VICTORIA DIOCESAN COUNCIL
President: Christa Grillmair Spiritual Advisor: Rev. Alfredo Monacelli
October 9, 2020 Communiqué #7
From: Gerry Heywood, Resolution Chair
“It is your task and mine to assist all of those who cross our paths to fulfill their destiny. Serving others in this way will also allow us to fulfill our own destiny. This is one of the brilliant and beautful ways that God has led us all together”
Mathew Kelly: Rediscover Catholicism _____________________________________________________________________________
Dear Sisters-in-Christ and Father Alfredo:
Last month, Father Alfredo spoke to our Diocesan Council (through Zoom) on what it means to be a member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada. This reflection is, in my opinion, the most important thing I have ever heard concerning our League and I think it is worthwhile sharing with you.
“Wisdom from Fr. Alfredo: Reflection on a quotation from a Spanish priest who asked that in the difficult circumstances of our lives, do we remain in negativity and complaint or do we take our lives and results in frustration? With our meetings restricted, do we begin to question our membership in the CWL or do we see it as a challenge to examine the maturity of our faith? The question we must answer is whether the CWL is just a social gathering for us or is it a vocation, a call from God to participate in the life of the church through the charism of the CWL? Our main work is to fight evil on a political level. This pandemic is allowing us to take time to examine our participation in the CWL and what work God is calling us to both personally and collectively. Does what we are doing bring real gladness to our hearts? We will fade away if we do not accept this call as an organization. Therefore, if we accept this call, then no problem is insurmountable. Each one of us must ask ourselves if we live our faith selfishly for ourselves or do we live it in the most meaningful way for the glory of God.”
With Father Alfie’s reflection in mind, it should come as no surprise that our Provincial Resolution Chair, Sharon Ciebin would send us the following Communique and call to action. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways!
God Bless, you, Gerry Heywood
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From Provincial Resolution Chair: Sharon CiebinDear Sisters in the League and Father David:
It seems like a life time has passed since my last communication with you so please bear with me as I share pertinent information. The pandemic has certainly caused each of us time to pause and reflect on our own lives as well as those of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society. It may have caused our conventions to be cancelled but I want to assure you the work of the League has continued - albeit through Zoom and GotoMeetings. Our governments, at all levels, have reacted to the immediate needs of citizens and are now strategizing to implement new processes and laws to support those most in need in our society as we recover. The time for member action is now! Members must raise their voices in support of our resolutions by visiting politicians, letter writing and candidate interviews (BC election October 24th). In this communique I will provide examples of relevant resolutions, attach BC Resolution 2018.03 and samples of letters, as well as provide resources which I trust you will use.
Our national chairperson, Cathy Bouchard, has provided us with timely updated information and guidance through her communiques. Her sage advice “If you want to persuade politicians to take a specific action, the best way to do this is to write a constituent letter, also sending it to the relevant minister, leader of the opposition and opposition critic. Constituent letters can be a powerful means of urging politicians to change their mind” found in her communique #8 dated March 31st as well as the following tips on how to write letters. I also include her sample in the attachments.
The message should be clear, concise and direct, but not disrespectful.
Start by making it clear you are writing as a constituent and as a member of The Catholic
Women’s League of your parish council (not as a representative of The Catholic Women’s
League of Canada).
Refer to a resolution that is concerning you. If writing an e-mail, include the
hyperlink mannligapotek.com.
Clarify your view (reword the resolved clause), on the issue from the beginning, making it
personal.
Categorize and clearly state why you have that view (use the brief—summarize important
points).
Appreciate the recipient for their services.
Stress once again what you want to see.
Ask a question and state that you look forward to hearing back from them.
When composing a letter, be sure to refer to the Personal Letter Writing Guide at cwl.ca/wp-content/ uploads/2017/12/173-Personal-Letter-Writing-Guide.pdf.
Realizing that members may be overwhelmed with the many issues existing in our communities today such as homelessness, mental health, addictions causing drug overdoses which are rampant in BC, bullying, euthanasia, Medical Assistance in Dying and human trafficking, I provide relevant resolutions which address the root cause of many of these.
Education
In BC the BC Teacher’s Foundation and ARC developed a program to address bullying and while the need for such a program exists, the one being used currently removes the parents’ right to address
equality and respect for diversity. Members can find the program by visiting their local school district’s website
I attach the full Resolution 2018.03 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 123 (SOGI 123) in this email. Reference to this was made in the Provincial visit in 2018 and I will be addressing this at my earliest opportunity with government. We must ask our candidates running for election where they stand on this issue.
Homelessness
People are homeless due to numerous situations, which include mental health issues. I provide a sampling of relevant resolutions for your review.
BC & Yukon - resolutions located on bcyukoncwl.com website – resolutions2012.01 - Protection and Care of Sexually Exploited Children (there are no child appropriate detoxification and counselling services and no independent supportive housing).
National - resolutions located on cwl.ca - to act on – resolutions – by date2015.01 Increased Early Access and Intervention to Children and Youth Mental Health Services 2017.01 – Full implementation of the Supreme Court decision in R. v. Gladue for Indigenous Offenders 1997.09 – Restorative Justice Program for Young Offenders
Health Care
Our federal government has developed a framework on palliative care that has not been initiated as yet. Why not? Members need to bring this to their local candidates as well as write letters requesting it be implemented to their MP’s.National
2018.03 Legislate Designation of Hospice/Palliative Care Services in Facilities to Exclude Medical Assistance in Dying2017.04 – Protection from Coercion of Conscience for Healthcare Professionals2007.02 – Hospice Palliative Care an Integral Component of Health Care
Human Trafficking
Pope Francis refers to human trafficking as “modern day slavery” and it is the fastest growing crime in the world. While Resolution 2012.01 Criminalization of the Purchasing of Sexual Services has been achieved there is still much work to be done in having our new law The Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act enforced and we have two active resolutions. In order to assist you in understanding the issue of human trafficking, who is being trafficked (children as young as 10 – 14 off school grounds) and why it should matter, the Vancouver Archdiocese Anti Human Trafficking committee is offering every diocese a one hour power point presentation. For more information on this please contact your diocesan president.
National
2017.02 – Mandatory Age Verification Mechanisms for Adult Pornographic Websites (demand created) 2009.01 – Exit Strategies for Prostituted Persons
I trust you will find the information above helpful and useful as you reach out to the members in your parish councils. One very important lesson we have learned from the pandemic is that personal
connection is key. How is your diocese connecting with councils? Realizing that not all parish councils use computer, nor have a resolutions chairperson, it is vitally important we provide support on resolutions to them.
There is a very useful resource recently developed by working group members implementing the strategies found in the booklet “The Catholic Women’s League of Canada Plans Strategically”, called The Welcome Program. The program has been forwarded to your president elects. In the program you will find an extremely useful membership form which identifies members’ interested in social justice issues. Discovering who these women are (even perhaps new members who will join) and educating them on processes and activities will transform the League. Once interested members become educated they will be the motivators in their parish councils for action.
Where do we go from here?
Plans are underway for convention 2021 and Cathy is asking all provinces to complete their resolutions which were being prepared for 2020 convention. I have reached out to the members of the provincial resolutions committee for their input.
Additionally, there are three resolutions recently archived that originated in B.C. and we are asked to consider updating them. I will include a listing of these in my next communique, which I will forward to you within the next couple of weeks.
Working on this issue as well as attending the Human Trafficking presentation would be so beneficial to newly identified members who are interested in social justice in your diocese.
If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to either myself or a member of our resolution committee.
May all of our actions be inspired by the words of Helen Keller “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”
God Bless
Sharon