tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60419882011-04-22T01:18:50.643-04:00CentreBlogCultural Renewal as a possibility -- false rhetorics exposed -- critical analysis of role of religions in relation to culture and faith (both religious and non-religious) examined -- a variety of voices giving differing perspectives on the important place of religions within the public square.CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comBlogger1181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1144181977567399192006-04-04T16:14:00.000-04:002006-04-04T16:19:37.600-04:00Distribution of Holy Books in Public Schools: Gideon’s Shine a LightThe Globe and Mail (April 4, 2006 Petti Fong, “Bibles Offered to Public School Raise Row”) carries an article regarding the 60-year-old practice of a group called the Gideons that, amongst other things, distributes bibles on request to Grade 5 students in public schools. They are now on the defensive on the grounds that their CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1143233693505660612006-03-24T15:52:00.000-05:002006-03-24T16:17:17.270-05:00Like Ripples on a Pond: On the Life of a Much Loved FriendIn our lives there are people we meet who change us for good and ill. On the positive side, the influences can be thrilling, life-enhancing and joyful and if we are blessed we can know enough to be able to say: “this person changed my life, I am thankful for his/her influence.” If we are doubly blessed we can tell the person so CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1143480665710898362006-03-22T12:04:00.000-05:002006-03-27T12:32:57.896-05:00The Meaning of “Conservative” and the Confusion of “left” and “right”From time to time one comes across definitions or arguments elegantly set out that, deserve wider exposure. Simply because there are those who read this who do not read The Spectator out of England, this must be considered “wider exposure” even though it is a very narrow version of width.A piece deserving wider exposure is a CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1143054351463900782006-03-21T13:59:00.000-05:002006-03-24T10:18:07.950-05:00Theocracies in America: What Needs to be Learned to Preserve Ordered LibertyA recent measure in the Missouri house introduced by Republican Representative David Sater calls for that State to officially recognize “a Christian God” and though, apparently, the measure has no legal effect it has been supported by many people as recognition of the fact that the Founders of the United States of AmericaCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1141764535103538102006-03-07T15:48:00.000-05:002006-03-24T09:33:53.280-05:00Spina Bifida as a Death Sentence: Holland Ushers in New Horrors.Years ago at Queens University I had a friend called Jane. She was a lovely soul who, among other good deeds, used to work at a camp for handicapped youngsters. She once told me of a little girl, one of the group she looked after, who was confined to a wheelchair and who had a surprisingly perky and upbeat manner.One day this little CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1139506156181916282006-02-09T12:20:00.000-05:002006-03-24T10:28:52.640-05:00A MESSAGE FROM BC PHARMACISTS FOR CONSCIENCEBy Cristina Alarcon, PharmacistI have just been informed by a reliable source at the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia that the current by-prescription-only status ( be it by a physician or a pharmacist) of the Morning after Pill (Plan B) will most likely change to a schedule II status. This proposal was made at the January 20th College meetingCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1138993405787881922006-02-03T13:55:00.000-05:002006-02-03T14:06:46.433-05:00Daycare, Low Income and the Left(Note: This article, which we believe needs further discussion and exposure, was written by the President of the Kids First Parent Assoc. of Canada, Helen Ward, and offered to the main leading newspapers in Canada on January 20, 2006, but was not published.)Daycare has become a top election issue for all parties. The possibility that the daycare agreements will be CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1137439944119766842006-01-16T14:30:00.000-05:002006-03-24T10:31:13.123-05:00Charities and Election Statements: What kind of Open Society is Canada?Why are people in certain Canadian religious charities afraid to comment on politics in Canada? Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps because officials from the Canadian Revenue Agency have told them in the past that they shouldn’t and, if they do, then, as used to be said in the old gangster movies, “things could go rough for them”. CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1136913078921778222006-01-10T11:08:00.000-05:002006-03-24T10:32:27.346-05:00European Experts, the Slovak Republic and the Holy See: Why “One Size Fits All” doesn’t work for Medicine (or Education) any longer.The rhetoric of the day in most Western countries and increasingly elsewhere, such as South Africa, is of “pluralism” and “diversity”. Yet look carefully and what is going on can be anything but. Human rights can often be a cover for human wrongs and respect for CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1136405505851406892006-01-04T15:05:00.000-05:002006-03-24T10:39:58.706-05:00Democracy and the Montreal Swinger’s Club Case: Recalling that some Important Things are also not Sufficient.What directs the course of a nation? Is it merely majority will of either the parliamentary or judicial benches? What, in turn, guides that majority will of bench or government? Is ruling simply the exercise of raw power or is such power directed to a shared purpose or some kind of moral CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1134069703377270012005-12-08T14:01:00.000-05:002006-01-11T10:58:09.783-05:00Law and the Interpretation of Unwritten Principles: Why the Law must not be viewed as ComprehensiveIn a recent email exchange between a group of lawyers and legal academics a question was raised in relation to a speech given in New Zealand by Canadian Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin in which she is quoted as saying that: "The rule of law requires judges to uphold unwritten constitutional norms, CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1133810322066207412005-12-05T14:11:00.000-05:002006-03-24T10:46:01.343-05:00South Africa’s Marriage Law Decision and Further Extension of the LawOn December 1, 2005 the Constitutional Court of South Africa issued reasons for judgement in the marriage decision argued last spring. The two cases heard together (and for brevity may be referred to as the Fourie case) involved a reconsideration of both the “common law recognition” of marriage as the union of a man and a woman CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1133353446350486162005-11-28T07:21:00.000-05:002006-03-24T10:53:27.436-05:00Chesterton on France: Further Reflections on Burning Cars in Europe’s Most Civilized CountryIn a recent blog on this site that dealt ostensibly with French car burnings and also with other things, I suggested that the current unrests in France are not particularly current or particularly French. Unfortunately, I chanced across the following quotation in an essay by G.K. Chesterton (1878-1936) CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1132176567188508082005-11-16T16:20:00.000-05:002006-03-24T11:09:22.563-05:00A Year Later and another Weather Report from France: Car Burnings this Evening, Smouldering towards Dawn.Almost exactly a year before the wide-spread arson began on French streets I wrote a piece on this site about the headscarf issue in French schools that ended as follows:Unrest has begun. Like the storm we are expecting later today, things still seem quiet. Serious storms, however, can begin CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1130514892955768022005-10-28T11:52:00.000-04:002005-10-28T11:54:52.966-04:00When Cannibals Say Grace: Getting beyond the “religious” to the “what sort” questions.The Centre for Faith and Media (CFM) just hosted a national media conference in Ottawa - - “How the Media Cover Religious Pluralism in Canada”. It was a superb event. With papers on diverse topics and involving many of Canada’s leading journalists from radio, print and television, leaders in statistics and CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1127494017057349022005-09-23T12:40:00.000-04:002005-09-30T12:15:15.313-04:00Life, Death and the Meaning of Dignity in Relation to Assisted Suicide So Canada having “sorted out” abortion and same-sex marriage by litigation and political manoeuvrings over the last many years is now, apparently, going to have another chance to “debate” the issue of “assisted suicide”. One may hope for a good result but would be excused for doubting that the right course will prevail. One byCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1127490980121023942005-09-20T11:42:00.000-04:002006-03-24T11:29:09.470-05:00The Rise of “Psethics”: The “Frozen” versus “Fresh” Embryos Debate and The Bankruptcy of Contemporary Medical Ethics:The old adage “straining at gnats and swallowing camels” is nowhere more true than in what passes for contemporary medical ethics. We really should start calling pseudo ethics something else to distinguish them from the real thing. Perhaps “psethics” (pronounced “sethics”) will CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1126727928654826022005-09-14T15:45:00.000-04:002006-03-24T11:38:10.506-05:00Which is the Best Country in the World in Which to Live? Or “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all ….?”The witch in the story of “Snow White” exams her mirror to ensure that she is “fairest of them all.” She is insecure while she is doing it. In this she is not so dissimilar from those who constantly seek to console themselves, often by reading front page comments in nationalCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1126294800252653372005-09-09T15:36:00.000-04:002005-09-23T13:00:35.790-04:00Yet More Pharmacists Who Don’t Understand Ethics: This Time OntarioThe Ontario Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (“HPRAC”) is holding hearings with respect to a variety of health professional groups. One of these is the Pharmacists and Pharmacy technicians. Information on this and the various submissions made to this body may be viewed at: http://www.hprac.org/english/pageDisplay.aspCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1125321328278382512005-08-30T09:13:00.000-04:002006-03-24T12:12:11.686-05:00An Unforgettable Experience: Two Films by Godfrey ReggioThis summer while on holiday in Scotland we stayed a few days at a friend’s home on the Black Isle near Inverness. One morning I noticed a shelf of DVD’s and on it, a boxed set of two with strange unpronounceable names. I noticed that the sound track to both was by Philip Glass.Intrigued, I asked my host about them. “Take a look,” he said asCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1125319416020872882005-08-26T08:39:00.000-04:002005-08-29T09:18:23.540-04:00The Theocratic Temptation in Religion and Law: The Pat Robertson ProblemThere was once a comedian who told a story about his uncle, who, on his deathbed, gave to his nephew a bullet that he always wore on a chain around his neck.Anyway, as the uncle was giving this precious object to his nephew he said: “(cough, cough)….my boy, take care of this because if it wasn’t for this bullet, I’d have beenCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1122404427687506672005-07-23T14:56:00.000-04:002005-08-29T08:44:06.890-04:00“Wandering Between Two Worlds”: A Few Practical Suggestions for Canadians following the Same-sex Marriage Change.In the past few days I have been contacted by various people and groups to ask, “What should we do now that Same-sex Marriage is law in Canada?”Of course, the issues are bigger and deeper than merely same-sex marriage and the institutional overhaul needed in Canada long predates the CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1122403594598764652005-07-22T14:43:00.000-04:002005-07-29T10:34:01.563-04:00Why Conscience and Religion have to Be Held TogetherIt is a common blind spot for religious believers to forget that other believers (atheists, agnostics and so on) have their rights as well and that the freedom to be extended to non-religious believers is significant, just as significant in terms of law and public policy as that extended to religious believers.Still, so many fail to see this or CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1121982182006693822005-07-20T17:29:00.000-04:002005-07-22T12:42:31.223-04:00Appearing Before the Senate Standing Committee on Bill C-38 (same-sex marriage)On July 14, 2005, just over a month from my appearance before the House Committee on Bill C-38, I appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legislative Affairs. The House appearance led to amendments; my hope was that the Senate would be equally solicitous.These hopes were in vain. The Senate CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1120840224155454802005-07-08T12:24:00.000-04:002005-07-22T14:15:58.040-04:00London Terrorist Bombings and a Muslim ResponseLest there be any confusion, some Muslims are condemning the terrorist activities of those bitter little (and not so little) boys and girls who use their ethnic and religious identity to perpetuate outrages. Here is yesterday’s editorial from Ahmed Nassef on the website “Muslim Wake Up!” and I quote most of it as it is self-explanatory and CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1120662261761901992005-07-06T10:59:00.000-04:002005-07-06T11:04:21.763-04:00Summer Reading and the work of James V. Schall: Another Sort of LearningThere is an important writer still alive amongst us. He will be 80 in a few years. He has written hundreds of articles and thousands of columns and hundreds of books and contributions to the books of others. Some years ago, I was sent a manuscript of his and asked to review it for a Press in the USA. It didn’t take me CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1120494423294391812005-07-02T12:23:00.000-04:002005-07-06T10:58:39.436-04:00The Reading Down of Conscience ProtectionA pharmacist who has been doing excellent work trying to shine light into some of the more restrictive corners of the Pharmacy profession in Canada - - Cristina Alarcon, who gave a presentation at the Centre/Simon Fraser Conference recently, sends an interesting article from the recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.After commenting that at CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1119877886899251562005-06-27T09:09:00.000-04:002005-06-27T09:15:11.133-04:00Bob Brow’s Model TheologyI cannot now remember the first time that I met the Reverend Bob Brow who had recently become the Anglican Rector at St. James’ Church on the campus of Queens University in Kingston. It was sometime in 1978, perhaps due to our friends Peter and Ann Jervis.In any case, it was not long before I, and later “we”, (as my girlfriend, then later wife Eleanor) visited Kingston inCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1119877161957497852005-06-27T08:58:00.000-04:002005-06-27T09:00:42.483-04:00Inter-faith Sculpture Day in the City ParkThe Atheist erects a huge monolith with nothing on it, the Agnostic erects a stunning question mark in bronze. The Jewish artist erects a Star of David, and a Christian erects a large cross while a Muslim artist makes an attractive Crescent. Which, if any, are offensive?Which one(s) offend(s) the separation of Church and State if the City pays for them CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1119456911938345762005-06-22T16:01:00.000-04:002005-06-27T11:00:15.336-04:00Dignity and Difference: Presenting Before the Parliamentary Committee on the Same-sex Marriage BillI recently returned from a trip to the humid expanses of Ottawa and Toronto. I was invited to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Bill C-38, the same sex marriage bill. After only a few days to prepare a brief, and no days to translate it (they wanted all materials before them to be CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1119458816313629572005-06-21T12:40:00.000-04:002005-06-22T17:20:50.496-04:00The Bishop, the Taxman and the Separation of Church and StateIn the exchange that follows, from the Parliamentary Committee Hearings on Bill C-38, one of the quickest minds amongst Canadian politicians, Conservative M.P. Jason Kenney, takes up a point made by Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary who had testified that an official of Revenue Canada had phoned him. First, however, it would be a good idea CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1119454101839495622005-06-20T11:27:00.000-04:002005-06-27T11:00:48.456-04:00Almost Meeting Terry Teachout Years ago I was invited to a luncheon in New York City hosted by a friend of mine - - George Marlin. Marlin went on to become well-known as a candidate for Mayor of NYC and then was appointed head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.Part of George’s job was to run the World Trade Centre as well as the airports and ports of New York. Yes, that’s right, a CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1119290866502391912005-06-19T14:06:00.000-04:002005-06-22T17:20:19.733-04:00Threats to Tax StatusThe Centre for Cultural Renewal has been commenting on tax status threats for some time (see LexView 18.0: 'An Uncharitable Threat' in relation to the Human Life International Case). We have said for some time that the way that the threats to religious and conscience beliefs in relation to same-sex marriage issues will go is eventually towards tax and charitable status.Well, CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1118247765141482362005-06-07T12:06:00.000-04:002005-06-20T14:05:26.296-04:00CCCB Points out Canada’s non-Liberal Direction in Relation to Marriage: Is Anybody Listening?The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (“CCCB”) has spoken out about threats to religions and religious believers in a Brief they submitted to the Special Legislative Committee holding hearings on Canada’s forced gay marriage Bill C-38. One says “forced” here, advisedly, because we are a country thatCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1117650543696317292005-05-31T14:28:00.000-04:002005-06-01T14:29:03.696-04:00“Ultimate Fighting” and Ancient RomeI recently had occasion to spend a few most interesting days in the Republic of South Africa. While there I had some wonderful and disturbing experiences.The most unsettling, apart from the poverty and evident signs of violence and fear had less to do with South Africa than a television program out of the United States that was on the regular channel on the CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1117649870245885992005-05-27T14:14:00.000-04:002005-06-01T15:26:42.693-04:00Christian Activists Get Party Nominations: Woo, Scary….So a journalist at the Globe and Mail is up to the usual kind of coverage of an issue involving religion and our public life in Canada. Here is how one of its journalists describes the fact that some well-known Christians have gained Conservative party nominations:CHRISTIAN ACTIVISTS CAPTURING TORY RACESSome in party worry new riding nomineesCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1117642649831360182005-05-26T12:12:00.000-04:002005-06-01T14:20:42.366-04:00Two Views of the Georgia Straight's Article on the Centre/SFU Conference"Citizenship and the Common Good: Secularism or the Inclusive Society?"Vancouver, BC, May 19 & 20, 2005.Casting faith and science against each other is futileBy Steve BaileyPublish Date: 26-May-2005As appeared in the Georgia Straight Congratulations to Shannon Rupp and the Straight for taking a serious look at some important CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1115821533707666562005-05-11T10:14:00.000-04:002005-05-30T15:10:52.656-04:00Religion and Evolution: Understanding JurisdictionRecently I gave a long interview to a very bright journalist at the Georgia Straight newspaper in Vancouver. Her questions about “intelligent design” and public school science courses, reminded me of a debate I have avoided for some years. Nothing has changed since I last looked at this issue almost a decade ago.Like the poor, the debate about CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1115819283287788032005-05-11T09:46:00.000-04:002005-05-30T15:19:48.846-04:00Henry Morgentaler: an Honorary Doctorate?So the University of Western Ontario is planning on giving an honorary doctorate to Dr. Henry Morgentaler, a man who is responsible for more deaths than the Trans Canada highway. Why would Western do this?Well, probably because it legitimizes the ideology of abortion that has made Henry a household name right across this massively depopulated country of CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1115819679762972442005-04-22T09:53:00.000-04:002005-05-11T09:54:39.766-04:00Large Families and Natural SelectionMy wife and I have seven children. Some years ago, when we lived in Canada on a small island off the West Coast, we hosted numerous musical evenings in our home. After one of these, a person we did not know, approached me and said: “I hear you have seven children, how can you possibly justify that in this day and age?”Those standing around went silent as CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1113940645877006892005-04-19T15:56:00.000-04:002005-04-20T13:03:53.240-04:00Choosing a New PopeWell, today we heard that there had been white smoke from the small smokestack on the Sistine Chapel roof - - “we have a Pope” said the Catholics and the bells pealed.While we waited to hear (on the BBC World Service) we had to endure the following commentary.First, the questions: “Will we see a “compromise candidate,” another “global papacy” another “conservative” Pope?Second,CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1114016574178724412005-04-18T12:55:00.000-04:002005-04-20T13:04:34.253-04:00The pope, Terri Schiavo, and moral consistencyBy Jim WallisSource: Sojourners (c) 2005, http://www.sojo.net/.It's sadly rare for a church leader, or for the leaders of most of our dominant institutions, to demonstrate a spirituality that attracts millions of people around the world - particularly so many young people. But the scene of millions lining up to simply pass by the body of John Paul II CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1114116754370197992005-04-15T16:50:00.000-04:002005-04-21T16:52:34.373-04:00The Next Pope May Well Not be Black OR White:Many are descending on Rome hoping to see who will ascend to the throne of Peter or even to try and influence the decision. The Press is buzzing about whom it might be when the decision goes up in smoke. The Cardinals are not talking.What a waste of time such speculation is! Recall that, last time around, all the pundits failed to pick a young CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1113592292959093252005-04-15T13:50:00.000-04:002005-04-15T15:11:32.966-04:00Why Courts Should not be Limiting “Sacred Spaces”For some time now those concerned with increasing challenges to religious institutions have predicted that same-sex activists would eventually attack the basic right of religious people to determine and practice in accordance with their beliefs as to what conduct is moral or not according to their religious tenets. These attacks have been underway CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1113419456737451162005-04-13T14:40:00.000-04:002005-04-13T15:20:05.736-04:00Why the Church Should not Necessarily (or at all) “Change with the Times.”~ "This talk about the Church modernizing is silly. The Church's role is to guide society, not be led by it." Iain Benson, (quoted on the BBC News Website, April 13, 2005) ~These words were posted recently by the BBC on its website. Of course they were in response to a whole lot of comments from people themselves respondingCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1112720412109725152005-04-05T12:53:00.000-04:002005-04-18T15:50:30.096-04:00Some Thoughts on The Nature of Religion:One of the wiser minds around in the area of law and the relationship between law and religion in Canada is Toronto lawyer David Brown.We have had the pleasure of being in various courtrooms over the years when each of us was acting for different clients. He has also attended various Centre events at which we have had a variety of Canadian constitutional CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1112711201904872402005-04-05T10:24:00.000-04:002005-04-18T15:52:42.156-04:00Chipping away at freedom of religionLike everyone else, members of Canada's political establishment are making a great show of respect for the passing of Pope John Paul II. But even as they are doing so, the forced ecularization of Canadian society is continuing apace.Consider, for instance, the plight of Fred Henry, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Calgary, who is being hauled before the Alberta CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1112618852737061642005-04-02T08:44:00.000-05:002005-04-04T08:58:07.923-04:00Pope John Paul II the GreatThere are few times across the span of living generations when a person comes into the world and influences it to such an extent that it is changed forever in some way. Of course it could be said of everyone that his or her actions, for good or evil, have such effects unseen. That is not the kind of influence that Pope John Paul II has exercised over the last, nearly CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1112298630011174252005-03-31T14:45:00.000-05:002005-03-31T14:52:47.910-05:00An Open Letter to Premier Ralph Klein of Albertaand Marie Riddle, the Director of the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission:Re: Complaint Filed Against Pastoral Letter of Bishop Henry of CalgaryHuman Rights Tribunals depend for their ongoing credibility upon their occupying an appropriate role within a free and ordered democracy. Should human rights Tribunals and Commissions, and those CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1112199477386266892005-03-29T14:08:00.000-05:002005-03-31T14:40:45.663-05:00Why the State Should not be in the Marriage Corruption Business:Many people strenuously believe that heterosexual marriage is best for children and that it is simply wrong (and selfish) to deliberately start out to deny a child a mother and a father. Support for traditional heterosexual marriage is strong in Canada. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for either the Courts or Parliament. This CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1112120104804220442005-03-29T13:04:00.000-05:002005-03-29T13:15:04.983-05:00Freedom of Conscience, Tudor Style"Thomas, I’ll have no opposition," warned Henry VIII in A Man for All Seasons.The scene in Robert Bolt’s play takes place in Sir Thomas More’s garden. Henry has just learned that More does not support his plans to unmake his marriage."No opposition, I say!" he roared. "No opposition! Your conscience is your own affair, but you are my Chancellor!""I’ll leave you CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1110900560319860172005-03-14T10:26:00.000-05:002005-03-16T11:27:07.223-05:00Why I support the Centre for Cultural RenewalAny parent hopes that his or her most cherished beliefs and principles will somehow seep into the minds and hearts of his children before they are old enough to reject the ideas as just hogwash. That is why this past summer my wife and I took our young children on vacation from Vancouver to Ottawa. Now Ottawa can seem a strange place to reinforce the CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1110562677109447022005-03-11T12:30:00.000-05:002005-03-15T15:58:38.106-05:00Million Dollar Baby a Moral Flop: Independent Disabled Student Says Euthanasia No AnswerHaving just come back to London from spring break, I found myself relaxing in front of the television Sunday night. After surfing for several minutes, I found myself watching the Oscars. As the awards were being handed out I began to feel sick to my stomach. Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby was cleaning upCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1110483732470214032005-03-10T14:34:00.000-05:002005-04-12T15:03:24.590-04:00Sharia Law Arbitration in CanadaVarious writers in the popular press are concerned that a report in Ontario has suggested that the Arbitration Act should allow arbitrations to proceed under certain principles of Islamic Sharia law in Ontario. These writers have expressed a variety of concerns. Some suggest that recognizing Islamic religious categories will work against the rights of women since CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1110328373890595202005-03-08T19:31:00.000-05:002005-03-14T14:18:53.136-05:00We might wish to consider a few points made in the following piece by a Pat Adomnan recently submitted to the Centre for Cultural Renewal. While the expressions may be stronger than those usual to this blog site, we feel that the perspective is one that should be more widely discussed.Post-Feminism and the "Wimmin's" MovementToday is International Women's Day, but before we clank our flagons of CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1109110056849082172005-02-22T17:04:00.000-05:002005-02-22T17:07:36.853-05:00Canada: Love it or Leave it!I’ve been wondering around southern Ontario this past week. First, some lectures at Wilfred Laurier University (on “secularism”) and then meetings with various folks in Toronto. What is interesting is that amongst the lawyers I have known - - some of them for over 20 years, there is a deepening anxiety about what we could call the legal culture of Canada. This CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1109103932990711462005-02-22T15:07:00.000-05:002005-02-22T15:48:43.166-05:00Separation of Church and StateThe so-called “wall of separation” between the State and religions is one of the most misunderstood metaphors in recent history.Recently I received an email from the American based Alliance Defence Fund - - a legal fund-raising and strategy group involved in religious liberty cases. The email quoted an Attorney affiliated with the ADF in relation to a case involving CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1107964894240154872005-02-09T10:58:00.000-05:002005-02-09T12:55:21.186-05:00Continuing Significance of Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday. This is the day that, from about the 4th Century, has been recognized as the beginning of the forty days of fasting and privations that Christians refer to as Lent. This leads up to Passion Week (you've seen the movie now read the book) and Easter. The whole period is still of deep significance for many Christians.
Fasting, the CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1107468170926230962005-02-03T16:58:00.000-05:002005-02-09T12:52:32.373-05:00Section 33 Dangerous to Charter?
Letter to the Editor, National Post
Dear Sir/Madam:
So Andrew Coyne sees Section 33 as dangerous to the Charter? Far from being "a constitutional hypocrisy, a perpetual invitation to mischief, a dagger pointed at the Charter's heart" it is the only thing that will preserve the very democracy and rule of law that Section 1 of the Charter sees as fundamental to CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1107371289938964552005-02-02T13:59:00.000-05:002005-02-09T12:51:20.246-05:00Charter Section 33 and the Law Professors
For those who are not aware of it, a rather interesting exchange occurred this past week in the pages of that opinion leading journal of the hermetically sealed echo chamber of Canadian journalism (the words are Conrad Black’s) - - the Globe and Mail.
It took the form of a letter signed by about a hundred law professors (they go around in large schools CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1107467272644685232005-02-02T09:33:00.000-05:002005-02-03T18:55:12.263-05:00A Jew defends the cross
[NOTE: Occasionally, we come across a piece of such excellent good sense and importance that we seek permission to include it with our own materials. We thank the author for his permission to republish this article here. IB]
Here is a description of the seal of Los Angeles County.
There are six small panels, three going up and down each side of the seal's central CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1106935743496637692005-01-28T13:07:00.000-05:002005-02-02T14:09:09.146-05:00Spring and Assisted Suicide
It seems as if the first signs of Spring have arrived. No, not the first swallow (it would die of cold); not the first crocus (not yet anyway, even in B.C.). I refer, of course, to the first public event entitled “Should there be Assisted-Suicide in Canada?”
This time it is Sheila Rogers of the infectious laugh from CBC who is hosting a debate on this perennial CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1106767688298987462005-01-26T14:14:00.000-05:002005-01-28T13:57:39.186-05:00Brockie Decision Still Misunderstood
I don’t know why some people, especially journalists, don’t seem to understand the decision in the Scott Brockie decision. Perhaps by overstating the result they feel they can make a stronger case for religious oppression in Canada; who knows?
Here is the relevant part of what the National Post said in an editorial on “religious freedom” on January 26, 2005:CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1105655105550026122005-01-12T17:15:00.000-05:002005-01-28T13:52:42.526-05:00New Year, Free Will and Tsunami Waves
We are now a week or so into a New Year and it is the time to reconsider New Year resolutions. Those who made them ahead of time are considering whether they are living up to them. Those who did not make resolutions are, perhaps, considering whether they ought to have made some. As long as one has life and wits, it is never too late to make a resolution. It CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1102612185989654532004-12-09T13:05:00.000-05:002005-01-28T14:38:12.503-05:00Response to Marriage Decision
Here is the result of the Supreme Court of Canada’s unanimous nineteen-page decision on the Federal Marriage Reference.
1) Federal Legislation Seeking Court Blessing of Same Sex Marriage Succeeds.
2) Religious Rights to Refuse to Perform Same-sex Marriages Protected as is Refusal to Allow Same-sex Marriages on “sacred places.” Court states that Provinces must CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1102539792654528552004-12-08T14:50:00.000-05:002005-01-28T14:36:18.960-05:00How the Marriage Challenge Developed
Changes in Society Depend on Other Changes First:
Most changes in society happen because something else changed first clearing the way for later changes. Thus, to give a recent example, movements for changed divorce laws happened because the widely held views about the nature of marriage and procreation had already begun to change. Changes since have, in CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1102089923326829212004-12-03T11:00:00.000-05:002005-01-28T14:33:27.203-05:00"Compassion" for Children: Dutch Style
The Globe and Mail recently (December 1, 2004) hosted a poll with the following question:
In your opinion, is the Netherlands on the right track in allowing medical teams and parents to jointly decide to end the lives of terminally ill newborns?
This question was answered with 75% of responders saying “yes” and only 25% saying “no.” Well, that means, I CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1101921643736464522004-12-01T13:16:00.000-05:002005-01-28T14:30:00.403-05:00Atheistic Humanists and Destruction
I am in the process of reading an extraordinary book right now. By John Gray, the English Philosopher, it is entitled “Straw Dogs” (London: Granta, 2003). It is about many things but as far as I can work out the central theme (the book will take several readings), it is that Humanism took its belief in progress from Christianity and that with the debunking ofCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1101851727958299322004-11-29T16:53:00.000-05:002005-01-28T14:25:20.246-05:00Women, Veils and the Logic of “Choice”
The Muslim veil debate continues to occupy column inches and airwaves here in France. Over the past months it has become interesting to note that, increasingly, the argument is made that the wearing of a religious veil or headscarf should not be allowed by Muslim women because it offends women’s rights.
Women who wear the veil or headscarves for religious CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1101158495087465422004-11-23T16:19:00.000-05:002005-01-28T14:26:17.046-05:00Strange Death-fellows: Lewis, Huxley and Kennedy
Forty-one years ago on November 23rd 1963, three famous people died: C.S. Lewis, John F. Kennedy and Aldous Huxley Whether by natural causes or conspiratorial bullet(s) all three went to meet their maker on the same day. Peter Kreeft wrote a book about this strange co-incidence some years ago.
The interesting thing is how significant the work ofCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1101313578490606492004-11-19T11:16:00.000-05:002005-01-28T14:16:30.246-05:00Opposing Religion to Human Rights
We were recently sent a note about a meeting in Toronto November 16, 2004 at which approximately 150 Muslim parents gathered in a Toronto gym to express their opposition to a series of videos shown to Market Lane Public School students on same-sex families, according to the Toronto Star.
The videos, dubbed 'gay-ed', were shown to the children without the CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1098288011031941022004-10-26T11:55:00.000-04:002005-01-28T14:14:37.193-05:00Atheism in Decline: New World (Dis)Order
That most entertaining of English magazines, The Spectator, in its September 18, 2004 issue, carried an article by Oxford theologian Alister McGrath entitled “The Incoming Sea of Faith.” Essentially a teaser for two books that the prolific McGrath has produced entitled The Twilight of Atheism, and Dawkin’s God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life, the CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1098483906255960862004-10-22T18:23:00.000-04:002005-01-28T14:21:35.193-05:00Homophobia, Heterosexism, Intolerance and Religion
So, a friend of the Pope’s earmarked to be the Secretary for the European Commission said that he considered homosexual conduct a sin. For this he is said to be a “homophobe” and all sorts of trendy politicians in Europe - - green and not so green, are flocking to denounce him and try to ensure that he not be on the future Commission.
The man CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1098287424337948272004-10-22T11:49:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:35:47.230-05:00Waiting for the Storm
Yesterday the weather report told us to expect high winds over most of France. Today the air is heavy with expectation and very warm. The children play about in an excited manner and the barometer in the hall reads tempête.
The news last night carried a report about the first Muslim schoolgirls sent home because they refused to remove their veils before entering the schoolCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1098196622937591202004-10-19T10:31:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:27:55.510-05:00Presidential Debates: "Feelings" vs Logic
The other evening in Montreal, my friend Russ (an American) and I watched the second of the US Presidential Debates. If there was any doubt about which was the candidate to avoid, this debate made the matter clear for me. I would no more vote for John Kerry than mate with a goat. Here is why.
If there is one thing that the contemporary age has done thatCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1097846551943171642004-10-15T09:20:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:23:04.626-05:00The New Corporate Ethics
News this past week has been about the Royal Bank’s introduction of a rainbow symbol on employee’s desks. This symbol, understood by contemporaries as a gay favourable symbol, should be, so it has been intimated, placed on the desks of employees as a sign of “we love you” to gay and lesbians who have a sense that they may not, in fact, be loved.
The Royal Bank, CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1097087122938129122004-10-06T14:19:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:21:02.680-05:00New Judges "They. Are. Zealots."
The headline in Canada’s largest distribution paper was bold, clear and weird. “They. Are. Women.” (Toronto Star, Tuesday, October 5, 2004). I hadn’t realized that this fact was in dispute. What else could they have been? Vegetables? Aliens? Stuffed puppets?
What is the point exactly? Did the Star once run a comparable headline for the appointments of Justices CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1094842003532355862004-09-10T14:45:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:18:26.840-05:00Why the Angels are in the Details
The other day a friend and I went to see the famous prehistoric cave paintings at Gargas in the Southwest of France near our home by the Spanish border. That visit prompted a series of reflections suitable, perhaps, for this space. First, that everything should be taken seriously, even humour. One of the defining aspects of contemporary life is how little is CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1094049302688710462004-09-01T10:33:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:16:02.986-05:00Once more on the Pseudo Olympics
The Toronto Star, Canada’s largest circulation paper, just published an editorial about Canada’s worst Olympic Team in 52 years. Their argument was nonsense.
They said that the key to solving the “problem” is to throw more money at it.
Here is what they said: “The reality is that if Canadians want to see better showings by our athletes in Beijing in 2008, we CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1093014522716553442004-08-20T10:03:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:11:27.363-05:00Change the Olympics Now
My friend John Robson, excellent commentator for the Ottawa Citizen (and some of whose writing has appeared on our Blogsite) recently wrote a piece on how to improve the Olympics (August 13, 2004: ‘The Olympics should return to their pre-hype days’). I hope he will forgive me if I add a couple of ideas to his clever piece.
First, the Olympics would be massively improvedCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1091194967103876112004-07-30T09:41:00.000-04:002005-01-28T13:07:00.186-05:00New Game of Law Without Morality or Philosophy
Our Ottawa office sent out a notice indicating that a recent National Post Editorial had adopted our argument on "civil unions". Well. You would have thought we had advocated the ritual murder and consumption of infants! We received a host of emails, many positive but a few that were angry with us.
Most interesting were those that indicated that CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1091035383502713432004-07-28T13:20:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:59:53.773-05:00Ethics of “Choice” Thirty Years On:
Summer winding down, I suppose it was unfortunate that we have had to kill our animals. Two cats, a dog (actually a puppy), a miniature donkey “Roncevalles” and our beloved pet chimp “Washoe”, before we moved homes. But truth be told, we just didn’t want them anymore. “Washoe” and “Roncie” will be particularly missed, as they were great favourites of childrenCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1090963023131358212004-07-27T17:09:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:49:38.646-05:00National Post Article Endorses Centre's Argument on Civil Unions
For many Canadians, the U.S. Senate's rejection on Wednesday of a
constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage was just one more reminder of
the debate here at home. In recent years, courts in Quebec, Ontario, British
Columbia and Yukon have all struck down laws that restrict marriage to the
union of a man and a woman. Over the CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1090615825105577982004-07-23T09:00:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:37:57.893-05:00Civil Unions vs Same-sex Civil Marriages
What is the difference between “civil marriages” and “civil unions?” A great deal. Someone recently sent me a newspaper article that says that “civil marriages” are just shorthand for “same-sex marriages” and that nobody should accept “civil marriages” for this reason. They argued that a split between “civil marriages” and “religious marriages,” the one CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1090425387012817352004-07-21T09:03:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:28:05.916-05:00New Bible Translations
A few years ago, there was an item circulated on conservative Christian email lists regarding a supposed interview with the author of the Harry Potter books. It purported to be an interview that showed that the author, J.K. Rowling, was in league with Satan.
It was circulated by all sorts of well-meaning but rather gullible people who seized upon this hoax as evidence CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1088613479285484082004-06-30T13:37:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:22:45.420-05:00Benefits of a Minority Government
The Liberals have been soundly trounced. Not the wholesale slaughter that the Kim Campbell Conservatives experienced eons ago (where they were virtually wiped out) but a sound thrashing just the same. Judging by both the popular vote and the huge loss of seats, it is clear that Canadians have not been satisfied with Liberal performance of late.
According to theCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1088180239130821472004-06-25T11:54:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:20:10.100-05:00If Every Desire Becomes a Right, Then Real Rights are Devalued
The Liberal candidate in Mount Royal, Irwin Cotler (who is also the minister of justice in the Martin government), has chastised Stephen Harper for his stand on same-sex marriage. In his comment, published in the Citizen Wednesday ("The Charter is here to stay." June 16), he throws in everything but the kitchen sink in what is CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1087588127696608312004-06-19T15:47:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:09:26.030-05:00Section 33 is NOT "Anti-Charter"
It was interesting to watch the Canadian English language leadership debate on June 15th. The four party leaders squared off in what was obviously a tightly scripted "debate" of issues deemed by someone to be important to this election. They all read their carefully prepared notes and tried to fit within the tight time-frames to make opening and closing CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1087585683738259102004-06-19T15:07:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:03:45.210-05:00"Canadian Values” are Meaningless
My friend, columnist John Robson, has just written a wonderful column in the Ottawa Citizen (June 11, 2004) dealing with the current phobia about morality in politics. It would not be possible to write a better piece on the subject so I want just to bring it to our reader’s attention. We are pleased to have that article reprinted on our blog site here with CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1087586003689240652004-06-18T13:11:00.000-04:002005-01-28T12:19:16.556-05:00Politicians Struggle to Evade the Taint of Morality
Apparently we're not supposed to discuss moral issues during an election campaign. Which only leaves immoral ones, I suppose. Or perhaps amoral. Would it be wrong to ask why?
Once, politicians feared the taint of immorality. Now they fear the taint of morality. It's not completely clear to me whether they're trying to persuade us that they CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1087320257967317172004-06-12T13:09:00.000-04:002005-01-28T11:57:02.800-05:00The Senator Changes Parties
Oh that Canada had more politicians like Senator Anne Cools! Alas, we do not.
She became a Senator - - the first black Senator, as a matter of fact, on the recommendation of then Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1984.
One wonders if the late Prime Minister had a clue what sort of Senator she would become?
Principled, out-spoken, courageous, tireless in workCCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1085753785901166802004-05-28T10:13:00.000-04:002005-01-28T11:54:29.326-05:00Soldiers and Societal Morals
Yesterday the “Culture” channel of French radio had a discussion about the recent events concerning photos of American soldiers and captured Iraqis. The learned and articulate guests quoted extensively from Michael Moore and Susan Sontag. Several wanted to discuss the latter’s comments somewhere to the effect that the Iraq photos were really about pornography and CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1084903489418152522004-05-18T13:39:00.000-04:002005-01-28T11:50:16.973-05:00The Cost of Defending Rights
A recent court decision shows that it is possible in Canada for a person, while defending the exercise of his rights, and partially winning, to be hit, on appeal of an award of costs in his favour, with costs later on.
In this case the person involved was fighting the Spirit of the Age - - pushing an unpopular cause and, in fact, challenging the wrong side of a CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1084214550133885352004-05-10T14:40:00.000-04:002005-01-28T11:44:46.986-05:00Dalai Lama and “Secular Ethics”
The Dalai Lama came to Vancouver recently with a few other famous people (April 18 – 20th, 2004) to receive doctorates, give a spiritual teaching and participate in a Dialogue about the head and the heart. He was lauded, celebrated, feted and, in some cases, or so it appeared, worshipped. The occasional journalist who did not “get it” even gently criticized him.
CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1082996507254617052004-04-26T13:21:00.000-04:002005-01-28T11:42:46.750-05:00Parental Freedom to Teach?
According to Press Reports (Vancouver Sun, Thursday April 22, 2004) the British Columbia Ministry of Education has decided that parents who enroll in its program of distance learning for home-schoolers must not use “other” materials or, in fact, religious materials with their own children.
This is a rather stunning but not inconsistent development. Secularism, as we CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1081445291472518332004-04-12T13:28:00.000-04:002005-01-28T11:40:39.693-05:00Consensus With a Vengeance
We at the Centre have many times over the years commented upon the danger of hiding coercion under the honeyed words of the day. Recently, a speech by Chief Justice Roy McMurtry of Ontario to the Saskatchewan Bar Association gave further helpful evidence to those of us who believe that many judges have been led astray and that the language some of them now use give CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1081445038206805342004-04-07T13:23:00.000-04:002005-01-28T11:37:50.350-05:00Abolish "Hate Crimes" Section
Hatred, as any dictionary will tell you, is a "feeling" or "emotion". Crimes, on the other hand, are actions. Hatred should not be a crime anymore than, say, "jealousy" or "greed" should be crimes. Acted on, they can become crimes; until then they are not.
Jealousy, like any of the seven deadly feelings, (surely no one speaks of "sins" any longer in a CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1079730938565759552004-03-19T16:15:00.000-05:002005-01-28T11:34:04.386-05:00Conscience in Relation to “Health”
The folks who manage that superb website of the Protection of Conscience Project, www.consciencelaws.org, sent out a note earlier this week about a student at the medical school at the University of Manitoba. Apparently this medical student has been threatened with loss of graduation if, because of his stated religious reasons, he will not offer abortion as an CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1078863497235808882004-03-09T15:18:00.000-05:002005-01-28T11:31:56.123-05:00Mel Gibson's "Passion"
Last week in London England (where the film has not yet been released), I attended a private screening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ". It was interesting to see the film having read so many reviews about it. The film is bloody, it is not anti-Semitic unless one uses a definition of that word that amounts to racism in reverse.
We all know by now that the film is CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041988.post-1078242227771784892004-03-02T10:43:00.000-05:002005-01-28T11:29:58.036-05:00Indoctrination or Education?
What is indoctrination? The Oxford English Dictionary (the really big one reduced to really small print) tells us that it means "to imbue with learning or to teach" and not one of the definitions given is negative. The more recent Oxford English Reference Dictionary (Second edition 2002) refers to the teaching element but adds "to teach systematically or for a long CCRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03145436668957141645noreply@blogger.com