Please distribute and sign the Ecumenical and Interfaith Declaration on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Dear Catholic Movements and Associations of Canada,
I hope this email finds you well. Happy 2016 to you and your love ones. Please see email below sent to the Catholic Bishops of Canada from the CCCB General Secretary, Msgr. Frank Leo. Any further distribution efforts you can bring forward to help circulate the Ecumenical and Interfaith Declaration on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide would be greatly appreciated. The Bishops of Canada, along with are ecumenical and interfaith signatory partners, are circulating the Declaration broadly in their respective communities in the hopes of gathering more signatures indicating our opposition to the legalization of Physician Assisted Suicide. Signatures to the Declaration are made on line. The Declaration and the signatory option can be accessed at the following links:
English – http://www.euthanasiadeclaration.ca/sign-the-declaration/
French – http://www.euthanasiadeclaration.ca/fr-signer-la-declaration/
Wishing you a blessed and joyful New Year.
Sincerely,
Kyle.
From: Bishops
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 4:01 PM
To: Bishops
Subject: Ecumenical and Interfaith Declaration on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide – Campaign for additional signatures
Your Eminences / Your Excellencies,
This past October 29, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) and the CCCB launched a joint Declaration on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide at the National Press Gallery in Ottawa on Parliament Hill. The CCCB and EFC were assisted in the launching by Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka from the Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa, and Imam Samy Metwally from the Ottawa Main Mosque/Ottawa Muslim Association. At the time of its release, the Declaration had 56 signatories from Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders across Canada.
The sponsoring signatories to the Declaration, including the CCCB, would now like to make a concerted effort to obtain signatures from a wide spectrum of Canadians who agree with the principles outlined in the Declaration. The EFC and the Jewish and Muslim partners have agreed to do the same. The number of signatures has already grown to 1,961 as of January 7, including some members from among various mainline Protestant Churches.
You are invited to encourage your diocesan offices, parishes and local ecumenical and interfaith contacts to distribute and sign the joint Declaration and help make it better known. Signatures to the Declaration are made on line. The Declaration and the signatory option can be accessed at the following links:
English – http://www.euthanasiadeclaration.ca/sign-the-declaration/
French – http://www.euthanasiadeclaration.ca/fr-signer-la-declaration/
The hope is that a significant number of Canadians will sign so that when Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim representatives are engaging federal, provincial, territorial or municipal governments on the question of euthanasia and assisted suicide, the Declaration can be used as evidence of the numerous and diverse groups of Canadians who do not support physician-assisted suicide.
The project for the joint Declaration was developed in consultation with the CCCB Executive Committee and Permanent Council, and the final text was approved by the Executive Committee.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Msgr. Frank Leo, Jr., C.S.S.
General Secretary
_______________________________________
Kyle Ferguson
Advisor for Ecclesial and Interfaith Relations
Conseiller pour les relations ecclésiales et interreligieuses
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada
2500 Don Reid Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 2J2 Canada
Telephone: (613) 241-9461 ext 226
Fax: (613) 241-8117
www.cccb.ca