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
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#RedWednesday prayer at Ascension Catholic Parish in Calgary.
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#RedWednesday prayer service at St. Gerard, Calgary.
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