For years, the Canadian churches have made care for the Earth an integral aspect of their justice work. There is no greater threat to our collective future than the destruction of the ecosystems upon which all life is dependent. Caring for Creation is a spiritual commitment to God that is not optional in our faith.

The Canadian government's Clean Air Act announced on October 19 as the centerpiece of its so-called "Made in Canada" Green Plan for Canada lacks the vision and courage to seriously tackle climate change.

Reduction in harmful air pollutants is welcome, but diverts attention from the far greater threat to Canadians' long-term health posed by the dramatic climate changes resulting from dangerous levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The fact that the Kyoto Accord is not even mentioned in the government's Clean Air Act is further evidence of our government's intention to abandon Canada's targets in this critical international agreement.

Les Églises du Canada ont depuis des années fait du soin de la Terre une dimension intégrale de leur travail de promotion de la justice. Il n'est pas de plus grande menace pesant sur notre avenir commun que la destruction des écosystèmes dont dépend toute vie. Prendre soin de la création est un engagement spirituel envers Dieu que notre foi ne rend pas optionnel.

La Loi sur la qualité de l'air qu'annonçait le gouvernement canadien le 19 octobre, en faisant la pièce maîtresse de son soi-disant Plan vert « fait au Canada », manque de vision et de courage. Elle ne peut pas s'attaquer avec force au problème des changements climatiques.

Nous accueillons positivement la réduction des polluants dommageables pour la qualité de l'air, mais elle détourne l'attention de la menace beaucoup plus grave à la santé à long terme des Canadiennes et des Canadiens que représentent les changements climatiques dramatiques causés par le niveau dangereusement élevé des gaz à effet de serre dans l'atmosphère. Le gouvernement ne fait même pas mention du Protocole de Kyoto dans la Loi canadienne sur la qualité de l'air. C'est une preuve de plus que le gouvernement a l'intention d'abandonner les cibles que cet accord international d'une importance critique fixe au Canada.

The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism's Fall Workshop for Ecumenical Contacts will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at St. Francis RC Church, Saskatoon (Willow St. & Melrose Ave.) from 9:00 a.m. – noon. Our theme is "After you say hello: going deeper in inter-church dialogue."

Lots of people can generate some enthusiasm for 'surface' ecumenism (occasional potlucks, an annual joint service, etc.), but how do you move yourself and your church from polite greetings to meaningful, lasting engagement? This can be particularly challenging for lay people who operate at varying distances from the centres of power in their churches. Sharing enthusiasm and tested ideas with us will be the Rev. Dr. Jim Halmarson, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, who is serving with the Anglican parish of Christ Church, Saskatoon, and who also teaches at the Lutheran Theological Seminary.

The workshop forms part of the ongoing training and development of Ecumenical Contacts – people in parishes and congregations who accept the call to work for Christian unity and reconciliation – but it is open to anyone who is interested in the subject. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. There is no charge for the workshop (donations welcome). For further information call the PCE at 306-653-1633 or email

Open Letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI by 38 Leading Muslim Scholars and Leaders.

In an unprecedented move, an open letter signed by 38 leading Muslim religious scholars and leaders around the world was sent to Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 12, 2006. The letter, which is the outcome of a joint effort, was signed by top religious authorities. All the eight schools of thought and jurisprudence in Islam are represented by the signatories, including a woman scholar. In this respect the letter is unique in the history of interfaith relations.

The letter was sent, in a spirit of goodwill, to respond to some of the remarks made by the Pope during his lecture at the University of Regensburg on Sept. 12, 2006. The letter tackles the main substantive issues raised in his treatment of a debate between the medieval Emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an "educated Persian", including reason and faith; forced conversion; "jihad" vs. "holy war"; and the relationship between Christianity and Islam. They engage the Pope on an intellectual level concerning these crucial topics--which go well beyond the controversial quotation of the emperor--pointing out what they see as mistakes and oversimplifications in the Pope's own remarks about Islamic belief and practice.

The complete press release, and the official and full English version of the open letter along with the full list of signatories is available now on the Islamica Magazine website.

A one woman musical entitled "The Gospel of Mary Magdalene" will be performed on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Andrew's College Lounge. The musical play was written and composed, and will be performed, by Angie Tysseland. In the musical, the story, spirit, and songs of Mary Magdalene are sung and played with a contemporary spin. The original music is at times meditative, and at times quirky and lively.

Angie Tysseland is the director of The Refinery Arts & Spirit Centre and the Refiner's Choir of St. James Anglican Church, Saskatoon. As a composer of musical theatre, she has written music for "New York is Big but this is Biggar" with Tom Bentley, "The Girl Who was Saved by Jazz" and "Tune Town" with Don Kerr, "The Dreamriders" with Margaret Epp, as well as her own "The Rev" and "The Colour Sessions." Sacred music credits include "The Refiner's Fire," "The Downtown Mass" and "Walking to the Light." A multi-talented woman, Angie also sings, plays in jazz groups, and music-directs for theatre.

This musical is part of the 2006-2007 program for the Friends of Sophia, an interdenominational group of women based on the university campus which is dedicated to nurturing Christian feminist spirituality through educational opportunities, shared experience, and liturgical celebration. Watch for the January event featuring Dr. Barbara E. Reid, O.P. on January 28 & 29, 2007.

Multi-Faith Saskatoon will present the 22nd Annual Festival of Faith on Oct. 29, 2:00 p.m., at Nutana Park Mennonite Church (1701 Ruth Street). More information will come later.

The week of November 12-19 will be observed across Canada and around the world as Restorative Justice Week. The theme for 2006 is Creative Partnerships & Collaborative Action. "This theme celebrates the expression of the creativity found within existing partnerships and challenges us to forge new and stronger ones. These new alliances provide an opportunity to introduce restorative justice principles, values, and initiatives to broader cross sections of Canadians.

"Restorative justice endeavours to build a healthier and safer society through the restoration of communities. It addresses the real needs of those impacted by harmful behaviour and empowers community groups. Ultimately, it encourages a commitment to the humanization of justice that allows victims to continue the healing process and offenders to take ownership for the consequences of their actions. Finally, restorative justice demands that the root causes of harmful behaviour be addressed, including the inequities grounded in racism, poverty, child abuse, and substandard living environments.

"Restorative justice is a non-adversarial, non-retributive approach to justice that emphasizes healing in victims, meaningful accountability of offenders, and the involvement of citizens in creating healthier, safer communities. Crime is a violation of people and relationships. Restorative justice works to repair the damage and promote healing and growth - important tools in finding more peaceful and collaborative ways of resolving conflicts in our society. It strives to provide support and opportunities for voluntary participation and communication between those affected - victims, offenders, and community - to encourage accountability, reparation, and movement towards understanding, feelings of satisfaction, healing and closure."

For further information about Restorative Justice Week and events in your area, see the RJW website provided by the Correctional Service of Canada.

La semaine du 12 au 19 novembre est la Semaine de la justice réparatrice au Canada. Le thème de 2006 est Partenariats novateurs, collaboration solide. « Ce thème célèbre l'esprit d'innovation qui caractérise déjà certains partenariats existants. Il nous appelle à poursuivre nos efforts en établissant de nouveaux partenariats plus solides où tous les intervenants s'entraident pour de meilleurs résultats. Ces nouvelles alliances nous permettront de faire connaître à une plus grande envergure de Canadiens et Canadiennes les principes, valeurs et expressions de la Justice réparatrice.

« Le principal objectif de la justice réparatrice est de bâtir une société plus sécuritaire et saine en favorisant le rétablissement des collectivités. La justice réparatrice répond aux besoins véritables des personnes qui sont touchées par un comportement préjudiciable et permet aux groupes communautaires de jouer un rôle actif. Ultimement, elle favorise l'humanisation du système de justice qui permet aux victimes de continuer leur processus de guérison et les délinquants à assumer les conséquences de leurs actes. Finalement, la justice réparatrice permet de s'attaquer aux causes profondes du comportement préjudiciable, notamment au racisme, à la pauvreté, aux mauvais traitements subis pendant l'enfance et à des conditions de vie difficiles.

« La justice réparatrice se veut une approche non conflictuelle et non rétributive qui s'intéresse tout particulièrement au rétablissement des victimes, à la responsabilisation des délinquants ainsi qu'à la collaboration des citoyens, de manière à créer des collectivités plus saines et plus sûres. Le crime est une atteinte aux gens et aux relations. La justice réparatrice tente de réparer les méfaits et de promouvoir la guérison et la croissance. Elle mène dans une large mesure au règlement pacifique des conflits au sein de notre société. La démarche vise à assurer un soutien et à créer des occasions de participation volontaire et de communication entre les personnes touchées (victimes, délinquants, collectivités) en vue d'encourager la responsabilisation, la réparation et un mouvement vers la compréhension, des sentiments de satisfaction, de guérison et de conclusion. »

Pour plus d'information de la Semaine de la justice réparatrice et des événements dans votre regione, voir le siteweb de la Semaine par le Service correctionel Canada.