The Canadian Council of Churches addresses US health care debates

The Canadian Council of Churches has written to three of the largest church bodies in the United States – the National Council of Churches, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the National Association of Evangelicals – to share experiences in similar debates on health care that have taken place in Canada.

Noting that Canadians are aware that certain lobby groups and media outlets in the United States regularly use critical references to Canada’s health care system and interviews with Canadian citizens to support their arguments, and that a publicly administered, single-payer system such as we have in Canada has not been proposed by Washington law makers, the letter states that, "the principles guiding our health care system have an unmistakable affinity with the love of neighbour..."

The experience of the Council is offered to the NCC, USCCB, and the NAE, with a view of sharing wisdom without imposition. The letter is one of solidarity, which affirms the belief that health care is a moral enterprise that must be undertaken in the advocacy work of Christian churches.

Given the timely and critical nature of these debates, the voice of the churches must not go unheard.

Look here for the complete text of the letter.

For more information or an interview please contact:
Erin Green
Communications Officer
The Canadian Council of Churches
416.972.9494 x 42

  Technorati tags: Mots clés : ecumenical health care network, ccc, canadian council of churches, health care,
Posted: August 14, 2009 Transmis : 14 août 2009

Le Conseil canadien des Églises a écrit aux églises des États-Unis

Le Conseil canadien des Églises a écrit à trois des plus grands organismes religieux des États-Unis, soit au National Council of Churches, à la United States Conference of Catholic Bishops et à la National Association of Evangelicalism pour partager avec eux son expérience de débats sur les soins de santé analogues à ceux qui ont eu lieu au Canada.

Observant, d’une part, que les Canadiens savent que certains groupes de pression et médias des États-Unis se servent des références critiques au système de soins de santé du Canada et d’interviews de citoyens pour appuyer leurs arguments et, d’autre part, que les législateurs de Washington n’ont pas proposé le système financé par l’État et à payeur unique que nous avons au Canada, la lettre mentionne que « les principes qui guident notre système de soins de santé ont une affinité incontestable avec l’amour du prochain… »

Le Conseil offre les fruits de son expérience au NCC, à la USCCB et à la NAE dans le dessein de partager sa sagesse avec eux sans rien imposer. Il s’agit ici d’une lettre de solidarité affirmant notre conviction selon laquelle les soins de santé représentent une entreprise morale que les Églises chrétiennes se doivent d’appuyer dans le cadre de leur défense des droits. (disponible en anglais seulement)

L’urgence et la nature critique de ces débats exigent que la voix des Églises se fasse entendre.

Voir ci-joint le texte intégral de la lettre.

Pour en savoir davantage ou pour obtenir une interview, prière de contacter :

Erin Green
Agente de communication
Le Conseil canadien des Églises
416.972.9494 x 42

  Technorati tags: Mots clés : conseil canadien des églises, santé, ecumenical health care network, canada,
Posted: August 14, 2009 Transmis : 14 août 2009

Fr. Bernard de Margerie - A Life in Ecumenism

At the end of June this year, Fr. Bernard de Margerie retired from active ministry after over 50 years. During these years he has served in parish ministry across the RC Diocese of Saskatoon, and in a number of specialized ministries. The Prairie Centre for Ecumenism claims Fr. Bernard as our own. He was the founder of the Centre back in 1984, and served as the executive director until 1994. He has continued to have an active role in ecumenism in Saskatoon and across the diocese in more recent years. At retirement, he was pastor of Paroisse Sts-Martyrs-Canadiens in Saskatoon, and ecumenical officer for the diocese.

During the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January 2009, Fr. Bernard was "interviewed" by Jan Bigland-Pritchard during the concluding service at McClure United Church. Jan asked him about his life in ecumenism, his recollections about early ecumenical endeavours in Saskatoon, and the founding of the Centre. Here is an audio recording of that interview.

At the Summer Ecumenical Institute in June 2009, Fr. Bernard participated in a panel discussion about the current state of the ecumenical movement. Reflecting on the levels of ecumenical awareness and commitment today, Fr. Bernard suggested that the churches and their leadership need a new conversion to Christian unity. "The journey has become too long, too heavy, and light has dimmed." As other panellists commented on the apparent "ecumenical winter", Fr. Bernard reminded us that ecumenical achievements come from the Holy Spirit who moves the hearts of faithful Christians to commitment to the will of Christ for unity. Ecumenical conversion remains an important theme in Fr. Bernard's ecumenical vision, as it has throughout his ministry. Reports from the Summer Ecumenical Institute appeared in the Prairie Messenger on June 17:
• Formation of Catholics on unity still 'severely lacking'
• Crisis in ecumenism related to its success
• Prairie Centre hosts Summer Ecumenical Institute

  Technorati tags: Mots clés : bernard de margerie, saskatoon, ecumenism, christian unity,
Posted: August 6, 2009 Transmis : 6 août 2009