Events and Engagements
Webinar with Members of the Toronto Catholic Doctors Guild
In anticipation of the deadline for submissions to the CPSO and CPSS deliberations on physician responses to objectionable practices, the League co-hosted a webinar session at the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, which remains available online.
March for Life, Ottawa
On May 13-14, we extended our continued support for the national March for Life in Ottawa. Christian represented the CCRL, supporting the cause with media work, advertising support, and a financial donation. Christian participated on a panel discussing euthanasia and conscience rights in Canada, which was taped by EWTN and broadcasted in September and October in advance of the Canadian federal election. Christian also participated in EWTN’s live coverage from Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Phil Horgan and Christian Elia attend First Things 25th Anniversary Dinner in New York
Having been invited by R.R. Reno, Phil and Christian attended this event in New York and distributed CCRL materials to the like-minded Catholics in attendance.
Dr. Donald DeMarco Wins CCRL Archbishop Adam Exner Award
On May 29 we were pleased to announce that we had chosen scholar, writer, seminary professor, and pro-life activist Dr. Donald DeMarco as winner of this year’s Archbishop Adam Exner Award for Catholic Excellence in Public Life.
CCRL Spring Dinner
On June 18 we held our annual Spring Dinner in Toronto. The evening included a talk by Charles Lewis, anti-euthanasia activist and former religion reporter at the National Post.
Christian Elia attends symposium on Pluralism, Religion, and Public Policy at McGill
On November 18, having been invited by CCRL friend and supporter Prof. Doug Farrow, Christian attended this symposium devoted to matters of freedom of religion and conscience in Canada.
CCRL AGM 2015
On Tuesday, December 15 we held our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Toronto. Our guest speaker was Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC). He will speak about the implementation of a euthanasia regime in Canada, and the issue of conscience rights for health care workers, especially in light of recent reports on the imposition of “effective referral” mandates.
Selected Interventions and Press Releases
January
CCRL Voices Concern and Asserts Catholic Rights vis-a-vis Proposed Ontario Curriculum Changes.
President Phil Horgan reports on CCRL’s intervention to Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) regarding Physician Assisted Suicide.
Trinity Western University successfully overturns the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society refusal to accredit prospective law school graduates – CCRL intervention arguments accepted.
The CCRL submits to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) that draft policy violates a doctor’s Charter right to freedom of conscience and religion.
February
The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) decries the Supreme Court’s 9-0 decision in Carter striking down Criminal Code provisions against physician assisted suicide – Canada enters a new era of “suicide relativism.”
The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) objects to aspects of the newly released curriculum for Physical and Health Education in Ontario.
The CCRL submits to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) that draft policy violates a doctor’s Charter right to freedom of conscience and religion.
March
The CCRL is pleased with major victory for religious rights of parents and students in Loyola case before the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) – The CCRL had intervened.
April
The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) rules prayer prior to a municipal council meeting breaches “neutrality” of public office; SCC moves Canada to adopt the notion of a “naked” public square, rather than an authentic pluralism – The CCRL had intervened.
July
The CCRL Opposes Approval of RU-486, writes open letter to Rona Ambrose.
August
The CCRL makes second submission to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS) in defence of doctors’ Charter right to freedom of conscience and religion.
September
The CCRL Deplores Anti-Catholic Comments from NDP Communications Director.
November
The CCRL Appears Before Federal External Panel on Physician Assisted Death, Persistent in Opposition.
December
Annual General Meeting: December 15, 2015 in Toronto.
Administrative and Development
Spring Development Appeal
Telephone Campaign and Book Mailings
2015 Year End Appeal
Media
Christian and Phil both maintain active engagements on matters in the media on all issues related to faith in the public square and anti-Catholic defamation.
Both Phil and Christian are quoted regularly in the Catholic Register, Canadian Catholic News and LifeSite News. With Carter, Loyola, Saguenay, the Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum, in the midst of an election year these engagements also included Sun News Network, CityNews, CTV, CBC, CBC Radio the National Post, Huffington Post, and Al Jazeera English.
Our Facebook and Twitter activity continues to grow.