TORONTO, ON March 2, 2018 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) has previously raised the issue of the new demand from the federal government to require an “attestation” or commitment from charities, non-profit organizations and small businesses applying for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) grants to affirm that the job and the organization’s core mandate respect and adhere to support for gender fluidity and support for abortion.
The government’s employment minister said it’s no big deal to “just check the box”, even if you do believe that the preborn child is a human being worthy of protection in law.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously disallowed prolife candidates from running for the Liberal party. Recently, he described objections to such attestation demands as a mere “kerfuffle”, and that Canadian groups who believed in the sanctity of human life are “not in line with where we are as a government and quite frankly where we are as a society.”
Mr. Trudeau was directly referring to observant Catholics and all prolife Canadians with those words.
So, what’s the big deal? Is checking a box really the end of our cherished freedoms?
People from Eastern Europe, China, and many other regions intimately know what the imposition of statist norms has meant. It was often the basis of their immigration to Canada, which was recognized as being a free country.
Those more inclined to watch a film should see Martin Scorsese’s 2016 film “Silence”, to learn of the oppression imposed on Jesuit missionaries in Japan in the 17th century. They were forced to denounce their faith, or see their congregations martyred.
One might consider St. Thomas More, martyr and patron saint of politicians, lawyers, and judges, who was executed for failing to comply with the King’s demand to swear allegiance to his severance with the Catholic Church.
These examples are not far removed from the current government’s proposal to “just check the box”, a soft totalitarianism. It is how convictions are eroded, or at least dumbed down. After all, it’s so simple – by design – to affirm the State ideology of “inclusion” and “reproductive rights”. Just check the box!
The CCRL proposes a different response. We must dare to dissent. As Catholic Christians, we need to live within the truth. We have a far more profound understanding of the meaning of the human person, formed in the image and likeness of God. The effort of the federal government to impose the euphemism of “reproductive rights” or “inclusion”, in opposition to profound understandings of science and our Catholic faith, in order to secure a modest public benefit, is an outrageous diktat more suited to oppressive regimes.
We are called to dissent because we know what is true. Our faith has been purchased at a greater price than what the federal government sponsors with pieces of silver.
Please sign the CCRL petition against the government’s demands for ideological conformity. Please join us in telling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that we will not check the box, we will not submit to a murderous ideology.
Please sign and return this petition to the Catholic Civil Rights League via email at ccrl@ccrl.ca or by mailing it to our office:
Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL)
2305 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON
M6S 1P1
Make the effort to ask others in your family and in your parish community to sign the petition before returning it to us.
Lenten Almsgiving Appeal
Lent is now upon us. Can we request that you consider including the CCRL in your Lenten almsgiving?
One hundred percent of our operational budget comes from individuals and church groups who, like you, generously donate from time to time. Because of the nature of our work, which includes advocacy of a political nature, we are unable to offer tax receipts, and this makes your donation even more impressive.
Our ability to advocate your behalf is based on the generosity of our donors. In particular, we are especially grateful to those of you that contribute a fixed amount on a regular basis. We literally operate on hope and prayers that an appeal for funding twice per year will provide us the modest means of allowing us to continue with our work.
Thankfully our prayers are always answered, yet we also know that the Lord helps those who first attempt to help themselves.
I humbly ask you to consider donating a fixed amount on a monthly basis. We have the capability to set this up so that it is drawn from either your bank account or from your VISA or Mastercard.
This can be done yourself by checking the “Make this a Monthly Gift” box with your donation via VISA or Mastercard at https://ccrl.ca/support/.
If a monthly bank withdrawal is preferable, please send us a VOID cheque and instructions to the CCRL, 2305 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M6S 1P1.
Of course a one-time donation can also be made by mailing a cheque to the same address.
Perhaps you could consider including a bequest of a portion of your estate in your will. Such donations do not take away from current needs, and we have been blessed to have received recent donations from our deceased supporters.
You can also call me directly at (416) 466-8244 or Toll-Free at 1-844-722-2275. Our voicemail is secure as I am the only one who has access to messages.
There is no minimal amount as we always are in need of donations and we appreciate them all.
In Christ,
Christian Domenic Elia, PhD
Executive Director
Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL)
celia@ccrl.ca
About the CCRL
Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) (www.ccrl.ca) assists in creating conditions within which Catholic teachings can be better understood, cooperates with other organizations in defending civil rights in Canada, and opposes defamation and discrimination against Catholics on the basis of their beliefs. The CCRL was founded in 1985 as an independent lay organization with a large nationwide membership base. The CCRL is a Canadian non-profit organization entirely supported by the generosity of its members.
To donate to the CCRL, please click here.
For further information:
Christian Domenic Elia, PhD
CCRL Executive Director
416-466-8244
@CCRLtweets