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Hamilton Bishop says No to Clinton Appearance at Catholic Counselling Centre

By Hilary White
 
KITCHENER, August 18, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A family and psychological counselling agency in Kitchener Ontario, the Catholic Family Counselling Centre, is going ahead with plans to have former president Bill Clinton speak at a fundraising dinner in November. The Catholic Family Counselling Centre curiously bills itself as a "non-denominational" counselling agency even though it was established by the diocese of Hamilton in 1952 and retains the name "Catholic".
 
After LifeSiteNews.com reported on the Centre's plan, some Catholics, including the auxiliary bishop, contacted both the Centre with concerns about Clinton's appearance. As president of the United States, Bill Clinton twice vetoed an attempt to ban "partial birth abortion." Clinton has made millions in speaking fees while travelling the world advocating the eugenic-based population control programs of the UN and the libertine values of the sexual revolution.
 
The Kitchener Catholic Family Counselling Centre's director, Mrs. Cathy Brothers told LifeSiteNews.com that the agency will be going ahead with Clinton's appearance despite the complaints. She confirmed that she had spoken with auxiliary Bishop Gerard Bergie of the Catholic diocese of Hamilton, who had asked her to cancel Clinton's appearance.
 
"We're an all inclusive agency that helps all members of the community," Brothers told LifeSiteNews.com. "It isn't our practice to take sides. We respect the opinions of the people you are referring to but we're going ahead with the event as planned."
 
Bishop Gerard Bergie spoke with LifeSiteNews.com, saying, "We're very, very disappointed with that news. We're not in favour and we're not sponsoring Clinton's appearance. It is not appropriate. We'll still try to encourage them to change their minds."
 
Bishop Bergie told LifeSiteNews.com that the diocese would be continuing to try to work with the Centre for a positive outcome. "They have to understand their Catholic mission. Based on that mission there are certain things that would not be appropriate and this is one of them."
 
The Centre informed Bishop Bergie by letter of their plans to go ahead with the event. Bishop Bergie said that thus far the diocese had not made a decision how to respond. He told LifeSiteNews.com that the option of asking the Centre to drop the title "Catholic" would be a matter for Hamilton Bishop Tonnos to decide. "It is up to the bishop to determine what constitutes a Catholic organization."
 
The diocese has no direct involvement in financing the Centre whose funding comes from the government. Bishop Bergie said there has been a long history with the Centre and the diocese. He said, "There's never been anything of this nature before to challenge their Catholic mission to my knowledge."
 
To contact the Catholic Family Counselling Centre:
400 Queen Street South
Kitchener, ON N2G 1W7
(519)743-6333

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