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Re: LifeSiteNews' Detailed Response to Canadian Bishops' Whitewash Report on Development and Peace
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jun/09063010.html

Dear LSN People,

Bravo and bravo again!! Your reporting on the Development and Peace funding of those who promote abortion has been admirable, both for its consistency and accuracy. The connivance of some Bishops with regard to the manipulative tactics on the part of Development and Peace are a sign of the times. It simply shows how deeply entrenched within the Church are a good number of people determined to undermine the Church's teaching from the inside.

I firmly believe in the saying, “If you are in a war and do not know it, you are probably losing.” Thank you for making us more aware of the war within.

Someone has said, “The truth will set you free, but it will make you suffer first.” My admiration for your perseverance and my sympathy for your suffering.

Father Albert Lalonde, o.m.i.
Manitoba, Canada

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I'm one of thousands of Catholics who attends Mass every week and uses Donation Envelopes provided by my Parish.
 
The boxes of envelopes usually contain 1 or more envelopes, spaced out during the year, to allow Parishoners to make a donation to “Development and Peace”.  Your information came out just a few days AFTER the last D & P envelopes went in … and I, as usual made a donation to what I thought was a worthwhile cause.
 
If the Canadian Catholic Bishops have not corrected their ways by the time the next donations are “due” I will be enclosing no money, but a nice little “note” advising them of their errors … and further advising them that as long as even 1 cent of my money goes to support abortion – anywhere – they will not see any money from me.
 
I firmly believe in a statement made by a (non-Catholic) friend of mine … “Money doesn't talk – it YELLS !”
 
Fred Petrie
Miramichi, NB
Canada

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You guys keep doing what you do best. Report the truth!!! I will pray protection for you as you come under attack by liberal Catholics (Is there such a thing?). You are doing what is right and Just. Keep it up. Good work.

Jae Ewing
White Rock, B.C.

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Hello Mr. Westen,

After reading the distressing news of our Bishops’ response to the D&P funding of pro-abortion groups I have decided to donate what I would normally donate to the CCCB for their annual appeal to LifeSiteNews. I am utterly appalled at their conclusions and the attack upon your fine work.

I have come to the conclusion that pro-life, faith filled Catholics have become an unwelcomed and persecuted minority in the Church bureaucracy, therefore this bureaucracy (the CCCB or D&P) will never again receive funding from me.
 
I pray that your work may continue and that you will be blessed for it.
 
Luciano Toscan
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

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Dear Lifesitenews,
 
I just want to thank you for all the work you have done and courage you have shown in this D&P scandal. You have 'fought' this battle for life and truth in the way that our bishops should be. In order to do that however, you will come under serious attack (as you have) and that is the very reason why so many of our bishops have not been living up to their mission.
 
Perhaps it's time to flood with mail of support to all of our Priests and Bishops that choose to 'fight' for our dear Lord, as well. We can see them coming under attack even from each other.
 
With Prayers,
Anna Vautour in Nova Scotia, Canada

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To LifeSiteNews:
 
Please be assured of my prayers in regards to your efforts in raising the issues over CCODP funding and abortion.  I have followed your coverage from the beginning and am 100% behind your work on this matter.  I have sent e-mails to the CCCB, CCODP and Archbishop Wiesgerber in support of your findings.  A copy of my most recent e-mail is attached.  This is not a very comfortable situation for anyone but the facts are the facts.  Thank you for your efforts!!

Paul Burgoyne
Roseisle, Manitoba

 
The following is the content of e-mails recently shared with CCCB and Archbishop Wiesgerber.
 
“To: CCCB
 
Thank you for your response to my e-mail.  I will take your comments under advisement.  However, you should know that I am not entirely satisfied with the investigation of the allegations – not all of the allegations appear to  have been addressed.   I am disappointed that D&P may have funded groups which promote abortion on the one hand while using D&P funds for other projects not related to the promotion of abortion.  I am even more disappointed that the CCCB apparently is comfortable with this situation.  In my conscience I can no longer make donations to D&P until these very serious moral issues are addressed.  In my opinion the leadership of the CCCB have missed the mark on this issue.  I will find other ways to fulfill my Catholic duties to aid the poor.
 
Paul Burgoyne
Roseisle, Manitoba
 
From: CECC/CCCB media [[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 12:31 PM
Subject: CCCB Committee of Inquiry Reports: Development and Peace cleared of suspicion
 
For your information,
(CCCB – Ottawa) In its report on five Mexican Non-Governmental Organizations that had received project funding from Development and Peace, the Committee of Inquiry of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has come to the conclusion the allegations are unfounded “that financial assistance by Development and Peace aided projects related to the promotion of abortion.” At the same time as recognizing that the five Mexican organizations were imprudent in signing a United Nations report on the human rights situation in Mexico that included orientations not in accord with Catholic teaching, the Committee of Inquiry has encouraged the CCCB to continue to support Development and Peace, which it had founded more than 40 years ago.

Media release: https://www.cccb.ca/news
 
Gérald Baril
Communications Service
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
E-mail: [email protected]

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I am astounded that the two bishops who 'investigated' the CCODP affair were ignorant of or simply ignored the status quaestionis. They made it easy for themselves to reject the findings of LSN by the simple device of misrepresenting LSN's allegations.

LSN alleged that CCODP was funding organizations in Mexico and across the globe which, besides the morally legitimate activities for which they were funded by CCODP, also engaged in or supported efforts by other groups agitating for more liberal abortion laws. LSN was not alleging that CCODP was pro-abortion or that it was financially supporting the pro-abortion efforts of the funded groups.

So it is careless  and perhaps uncaring misrepresentation on the part of these bishops to accuse LSN of allegations “that financial assistance by the …(CCODP) aided projects related to the promotion of abortion”. Instead, LSN presented credible evidence that CCODP was funding  groups in Mexico and elsewhere who were in effect trying to do both very good things (v.g. the alleviation of poverty) and very bad things (v.g. the elimination of the poor – the unborn) by lobbying for 'reproductive choice” –  a strange inconsistency to want to alleviate poverty by eliminating the poorest of the poor.

In effect, LSN was alleging at most material cooperation between CCODP and the funded groups. So the bishops, given the preponderance of evidence adduced by LSN in favour of material cooperation as a fact, should have addressed the moral propriety of material cooperation in this particular situation. I have no doubt that if they had, they would have concluded (even given the well-known fuzziness of the morality of material cooperation) that, objectively, the funding of these organizations was highly immoral and that the CCODP, if it is allowed to continue, should fund integrally  pro-life organizations (perhaps even diocesan bishops or conferences of bishops in foreign countries).

The Bishops' Report strikes me as a blatant and scandalous cover-up. I sincerely hope that the CCCB rejects it out of hand and orders a more honest investigation.

John Hartley
Retired
University of Toronto

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I have read the (CCCB) document attached to your article “LifeSiteNews' Detailed Response to Canadian Bishops' Whitewash Report on Development and Peace.”
 
Is this there all there is?  Surely you have failed to attach the supporting documentation containing details of interviews with local bishops, priests and stakeholders, review of documentation, financial reports, etc.
 
I looked on the CCCB website for such missing information and failed to find it there also.  What is presented is weak and smacks of “here you are: believe us”.  But I guess the web site lacks “authority”.
 
I am heartily sick of the conduct of our poor bishops in North America and Europe.  The shenanigans of the last few years must have caused many to reject the Church because of their ineffectiveness.  I have seen many members of my own family completely reject the Church because of the hidden clergy abuses.
 
I support only local causes where I can attend meetings, talk to board members and participate myself.  It's bad enough that we in Ontario are forced to pay for abortion through taxation without being asked to fund its promotion through D&P.

John C. MacAlister
Whitby, Ontario

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I Linda Middleton will not support Development and Peace. Thank you for all this information.

Linda Middleton
Thorold, Ontario

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Let the Bishops know that we will boycott all church donations until the Bishops take the appropriate action.

Dave Cortens
San Clemente, California

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Dear everyone at Lifesitenews,

In this time of great hostility, know that you are in our prayers. You do a terrific job at lifesitenews, I enjoy reading your news reports and have come to trust and admire your dedication to the truth. 

It is a temptation that we experience during busy and trying times, to give all of our energy to the problem at hand, and to neglect prayer.  But it is exactly when we are amidst the intense spiritual warfare that we must redouble our efforts in our prayer, and to hold fast to the Lord, or our efforts will be futile.  Know that you are in my prayers always, but especially during this trying time.  The work you are doing is very inspirational; keep up the good work!

Leah Hallman
Alberta, Canada