OTTAWA, May 9, 2007 – On the eve of the annual March for Life, the Catholic Civil Rights League (www.ccrl.ca) hopes the public witness of thousands of Canadians on Parliament Hill tomorrow will awaken in all people the need to build respect for all life, from conception to natural death, into our laws.

The march, which the League helps to sponsor, was originally created to call attention to abortion and the absence of an abortion law in Canada. In recent years, issues such as euthanasia, assisted suicide, and embryonic stem cell research have created new pressures on respect for life. There have been several proposals in the past to legalize euthanasia in Canada, and more are expected.

“Respect for the inherent dignity of all human life is fundamental to all other civil rights issues,” says Phil Horgan, League President. “We hope tomorrow’s march leads to some improvements in legal protection for the unborn, and for those in need of palliative care and end-of-life care in general.”

About CCRL
 
Catholic Civil Rights League (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. CCRL was founded in 1985 as an independent lay organization and has chapters across Canada. The Catholic Civil Rights League is a Canadian non-profit organization entirely supported by the generosity of its members.

For further information: Joanne McGarry, Executive Director, 416-466-8244; joanne.mcgarry@ccrl.ca