Report of Church Persons' Seminar

Publisher:  Conference of Catholic Bishops and The Canadian Council of Churches, Ottawa, Canada
Year Published:  1978
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX817

This report contains the Seminar's recommendations with respect to civil and political rights, refugee and immigrant rights, rights of women, rights of self-determination, rights of workers, unemployment and farmers in Canada.

Abstract: 
The Church Persons' Seminar was attended by over 100 people from across Canada. This report contains the Seminar's recommendations with respect to civil and political rights, refugee and immigrant rights, rights of women, rights of self-determination, rights of workers, unemployment and farmers in Canada.

The Seminar strongly requested that the Canadian government not grant further powers to the police forces until a public debate has been held on these basic issues. This report includes the withdrawal of the present Bill C-26 on mailing opening.

Also strongly recommended was that the churches critically analyze their 'neutral' positions, since all too often the churches seem to be on the side of power over against the oppressed.

Some individual at the Seminar also recommended that the Canadian Council of Churches and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops call Canadian people to examine our present economic and political structures and to formulate proposals and practical steps to provide work for all and to ensure equitable distribution of the products of wealth so produced. The five Appendices of the document contain a talk on Human Rights, the report on the work groups on civil and political rights, rights of refugees and immigrants, and rights of workers.