OTTAWA, Dec 5, 00 (LSN.ca) – LifeSite has learned that on Thursday the Supreme Court of Canada will render its decision on allowing The Challenge Team, an abstinence-only educational youth group, to appeal the Revenue Canada decision to deny them charitable status. Revenue Canada, which has stripped pro-life groups including Alliance Canada and Human Life International of the charitable status, refused the group its status since they do not promote alternatives to chastity such as condoms and the abortifacient morning-after pill.
LifeSite interviewed Harold Visser, the leader of the Challenge Team, who represented the group before the Federal Court of Appeal in March. Amazingly, with no legal background, Visser was able to achieve a split 2-1 judgment (against the group) out of the federal court despite being up against lawyer, Roger Leclair representing Revenue Canada. The cost of a lawyer is prohibitive for the group, which has traveled the country since 1992 teaching chastity as safe and healthy sexuality. Visser told LifeSite that he will likely be representing the group before the Supreme Court if an appeal is granted Thursday. Prayers for the success of the appeal application and of the appeal itself are requested.