Statements and Letters
The CRC Request the Restoration of Crucial Funding to Development and Peace
Montreal, April 13, 2012
Hon. Beverly J. Oda
Minister of International Cooperation
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Dear Minister Oda,
On behalf of the Canadian Religious Conference and its 18,000 members across the country, I am writing to express growing concern about the continuing funding shortfall at the Canadian Catholic Organisation for Development and Peace and to request the restoration of crucial funding to this vital organisation.
The religious orders of Canada have supported the mission of Development and Peace from its very beginnings, both financially and through the active engagement of our members. We have never had any reason whatsoever to doubt that its projects in collaboration with trusted partners in the South are among the most carefully chosen and adapted to local needs.
It is most unfortunate that this work is now seriously threatened because of the CIDA cuts to Development and Peace over the next five years. Furthermore, it is also regrettable that Development and Peace’s remaining CIDA funding must now target only countries designated for assistance by the Harper government, a decision that goes against the studies and analyses of experts in international development.
The CRC is very disappointed by CIDA’s approach which has resulted in cuts by this government in the areas of human rights, especially those of women, social justice and international development in general, including the drastic cuts visited upon KAIROS Canada. Now yet another organisation committed to these areas and respected widely by Canadians must suffer the consequences of political decisions which do not reflect the values of the majority of Canadian citizens who have always been in solidarity with the most oppressed countries, especially in Africa and Latin America.
The immediate need at the moment, however, is the restoration of funding to Development and Peace. We urge you to take that action now.
Respectfully,
Mary Finlayson, RSCJ
President
The Canadian Religious Conference expresses its opposition to the Northern Gateway Pipeline
January 20, 2012: Letter to the Minister of Natural Resources
The Honourable Joe Oliver
Minister of Natural Resources
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A OA6
Dear Minister,
On behalf of the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC), I write to express my opposition to the Northern Gateway Pipeline project and to an expansion of the tar sands.
Intended to route crude oil from Alberta to the British Columbia coast, this pipeline is designed to load up to 200 super tankers which would travel over rough seas and through narrow passages in the very heart of the Great Bear rain forest, a rain forest which is famous worldwide and is a model of conservation often previously supported by the federal government.
Because the CRC is concerned for the future of Canadian communities, for their environment, and for the international reputation of Canada, I believe that this project moves us in the wrong direction. A wider development of the tar sands will only exacerbate the climate crisis because of the constant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. As well, the risks to Aboriginal communities and to the environment of the inevitable oil spills which this pipeline project entails are too great, especially when Canada and the world can find other solutions to fill their energy needs.
We are not alone in our opposition. The First Nations of British Columbia, a majority of British Columbians and other communities, organisations and companies also oppose transporting crude oil from Alberta to the coast of British Columbia.
In light of the devastation caused by the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and the Exxon Valdez catastrophe in Alaska 20 years earlier, the Canadian Religious Conference, representing 19,000 women and men religious in Canada, firmly requests that our government respect the wishes of its citizens by putting a stop to the Northern Gateway Pipeline project.
Sincerely,
Mary Finlayson, RSCJ
CRC President
“Actualizing a Transformed Earth Community” … Let’s Act
“We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when humanity must choose its future.” - Earth Charter
From October 5th to 7th, 2011, we, 200 or more members of the religious congregations from across Canada, gathered in Montreal with many of our Associates and Collaborators in the work of justice, peace and the integrity of creation to reflect together on the integral connection between social justice and eco-justice, between the poor of the earth and the poor earth. We confronted the actual state of our planet and the situation created by our economic, political and spiritual choices. The theme of the gathering, organized by the Canadian Religious Conference, was : “Co-creating with the Spirit on the Cutting Edge: Actualising a Transformed Earth Community”. It was an opportunity to name the challenges facing humanity and to encourage the urgent response required.
Mary Evelyn Tucker, Co-director of the Forum on Religion and Ecology of Yale University and Michel Venne, Executive Director and Founder of the New World Institute in Montreal were the guest speakers.
With their help, we deepened our understanding of the globalization of societies, cultures, religions and politics in conjunction with the aggressive economic globalization which is responsible for the serious degradation of the environment and for a dramatic increase in inequality. We measured the scope of the challenges and acknowledged our tardiness in facing them: challenges related to the environment, social justice, politics and spirituality.
The table discussions identified several challenges for each of these levels. At the spiritual level, we became aware that we will not be able to meet these challenges without a common spirituality as a source of motivation and mobilization. In keeping with our individual and collective choices, we commited ourselves to practising and promoting a spirituality which encourages us to engage in society in order to confront the challenges that have been identified. Such a spirituality awakens an authentic hope in a collective future.
At the conclusion of our Gathering, we signed the following declaration :
We hear the call of the Earth and the call of the poor
We believe that care for life on Earth and the struggle for ultimate justice are spiritual imperatives.
People and other species have the right to life unthreatened by human greed and destructiveness.
Pollution, particularly from the energy-intensive wealthy industrialized countries, is warming the atmosphere, causing major climate changes and dangerously reducing biodiversity. The poor and vulnerable in the world and future generations will suffer the most.
We commit ourselves to help reduce the environmental threat and to fight poverty through actions in our own lives, pressure on governments and industries and standing in solidarity with those most affected.
We pray for spiritual support in responding to the call of the Earth and the call of humanity.
Adapted from:
Spiritual declaration on climate change
United Nations Conference on the Climate change
Montreal, December 4, 2005
Dying in Dignity: The CRC supports the Quebec Assembly of Catholic Bishops Statement and Recommendations
The CRC, along with our bishops, is convinced that the best way for a person to die in dignity is to receive compassionate support and resourceful palliative care.
The Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) wholly supports the Quebec Assembly of Catholic Bishops in its brief presented on September 30 in Quebec City at the Special Commission on Dying in Dignity.
In many places in this country, it was religious congregations who introduced palliative care, and still today they are active in many different areas especially in accompanying the terminally ill. Thus, along with our bishops, we are convinced that the best way for a person to die in dignity is to receive compassionate support and resourceful palliative care.
The Commission must fully analyse the message that will be given to society, especially for those most vulnerable, in the decision that is to be made. In agreement with the Bishops, the CRC strongly urges the Commission “to carefully weigh the consequences in the event of the acceptance of euthanasia or assisted suicide”.
The CRC represents more than 19,000 women and men religious in Canada including 14,200 in Quebec.
Read the CRC'S President letter to the President of the Commission, Mr. Geoffrey Kelly: Open this PDF document.
The Right to Water, a Fundamental Human Right
Montreal, June 22, 2010: The CRC ask that Canada support the resolution put forward by the Bolivian Mission at the United Nations on June 17 calling for water to be recognized as a human right. Access to safe clean drinking water and sanitation is essential for the health and dignity of communities around the world. Open this PDF document.
