Thank you for covering the topic of Development and Peace funding of the World March of Women at our ShareLife Advisory Board meeting on April 17, 2000. As you know, serious concerns were raised both before and at the meeting and we have since had time to reflect on the issue and consult more widely on the implication of your action.

While we recognize the good intent of Development and Peace, we must ask at what point working with a coalition in hopes of furthering good objectives edges over into condoning the active fostering of unacceptable objectives pressed by other members of the coalition. At what point do attempts to influence in a positive manner become so overwhelmed by contrary developments and the appearance of being co-opted, that fine distinctions are lost on those being reached by the message?

We know that the Holy Father and the Canadian Bishops have time and again issued statements calling for social justice toward women, an end to violence and measures to address the poverty in which so many women and their children are caught. The parishes and Catholic agencies in this Archdiocese and indeed across Canada, embody the call in serving the women and children who are in need. This is a commitment which must be reaffirmed constantly to both the Catholic and secular community.

There are many ways to affirm the equality and the rights of women. The problem is how most effectively and consistently to do that. Since ShareLife and the Archdiocese of Toronto do not wish to give the mixed messages that an endorsement of the International March of Women would now give, we cannot support the March. Other dioceses may have a different view, but we feel this is what is appropriate here.

Accordingly, ShareLife will reduce its funding to Development and Peace for this year by an amount equivalent to our proportionate share of the $110,000. Development and Peace has given to the International March over the past three years. We will increase our funding to the Pastoral Mission Fund by an equivalent amount, with the stipulation that the recipients of the funds direct them to projects which are in the service of women. This will not affect the ShareLife contribution to other, more directly aid-related work of your organization, which of course we wholeheartedly support.

In reaching our decision to reduce your funding, we reviewed the background and formation of groups associated with the March, learning that the "World March of Women" originated with Francophone, Quebec-based women's organizations which were directed at the issues of violence and poverty. Almost at once however, many other groups with diverse agendas became involved and other issues were added. While the International March still has at its core many vital issues on which we are all in agreement, it has nonetheless come to carry both a direct, and a pervasive if indirect, message in two issues which are incompatible with our participation: abortion and legitimization of same-sex relationships as marriages.

It would seem that the technology provided by Internet linkages between web sites "interlocking" leadership listed on certain Canadian web sites and groups promoting abortion present an image that makes it most difficult to distinguish between the International web site and these Canadian web sites. Key organizations promoting the March and its unacceptable demands are located in Toronto; these organizations in inextricably connected in the public mind to the issues in question. It is being reported to me and other members of the ShareLIfe Advisory Board and the Trustees that the association of Development and Peasce with these groups is cause great concern and confusion among the faithful. We cannot appear to be legitimizing demands which are contrary to the human rights of the unborn and to the nature of marriage.

In light of these recent unfortunate events you may wish to re-evaluate your support for the International March and if possible suspend your final payment to them.

On behalf of the ShareLife Advisory Board, I wish you and the work of Development and peace continued success in the service of the people of the Third World.

Sincerely,
Terry Thompson,
Executive Director, ShareLife

c: Trustees and Members of ShareLife Advisory Board
Priests and Parishes of Toronto Archdiocese
Bishops of Canada