ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CALGARY
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder
Picture

Speak out for those who cannot speak

10/29/2020

2 Comments

 
As Christians and people of faith we live in hope even in the midst of this pandemic. Our God has not abandoned us; He is with us and in the words of Matthew’s Gospel, “… remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 20) 

The question for us as Christians isn’t “How do we get back to where we have been?”, but rather, “What is the Lord’s call for us in all of this?” The words of the prophet Jeremiah are instructive, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). We need always be a people of hope and we need to give voice to this hope through the renewal of society and the Church after the pandemic. Pope Francis speaks of this in his recent encyclical. 

I invite everyone to renewed hope, for hope “speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart, independently of our circumstances and historical conditioning. Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfillment, a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, goodness and beauty, justice and love… Hope is bold; it can look beyond personal convenience, the petty securities and compensations which limit our horizon, and it can open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile”.  Let us continue, then, to advance along the paths of hope. (Fratelli Tutti, #55.)

As people of faith, we are also called to address the suffering and injustices in the witness of our faith and to offer hope. Proverbs 31: 8-9: “Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Last month the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories issued a pastoral statement on the Impact of COVID-19 and the Call to Christian Renewal. We stated that “Our Catholic faith has much to contribute with respect to promoting human, social and spiritual values for the common good of our society” and the authentic human development of persons. 

This month we the Alberta Catholic Bishops are also identifying two important legislative matters currently before the House of Commons in Ottawa which challenge human dignity and freedom. The first is Bill C-7 that seeks to expand access to assisted suicide and euthanasia which are inherently immoral. This would potential place vulnerable persons with disabilities and mental illness at serious risk. The other legislation deals with “conversion therapy” that is intended to address coercive practices contrary to the dignity of the human person. However, the language and definition of this legislation is vague, open to interpretation that could lead to its application in situations that would be detrimental to parental rights, religious beliefs, teaching and practices. 

It should be noted that the Catholic Bishops of Canada have also issued statements on Bill C-7 expressing opposition to this legislation and that Bill C-6 be revised to fully protect and uphold the rights of parents, and individuals to have the freedom to voluntarily live their lives in a manner consistent with their faith and beliefs. I encourage the faithful to be informed through such statements of the Alberta and Canadian Bishops on these two important issues and to respond to our request in making your own objections know to your Member of Parliament. This can be a sign of hope and a witness of our faith. 
Read below: Letter to the Faithful re: Bill C-6 and C-7 from the The Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories
​Download PDF
Vertical Divider
Picture
Written by Bishop William T. McGrattan,
​October 28, 2020

Picture
October 29, 2020 

Dear Faithful in Christ, 

We bring to your attention two important legislative matters currently before the House of Commons. Since they each represent a direct and worrisome challenge to human dignity and freedom, it is necessary that we be aware of them and make our views known to the federal government.  

The first is proposed legislation, Bill C-7, that seeks to expand access to assisted suicide and euthanasia in Canada. We know that these practices in themselves are inherently immoral. This particular Bill would remove the eligibility requirement that a person’s death be “reasonably foreseeable”, and thus effectively extend provision of euthanasia and assisted suicide to those who are not dying. This would place vulnerable citizens, such as persons with disabilities and mental illness, at serious risk. In the case of people who are dying, it aims to remove key safeguards set down in 2016, such as a 10-day reflection period and the ability to consent at the time of the provision of assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia to hasten one’s death. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is among the signatories to an inter-religious statement expressing opposition to Bill C- 7. The Bishops have, in addition, issued their own statement detailing their concerns with this legislation. 

Our ask of you is to contact your Member of Parliament to: 
  • insist that Bill C-7 be paused to allow comprehensive consultation with Canadians on this grave matter that affects the inherent dignity of every person in our society;
  • urge that Parliament acknowledge every person’s right to life is inherent and inalienable, not to be taken away by others;
  • advocate for universal access to excellent palliative care as the humanely appropriate response to suffering at the end of life;
  • promote meaningful protection of conscience rights for healthcare workers and institutions who conscientiously object to assisted suicide and euthanasia.

The second piece of legislation, Bill C-6, pertains to what is called “conversion therapy.” The Bill aims to prevent coercive practices contrary to the dignity of the human person, a goal that we support. However, its language and definition are open to interpretations that could lead to unacceptable overreach in application, to the detriment of parental rights and religious beliefs and practices. The Bishops of Canada have issued a statement on Bill C-6. 

Our ask of you is to contact your Member of Parliament and insist that Bill C-6 be revised to protect and uphold: 
  • the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the welfare of their children, specifically their freedom to instruct them in accord with their religious and ethical beliefs;
  • the right and freedom of every Canadian to voluntarily seek support to live in a manner consistent with their faith identity and beliefs, and in accord with their personal convictions;
  • the right and freedom of the Church and other religious communities to counsel and support persons who choose to live their lives and sexuality in accord with moral teachings and the dictates of conscience;
  • the right and freedom of the Church and other religious communities to share their religious and ethical beliefs regarding human sexuality.

Thank you for your attention and action on these matters of serious concern. May our Lord both inspire and bring to accomplishment our efforts to embrace and protect the suffering and vulnerable, and to honour and uphold our rights and freedoms. 
Yours in Christ, 

Catholic Bishops of Alberta and NWT 

​
Most Reverend Richard W. Smith
Archbishop of Edmonton  


Most Reverend William McGrattan
Bishop of Calgary  


Most Reverend Paul Terrio
Bishop of St. Paul 


Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas CSsR
Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan  


Most Reverend David Motiuk 
Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Edmonton  

​
2 Comments
Judy LaGrandeur
10/29/2020 09:09:39 pm

Again we see the government trying to infringe on our personal rights and freedoms. This must STOP, before they are all gone. I will be contacting my MP about this situation

Reply
Elizabeth & Nandi Lassu
1/26/2021 09:44:57 am

We are totally against medical assistance in dying and are very sad to note that Canada is trying to pass this bill. Please do not pass Bill C-7 and remember that we are all human being and should be allowed to die with digniity.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Catholic Pastoral Centre Staff and Guest Writers

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Advent & Christmas
    Art
    Bereavement
    Bishop Emeritus Henry
    Bishop McGrattan
    Book Review
    Care For Creation
    Catechetics
    Catholic Charities & Development
    Catholic Education
    Catholic Schools
    CCCB
    Christian Unity
    Climate Change
    Consecrated Virgin
    Conversion
    Covid 19
    Culture
    CWL
    Development & Peace
    Devotions
    Diocesan Event
    Discipleship
    Ecumenical
    Elizabeth House
    Environment
    Euthanasia
    Evangelization
    Faithful Living
    Faithfully
    Family
    Feed The Hungry
    From The Bishop's Office
    Fundraising
    Funeral
    Grieving
    Health
    Health Care
    Homelessness
    Indigenous
    In Memoriam
    Interfaith
    Jubilarians
    Lay Associations
    Lent
    Lent & Easter
    Liturgy
    Marian
    Marriage
    Mary
    Mass
    Mental Health
    Migrants
    Miscarriage
    Mission Mexico
    Movie Review
    Music
    One Rock
    Online Formation
    Ordination
    Parenting
    Parish Life
    Pastoral Care
    Pastoral Visit
    Permanent Diaconate
    Pope
    Pope Francis
    Prayer
    Pray For Peace
    Priesthood
    Prolife
    RCIA
    Reconciliation
    Refugee
    Religious Education
    Religious Freedom
    Religious Life
    Resources And Guidelines
    Sacred Art
    Safe Environment
    Saints
    Scripture & Reflection
    Seniors
    Social Justice
    Stewardship
    St. Joseph
    Synod
    Vocation
    Youth And Young Adults
    Youth Ministry

    RSS Feed

GET TO KNOW US
Our Bishop
Offices & Ministries
​Our Staff
Read our Blog
Catholic Community
​Lay Associations
CONNECT WITH US
Contact us
​Careers
​Parish Boundaries

News & Events
Faithfully
​Reporting Abuse
NEED INFO ON
Becoming Catholic
Marriage Preparation
​Vocations
Annulment 
Sacraments Prep
Catholic Funeral
GIVE TO
Diocesan Ministries
Together in Action
Feed the Hungry
Elizabeth House
Your Parish Church​ 
​Other Ministry

Catholic Pastoral Centre  | 120 - 17th Ave SW, Calgary, AB  T2S 2T2 | ​Phone: 403-218-5500 | communications@calgarydiocese.ca
Charitable Number: 
10790-9939-RR0076​. Donate Now.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Give
  • News & Events
  • Ministries
  • Contact Us
  • Parish Finder