Nov 2008
Newsletter November 2008From the President’s Desk
Dear Members,
Having attended in October, the International Pro-Life Conference in Toronto, I feel a renewed purpose. I met so many inspiring people, who are working to uphold the ‘life principles’ around the world! God only requires that we be humble and faithful workers. With the operative word today being ‘change’, I see up-and-coming pro-lifers meeting the challenge, in the various areas where human life is being threatened. One such person comes to us from the deVeber Institute in Toronto, founded to uphold life-affirming principles. Join us at our Annual General Meeting and hear Elaine Zettel.
A merry Christmas to all!
Isabel Smith
Updates
Walk For Life
Thank-you to all the sponsors of this year’s annual Walk For life and especially the following who sponsored our ad in the newspaper: GOAD & GOAD LAW OFFICE, KAY D’ARCY REALTY, SAVOIE FAIRE HAIR SALON, ST. GREGORY CWL, ST. CLEMENT CHURCH. And thank you to all of our members who pledged monies and those who sponsored walkers. THANKS TO ALL WHO WALKED and to all who helped out on that day! Please remember to collect your pledges and send in your cheque to our office as soon as possible.
Life Chain
This peaceful and prayerful, Canada-wide, public witness to the sanctity of unborn life was held on Sunday, Oct. 5.on Hespeler Rd. Thanks to all who witnessed for those who do not have a voice!
Rockton’s World Fair
With the help of our volunteers, the educational display was set up at the Rockton Fair. This year’s theme was: “LIFE: It’s the Best Choice!” Keeping in mind that the election was coming up the following week, we wanted to help folks make the connection between the word ‘choice’, used often by feminists and abortionists, and choosing ‘life’. A big ‘THANK-YOU!’ to the volunteers.
Religious Christmas Cards & Cakes
Cards are packaged 10 per box with a Scripture verse inside. They cost $7.50 per box or three boxes for $20.00. These deluxe fruitcakes cost $15.00 for the 1.7lb rectangular cake and $25.00 for the round 2.5lb cake in a tin container. As in previous years, these items will be available at our Annual General Meeting or by calling our office. This annual fundraiser is in support of The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and Campaign Life Coalition.
Nomination
Please use the form below for your nomination for our Board of Directors. To be eligible for nomination, one must be a member in good standing and be 18 years of age or older. You may call our office to verify that the person you with to nominate is a member of Cambridge Right to Life. We need one more Board Member for 08/09
News of Interest:
Ontario Physicians College Backs Away from Controversial Conscience-Restriction Policy
But the revised policy is still of concern, says conscience activist Sean Murphy
By John Jalsevac, lifesitenews.com
September 18, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Officials at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) have revised the controversial draft policy that would have forced Ontario's physicians to put aside their religious beliefs in their medical practices or face disciplinary action. The original draft policy explained, "There will be times when it may be necessary for physicians to set aside their personal beliefs in order to ensure that patients or potential patients are provided with the medical treatment and services they require." The document warned that not putting aside one's religious beliefs could be deemed "professional misconduct." The draft policy originally was supposed to be voted upon mid-August, with public consultation ending August 15. However, public consultation was extended to September after news of the policy broke in the media and a furor ensued, with numerous interested parties complaining they were left completely in the dark about the document.
According to documents from the College, the regulatory body subsequently received over 1300 responses to the draft policy, most of them strenuously opposing it, arguing that it violated the freedom of religion. Some of those who condemned the proposed policy included Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa and Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka, who last week wrote to the College, saying, "We are deeply disturbed by the draft policy of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. … Many doctors have expressed a reasonable fear that if this policy is passed, they might be disciplined, and even lose their licenses, for obeying their conscience. They would no longer be free to refuse to perform or refer for certain medical acts that are contrary to their firmly held beliefs." Last week the Ontario Medical Association, which boasts a membership of 25,000, also expressed its opposition to the CPSO's policy. The now-revised policy, which is expected to be voted upon today, has excised some of the most controversial passages, including the passage which explicitly warned physicians that "it may be necessary" to "set aside their personal beliefs." It has also removed the reference to "professional misconduct." Instead the policy now emphasizes that physicians who refuse to perform a particular medical procedure could face action by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). The OHRC has a history of strenuous opposition to the presence of religion in the public square. The OHRC is also one of the few organizations that threw its support behind the CPSO policy in its original form, even suggesting that the section on restricting the conscience rights of physicians should be "strengthened further", according to CPSO documents. Sean Murphy, Administrator of the Protection of Conscience Project, who has strongly opposed the policy, says that while the revised policy, while much better, is still concerning. "While blatantly provocative assertions have been deleted, the draft continues to assert that physicians may 'in some circumstances' be obliged to help patients make arrangements for morally controversial procedures," said Murphy. Furthermore, "It continues to link this expectation to the possibility of prosecution for professional misconduct." "One is left to wonder whether College officials are sincerely interested in a full and careful consideration of their proposal," said Murphy, who requested that today's scheduled vote be postponed further.
Who’s who in the pro-life movement by Isabel Smith
I have been asked by some of our members for clarification re: the various groups who are working to create a culture of life within Canada. To that end, below is a list of some of the organizations with whom Cambridge Right to Life closely collaborates. Please keep them all in your prayers.
Life Canada – the national umbrella organization for all pro-life groups. Its mandate is: “To promote the sanctity of all human life, from fertilization to natural death, through public education; to advocate for the preborn, the disabled, the infirm and the elderly who are all uniquely created by God.” This year, they initiated a national pro-life ad campaign, which was then unfairly censored by the Advertising Standards Council.
To see the ads, go to their website: www.lifecanada.org
Life Canada’s head office is located in Ottawa.
Toll Free: 1-866-780-LIFE (5433)
Alliance For Life Ontario – the umbrella organization for all pro-life groups within Ontario; it is likewise involved in education. Its mandate is: “We believe it is the purpose of the pro-life movement to encourage through education the development of a culture of life which will restore full legal protection to all human beings, from fertilization and cloning to natural death, using peaceful and prayerful means in the pursuit of this goal”. AFLO is continuing to raise funds for their TV ads, which are hopefully reaching many women in crisis pregnancy.
Visit www.allianceforlife.org to see their ads.
The AFLO office is located in Guelph.
Phone: 519-824-7797
Campaign Life Coalition – is the political arm of the pro-life movement in Canada. It is working to restore the right to life, from conception to natural death, at all levels of government - federal, provincial, and municipal. It supports any legislative measure to end anti-life practices, either directly or indirectly, on the condition such a measure does not compromise its basic pro-life beliefs. It defends the sanctity of human life against threats posed by abortion, euthanasia, doctor-assisted suicide, reproductive You can visit their site at: www.campaignlifecoaliton.com Their head office is in Toronto. Phone: 1-800-730-5358
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition – The following are the first four of the seven reasons why the EPC was created: 1.To preserve and enforce legal prohibitions and ethical guidelines prohibiting ‘mercy killing’. 2. To increase public awareness of hospice/palliative care. 3. To promote improvement in the quality and availability of hospice/palliative care, and effective methods of controlling pain and suffering. 4. To develop and build compassionate care community services as alternatives to ‘mercy killing’. The EPC also monitors events in other countries, which might impact end of life issues in Canada.
The website for the EPC is www.euthanasiaprevention.on.ca
Toll free phone: 1-877-439-3348
The following is by no means an exhaustive list of other groups, building a culture of life:
Canadian Physicians For Life – www.physiciansforlife.org
Pharmacists For Life Int’l/Canada - www.pfli.org www.geocities.com/pflic
Canadian Centre For Bieoethical Reform - www.cbrinfo.com – www.abortionno.org
Vote Life, Canada - votelifecanada.ca
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada – www.evangelicalfellowship.ca
Tale Back Canada - takebackcanada.com
Priests For Life – www.priestsforlifecanada.com
Culture Of Life - cultureoflife.ca
Silent No More Awareness - silentnomoreawareness.org
National Campus Life Network – www.ncln.ca
Real WOmen of Canada - realwomenca.com
Catholic Organization for Life and Family - colf.ca
see our Links section for more