The following is a resolution passed at the 80th Convention of the Hamilton Diocesan Council of
the Catholic Women’s League on Saturday May 28th 2000 - the diocese has 12,500 of the 105,000
membership of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada.

A preamble to the resolution involving quotes about the support for working against poverty and
violence is appended to the end of this report.

WORLD MARCH OF WOMEN 2000

WHEREAS
In the Catholic Women’s League Policy and Procedure Manual Guideline Re Coalition/Affiliation,
Cooperation and Sponsorship with other Organizations and Groups (pages 105-106) it states in part;
2 “Ensure that the policies and objects of the organization conform with the objects and policies
of the League,” and in “4: While League involvement with another organization may focus on one
common issue or concern, the council must ensure such involvement does not give credibility to or
condone other stands taken by the proposed coalition/affiliation organization which are not
compatible with the objects of the League. And,

WHEREAS
The World Demands of the March for Women 2000 includes in part, a demand for abortion rights,
acceptance of lesbian marriages, a call for non- sexist education, support for the Convention on
Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the International Criminal
Court and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. And

WHEREAS
In recent months, the CEDAW Committee has 1) Directed China to legalize prostitution 2) Directed
Krygystan to legalize lesbianism 3) Directed Libya to reinterpret the Koran so that it falls
within committee guidelines and 4) Criticized Belarus for instituting Mother’s day since Mother’s
day advances a negative stereotype. And

WHEREAS
The Vatican ratified the U.N Convention on the Rights of the Child, April 20th 1990, but subject
to several reservations, including the reservation that Articles on the rights of the Child in
religion, education, association with others and privacy be interpreted in a way that “safeguards
the primary and inalienable rights of parents.” And

WHEREAS
The International Criminal Court under gender related crimes has accepted the term “enforced
pregnancy’ which has been defined as”..forcing women to continue pregnancy against their will for
the purpose of serving the state’s declared interest in preserving unborn human life.” Many
countries also have grave concerns about national sovereignty and loss of cultural and religious
rights under the ICC. And

WHEREAS
Too many demands of the March 2000 are contradictory to the objects of the Catholic Women’s League
of Canada, our faith and morality.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
That the Hamilton Diocesan Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada in 80th Convention
assembled demand that the National Council of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada issue a public
statement of withdrawal of its support and endorsement of the World March of Women 2000.
___________________

Preamble

“God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them…”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church page 494, VI 443) and “The Church’s love for the poor..is a part
of her constant tradition.”(ibid page 494, VI 2444) and,“Those who renounce violence and bloodshed and, in order to safeguard human rights, make use of
those means of defense available to the weakest, bear witness to evangelical charity, provided
they do so without harming the rights and obligations of other men and societies. They bear
legitimate witness to the gravity of the physical and moral risks of recourse to violence, with
all it’s destruction and death.”(ibid page 471 III 2306) and"In our own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of
primary importance as centres of living, radiant faith…..” (Ibid page 352, VI 1656)” Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner
freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace,
they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.” (Ibid page 480 II 2359)” Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. On marriage the physical intimacy
of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized
persons are sanctified by the sacrament.” (Ibid page 480 III 2360)“The fecundity of conjugal love cannot be reduced solely to the procreation of children, but must
extend to their moral education and spiritual formation. “The role of parents in education is of
such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute>” The right and
the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable.” (Ibid page 456 III 2221)“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first
moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among
which is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life.” (Ibid Page 464 Abortion 2270)