2018 CCRL Annual Report

by | Feb 19, 2019 | Annual Reports

Events and Engagements January On January 11, the CCRL released the statement, “The Trudeau Government – Abortion Absolutists – Imposes its Will over the Conscientious and Religious Freedoms of Canadians” regarding the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program and the compulsion for charities and non-profits to conform to an ideology of “reproductive rights.” On January 31 the League issued a press release expressing our disappointment in the Ontario Divisional Court ruling in the case CMDS et al v. CPSO. The court upheld the policy that requires life affirming physicians to act against their religion and conscience by being compelled to provide an “effective referral” to another physician or caregiver who would perform the objectionable service. February 2017 Annual General Meeting On February 2, the League hosted our 2017 AGM at Holy Rosary Church in Toronto with guest speaker journalist and author David Warren.  He is the proprietor of the blog Essays in Idleness and he is a regular columnist for The Catholic Thing. His talk on the “Twisted Nanny State” can be found by clicking here: https://www.davidwarrenonline.com/2018/02/05/church-twisted-nanny-state/ On February 9, the CCRL released a statement welcoming the PC leadership campaign of our then board member (currently on hiatus) Tanya Granic Allen. March On March 2, the CCRL issued a second release and a petition in opposition to the Trudeau government’s demands for ideological conformity, “Just check the box!” regarding the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. April On April 7, CCRL President Phil Horgan issued an Easter message to all of the League’s supporters and friends. On April 12, the League expressed its disappointment with the Alberta NDP government’s introduction of Bill 9, Protecting Choice...

2017 CCRL Annual Report

by | Feb 13, 2018 | Annual Reports

Events and Engagements March for Life, Ottawa On May 11, the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) was pleased to extend its continued support for the national March for Life in Ottawa with representation from across the country. The theme for this year’s march was Life – We Stand on Guard for Thee. As in previous years, the CCRL’s executive director, Christian Elia, was present in Ottawa supporting the cause with media work, advertising support, and a financial donation on behalf of the CCRL. Christian participated in EWTN’s live coverage from Parliament Hill. Two of the CCRL’s directors were also in Ottawa for the March for Life. We thank director Rev. Mr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald for representing Atlantic Canada and from Ontario, Tanya Granic Allen, who was conducting live interviews for EWTN. Dr. Robert Walley Wins CCRL’s Archbishop Adam Exner Award On May 5, the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) was pleased to announce that it had chosen founder of MaterCare International, Dr. Robert Walley as winner of the 2017 Archbishop Adam Exner Award for Catholic Excellence in Public Life. CCRL Spring Dinner On June 19, the CCRL hosted its annual dinner in Toronto. This year the keynote speaker was Dr. Andrew Bennett, Canada’s first Ambassador for Religious Freedom and Head of the Office of Religious Freedom from 2013 to 2016. The Exner award was presented to Dr. Walley. Selected Interventions and Press Releases January On January 30, the CCRL issued a release expressing our condolences with prayers for the victims of the mass killings of six individuals and the attacks on numerous others on January 29, at the Islamic Cultural...

2016 CCRL Annual Report

by | Dec 21, 2016 | Annual Reports

Events and Engagements March for Life, Ottawa On May 12, the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) was pleased to extend its continued support for the national March for Life taking place in Ottawa with representation from across the country. The theme for this year’s march was #endthekilling As in previous years, the CCRL’s executive director, Christian Elia, was present in Ottawa supporting the cause with media work, advertising support, and a financial donation on behalf of the CCRL. Christian participated in EWTN’s live coverage from Parliament Hill. Alex Schadenberg Wins CCRL Archbishop Adam Exner Award On May 9, the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) was pleased to announce that it had chosen anti-euthanasia/assisted suicide activist Alex Schadenberg as winner of this year’s Archbishop Adam Exner Award for Catholic Excellence in Public Life. CCRL Spring Dinner On June 9, the CCRL hosted its annual dinner in Toronto. This year the keynote speaker was Douglas Farrow, Professor of Christian Thought at McGill University, holder of the Kennedy Smith Chair in Catholic Studies, and Project Director for Pluralism, Religion and Public Policy. He spoke about the concept of autonomy and autonomy and dignity as understood by society, reflected in the Supreme Court of Canada’s Carter decision and Parliament’s response in Bill C-14. The CCRL Unveils Editorial Column at ccrl.ca Featuring New Board Member Charles Lewis On June 16, the League was pleased to announce the introduction of a new editorial column featuring its newest member of the board of directors, Charles Lewis. Charles Lewis had been a close friend of the CCRL, giving the keynote address at our 2015 Spring Dinner. He...

2015 CCRL Annual Report

by | Jan 18, 2016 | Annual Reports

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...

2014 CCRL Annual Report

by | Dec 20, 2014 | Annual Reports

Events and Engagements CCRL Dinner with Guest Speaker Brian Lilley On May 22, the CCRL hosted its annual dinner in Toronto. This year the keynote speaker was Catholic husband and father, host of Sun News Network’s Byline, Brian Lilley. He urged all of us in our everyday lives to “normalize being Catholic.” CCRL presented Archbishop Adam Exner Award to Gwen Landolt Also on May 22 at the CCRL annual dinner, the League presented the Archbishop Adam Exner Award for Catholic Excellence in Public Life to Gwen Landolt, long time national Vice-President of REAL Women of Canada. Gwen has had a long career in prolife advocacy, and the promotion of the family in national and international circles. Faith in the Public Square symposium From August 5-7, CCRL President Phil Horgan and Executive Director Christian Elia attended a symposium co-hosted by St. Augustine’s Seminary and the Archdiocese of Toronto, “Faith in the Public Square”. Presenters included Cardinal Collins, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Professors Douglas Farrow, Iain Benson, Randy Boyagoda, Fathers Tom Rosica and Tom Lynch, and Dale Ahlquist. Both Phil and Christian participated by sitting on three different discussion panels, discussing issues such as freedom of conscience and religion in the public square, and variants of notions of pluralism. Interventions In the past six months, Phil Horgan has submitted five briefs to various provincial law societies on the Trinity Western University (TWU) file, while also engaging in five court interventions, three at the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC), two of which as the CCRL’s counsel of record. League opposes approval of RU-486 The CCRL wrote to federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose asking...