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WORLD MARCH OF WOMEN 2000 STATEMENT OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF VANCOUVER A. Debate The decision of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Executive, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, and the National Executive of the Catholic Women's League to support the World March of Women 2000 has generated much debate, problems of conscience, anxiety and disagreement. B. Stance of Archdiocese of Vancouver The Archdiocese of Vancouver, with the full and strong support of its Presbyteral Council and its Archdiocesan CWL, does not support the World March of Women 2000 with its present international and national demands because some of these demands are ambiguous and some are directly opposed to essential and fundamental elements of Catholic teaching. The Archdiocese is in full agreement with some of the general objectives of the World March of Women 2000 , such as the eradication of poverty and violence against women. However, other objectives found in both the international and national list of demands are another matter. As already mentioned, some are ambiguous and some are in direct conflict with Catholic teaching. In conscience, one cannot give unqualified endorsement or be seen as giving such endorsement to a project that has morally objectionable goals mixed in with some good ones. C. Requests 1. The archdioceseof Vancouver therefore requests that the CCCB, the National CWL Council, and CCODP review and reconsider their decision to support the World March of Women 2000 with its present international and national demands. Such a review and reconsideration can be undertaken in the light of the information that is available now which may be more ample than the information available at the time when decisions were taken to support the March. 2. The Archdiocese requests the CCODP to reconsider its monetary contribution to the World March of Women 2000. The Archdiocese will delay forwarding its Share Lent contributions until it has been adequately assured that its contributions will be used only for third world projects and needs that are not in conflict with Catholic teaching. The Archdiocese of Vancouver deems it necessary to take this measure in order to restore our people's confidence in CCODP. 3. The Archdiocese requests that the CCCB, the National CWL, and CCODP consider measures and means other than the March of Women 2000 to promote the elimination of poverty and violence against women. D. Concluding Remarks The Archdiocese of Vancouver would be willing to change its present stance if the ambiguous and offensive international and national demands could be changed to exclude everything offensive to Catholic teaching. If that could be done, then the March could be supported; otherwise it cannot. Most Reverend Adam
Exner June 7, 2000
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