The CCRL Participates In Ontario Court of Appeal with Oral Arguments in Support of Physicians’ Conscience Rights
Toronto, ON January 25, 2019 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) participated with oral arguments in the CMDS et al v. CPSO hearing at the Ontario Court of Appeal on January 21 and 22. Individual Catholic and Christian doctors and organizations had challenged the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), which over the course of the past three years had stipulated an “effective referral” regime, forcing Ontario doctors who objected to morally objectionable procedures to provide an “effective referral” to a willing doctor for such services. Previously, doctors were relieved from any such obligation. Ontario is the only provincial or territorial jurisdiction which has made such demands of its doctors. The Ontario Divisional Court had ruled in favour of the CPSO, on January 31, 2018, despite finding that the religious freedom of doctors had been infringed. The appellants and the League, in conjunction with the Faith and Freedom Alliance and the Protection of Conscience Project, had argued that such “effective referrals” made objecting doctors complicit in the provision of the objectionable procedures, such as abortion, or assisted suicide. The previous court decision allowed the infringement as a modest incursion into the rights of physicians, in the context of the ability of patients to access publicly available “services”. Moreover, the court previously ruled that objecting physicians could re-arrange their practice specialties to “accommodate” such referrals. The doctors and their respective organizations appealed. In addition to the arguments presented by the lawyers for the appellants, the CCRL and its partners raised the particular arguments that such demands were in breach of the conscience rights of Ontario doctors, as...No Victory in Government’s Re-Working of Canada Summer Jobs Application
Toronto, ON December 7, 2018 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) responded today to the revised Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) application process, as announced by federal Labour minister Patty Hajdu. In brief, the new application process remains sadly deficient. The government has moved from an attestation requirement, or forced speech, by having to check a box in support of its views on “reproductive health”, which included unfettered access to abortion at all stages or its views on gender ideology, to a new requirement. It now seeks applicants to confirm that it will not engage in certain “proposed activities” in respect of otherwise legitimate beliefs with which the current government disagrees. The Minister’s new demands continue a suppression of viewpoints not shared by the government, for which funding will continue to be denied to groups that disagree. The federal Liberals are effectively establishing a “bubble zone” to prevent funding to organizations who do not share its unfettered pro-abortion position. The government maintains a false impression that there is a “right to safe and legal abortion”. It does not exist as part of either the Charter of Rights and Freedoms or in case law. While Labour minister Patty Hajdu proposed to accommodate faith-based groups, that accommodation effectively shuts out their core positions as unacceptable. This is no victory for the unborn. The government has simply changed the eligibility criteria so that organizations will be denied funding if they stand for prolife positions. The new wording of the 2019 application makes clear that grants will not be allocated if used to “undermine or restrict the exercise of rights legally protected in Canada.”...Filmmaker Kevin Dunn is the CCRL’s Guest Speaker at our AGM on December 12, 2018 in Toronto
The following notice is of particular interest to those in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). On Wednesday, December 12, we will be having Mass at 6:30 pm in the Crypt Chapel of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, 200 Church Street, M5B 1Z2. The CCRL’s Annual General Meeting will follow in the atrium. Our guest speaker is Catholic filmmaker Kevin Dunn. Kevin Dunn is the director and producer of The Euthanasia Deception (2016). His most recent film is Fatal fLaws: Legalizing Assisted Death (2018). Kevin Dunn’s presentation will include excerpts from both films. All are invited to this event. Please spread the word on social media and please inform your friends. Kindly RSVP at ccrl@ccrl.ca or by calling (416) 466-8244. We humbly ask a donation from those in attendance who are able to contribute. 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...The CCRL will Intervene at the Ontario Court of Appeal in Physicians’ Conscience Rights Case
Toronto, ON November 15, 2018 – The Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) is pleased to announce that on October 1 our application to intervene in the appeal of the Ontario Divisional Court decision in the case CMDS et al v. CPSO was accepted. This case concerns the conscience and religious rights of Ontario doctors who refuse to participate in morally objectionable procedures, such as euthanasia or abortion. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) stipulated an “effective referral” regime requiring that they ensure provision of such services by another doctor, which we argue makes them complicit in the provision of the objectionable procedure. On November 13, our factum, prepared in conjunction with the Faith and Freedom Alliance (FFA) and the Protection of Conscience Project was submitted. Click here to view it. The League’s submission is focused on what has been a relatively ignored provision of the Charter, freedom of conscience, as distinct from freedom of religion, for which the appellants and other groups are focused. 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 ...
The 2018 CCRL Annual Report: https://t.co/feLW5Spqny
Not only Europe, @SohrabAhmari but, sadly, we in Canada have instituted an assisted suicide and euthanasia regime which is being widely expanded. #euthanasia #assistedsuicide https://t.co/LOaCES2WQi
The CCRL thanks @globalnewsto @ConsumerSOS @Reporter_Ryan for this story. Christian Elia, our executive director contributed.
Toronto police investigating another violent incident recorded at anti-abortion rally https://t.co/h2eUbXohMB
@clcyouthprolife @archtoronto