Motion 312 deserves our total support

MP Stephen Woodworth
Kitchener Centre

As Chair of the Parental Rights in Education Defense Fund, we were one of the presenters at the press conference held by the Coalition to Support Motion 312, on August 27, 2012, in Markham, Ontario. Everyday for Life Canada posts the entire speech in this entry. The Coalition consists of a number of community groups who want the government to pass the motion and re-examine the definition of human life in Canada. Here is the motion proposed in the current Parliament by Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth:

"That a special committee of the House be appointed and directed to review the declaration in Subsection 223(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada which states that a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth and to answer the questions hereinafter set forth."

Here's the speech:

We should all support the motion 312 put forward by MP Stephen Woodworth to re-define the meaning of the human person in Canada. Too many important social issues have been wrongly politicized in Canada. Abortion, same-sex marriage and the very meaning of a person are just a few of them. A little history will help here. It was only a generation or so ago during the mid 1960s that most new parents in Canada were given a book called, The Canadian Mother and Child to help them with child rearing. The inside cover had the name of the then Minister of Health and Welfare, John Munro.

It’s important to remind ourselves of this because in that book which written by Doctor Ernest Couture, for the government, the beginning of human life is unquestionably assumed if not directly defined. The book makes it clear that when the word fetus is mentioned the new parents are to think of the word baby or child.  So, at the time, the government treated the unborn baby or child, as a person with rights and abortion was a criminal act. Today most politicians don’t even want to discuss the idea, let alone have a law that will put restrictions on abortion. Pro-choice advocates have strongly opposed MP Stephen Woodworth’s motion because they believe the issue is closed. For them “a child becomes a human being” only at birth. Any other definition may restrict abortion and they don’t want this.  

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has recently adopted the wrong position telling MPs not to support the motion. They are more worried about protecting doctors from any possible criminal activity than about scientific, moral and common- sense truth that life does begin at conception and that a pregnant woman is carrying a child.

The CMA has its head buried in political sand because scientifically, biologically and genetically each new, unique human life begins at conception, not at birth. Everything that the new human life will become is present at the moment of conception. The current law has created the false legal/political notion that life begins at birth. However, both common law and the Criminal Code have always protected both the mother and child. It was in 1969 that the  law was changed and decriminalized in the Morgentaler case; it was done to protect a woman’s constitutional right, hijacked from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, for the “security of the person.”

The Criminal Code, before the Morgentaler case gave legal protection to the child up to birth and the homicide provisions after birth. Today we operate with a law of omission and no restrictions on abortion. But even the CMA believes that an abortion after 20 weeks of gestation is ethically wrong. A baby at that stage suffers pain when we intentionally crush it to death. We don’t need science to tell us this, even though we do have the ultra sound evidence for this….Remember the film, The Silent Scream  by former abortionist Dr. Bernard Nathanson! We all know that abortion is morally wrong….especially from the point of view of the child waiting to be born!

But our current law allows for this and that is why we need a discussion on the issue, even if the majority of MPs, the CMA, pro-choice groups and our Prime Minister say they think otherwise, although we suspect that many do agree with us!  In a true democracy there must be room for debate and for change when the facts, the science and the ethics point in a different direction.

Incredibly more than 100,000 abortions are performed in Canada each year! We should be asking the question about the protection of human life and the easy availability and thus the encouragement and promotion of abortion in Canada. We strongly urge you to support Stephen Woodworth’s motion. Write to your MP, the other MPs and the Prime Minister. A country that is afraid to discuss the safety and well-being of its future citizens risks its very survival by killing its own people even before they are born. Let’s build a culture of life and not the culture of death.

St. John the Baptist: a man for all times

The Beheading of St John the Baptist
by Benozzo Gozzoli

Today we celebrate the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. It was Tertullian way back in the second century who was very perceptive in saying: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christinaity." Of course as Christians we know that one of the seeds comes from the life of St. John the Baptist. We find his story in Matthew 14: 3-12. His martyrdom stands as a beacon of light for the uncompromising truth.

The beheading of St. John the Baptist is told in stark details. King Herod has John arrested because he had spoken against his union with his brother's wife, Herodias. This was in violation of Levitical law. And as the story goes Herod held a party where a young girl named Salome danced for the king and his guests. The king in a moment of hilarity promises the girl whatever she wishes. The girl's mother Herodias immediately see this as a chance for revenge. Coached by her mother, the girl asks the king for this deadly request: "Give me hear on a platter the head of John the baptist." (Mt: 14: 8).

A feast of celebration and joy turns into a feast of death and blood. Herod's pride blinds him into making an unjust decision. John the Baptist makes the ultimate sacrifice in witnessing for the faith. This was the same man who as a child in his mother's womb leaps for joy when in the presence of the Lord who was a baby in the womb of the Virgin Mary. John the Baptist's whole life, culminating in his martyrdom, was centred on Christ. John the Baptist simply told the truth that Herod's adulterous and incestuous relationship was morally wrong. For speaking the truth, he was killed and thus exposed man's sinful wish to hide it.

In our modern Canadian society Christians we are facing similar dangers. Who will speak out in defence of the truth? We do have legislation in place to hide the truth. Ontario laws like Bill 13 and Bill 33 have been recently passed to politicize the truth, to legally create myths about human sexuality, marriage, family and the very meaning of life itself. These laws pretend to be inclusive and equitable when in fact they have essentially made the practice of christianity unlawful. Let's now go on to see how a number of truthful statements have over the years become politically incorrect, if not outright unlawful, in Ontario and the rest of Canada:

1. From this past Sunday's reading St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians instructs: "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" but in Canada since 2005 we know better: same-sex marriages make St. Paul's teaching no longer acceptable;

2. Human life starts at conception, the latest science tells us so; nevertheless, Canadian legal lies refuse to state this truth and as a consequence women have a legal right to kill their children up until the point of delivery, with the full approval of the Canadian Medical Association. In Canada, a human being is not a person with any rights until the child is born. "O Canada" can this really be "our home and native land"?

3. There are only two sexes: male and female. All the other sexual orientations are merely social constructs that have been approved by the politics of fiction; To teach children that there a dozen or so sexual orientations is to abuse them socially, sexually and psychologically. In present day Canada, this is a lie.

4. Children come from heterosexual marriages and so the state should protect marriage above all other unions because they ensure the very survival of human life; however, in Canada today we are told that this is not true.

5. Abortion is morally wrong. It's a crime against humanity and the Creator. Canada should stop funding the killing of innocent lives with money from taxes. If we were not believing these lies, then most politicians, would not be opposing MP Stephen Woodworth's common sense Motion 312; in fact, they would welcome talk about the central life issue in Canada and would at least consider changes to our laws to make for a better nation;

6. To teach the Catechism of the Catholic Church today about the meaning of the human person, about human sexuality, the family and marriage, is go against present laws. We now have Bill 13 and Bill 33 that contradict the Church's teaching on these issues;

7. Legally Ontarians cannot speak out against GSAs, Gay/Straight Alliances in Catholic schools, Christian schools, private schools and the public schools. Bill 13 legally imposes these students groups on all schools in Ontario whether parents want them or not. The government knows better.

Let's stop here, surely you get the picture. So today as we celebrate the feast day of St. John the Baptist, it's so right to ask ourselves where are the Canadians and Christians who have the courage to speak the truth like this martyr? To refuse and say nothing about any of the life issues is to compartmentalize our faith and like Herod to allow the head of John the Baptist - the truth itself - to be placed on a platter.

Medjugorje: A Call to Peace and Conversion

Our Lady of Medjugorje

I’m sure that at one time or another you have heard of Medjugorje, and perhaps like me you know very know little about what has been happening there for close to 30 years. All Christians, all believers and non-believers, are sure to find of interest the supernatural nature of the events unfolding in Medjugorje. This past October, I was in Italy with my wife and we had the privilege to visit Medjugorje. Let me share my pilgrim experience there with you in the hope that you may find it helpful in some way with your spiritual life and your witness to life.

The basic story is astonishing but simple. It’s what can truly change hearts and the entire world. Since June 1981, the Blessed Virgin Mary, called by the local people there, the “Gospa”, has been appearing in the parish town of Medjugorje (Citluk, Bosnia-Herzegovina). Six children, Ivanka Ivankovic’, Mirjana Dragicevic, Ivan Dragicevic, Vicka Ivankovic , Ivan Ianvankovic and Milka Pavlovoc, began seeing Our Lady that day and she continues to appear to this day.

Our Blessed Mother has given the children, now adults, a number of messages, over the past twenty-nine years. In all her messages, she continues to call all of mankind back to God. From the first days of her presence on the hill named the Podrdo (currently called Apparition Hill, see photo), She has stressed the importance of peace. In Her words: “Peace, peace, peace, peace and only peace” and added, “Peace must reign between man and God and between people.” She constantly reminds us of what humanity needs to do most: know and live the first two commandments. We must love God and love others. This is a message about the sacredness of all life. While in Medjugorje, this question never left my mind: How can we claim to love God and then kill life through wars, abortion and our inhumane treatment of other people: the old, the sick, the poor and the marginalized?

In Medjugorje our Lady has given thousands of messages but She returns to a few themes. The first one is found in her description of herself as the “Queen of Peace”. When this message of peace was given, one of the visionaries saw a vision of a cross suggesting that only with God can mankind achieve peace. Our Lady is warning mankind, her children, about the need for peace. In a world facing so many problems such as wars, famine, poverty, injustice, diseases, environmental desecration and abortion, our Lady is telling us that the only answer is to turn to God. When we truly turn to God, we become new people. We become people of faith. We become people of love. We become people who care and respect both life and the world.

Beginning with early apparitions Our Lady has stressed the need for faith. Without faith we cannot have peace in our hearts and in the world. In accepting God’s Word through faith it becomes in Christ “our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). By believing, a person becomes a new creation in sharing in the life of Christ. Accepting Christ’s Word will bring us peace with God and with our neighbor.

Conversion is another theme of the Blessed Mother’s messages. She repeatedly tells the visionaries that we need to purify and cleanse our hearts. Peace will come if we turn away from a corrupt heart and dishonest relations. Unjust laws and immoral institutions can only change when we there’s true conversion of the heart.

In many of her statements Our Lady asks us to pray. Her words are to “pray without ceasing”. These are the words which Our Lord taught us in Mark 9:29, Matthew 9:38 and Luke 11: 5-13. We need to pray to strengthen our faith and keep our relationship with God alive. Prayer restores a balance in our lives so we can be at peace with God and our neighbor. In praying we give witness to the Gospel, to the existence of God and this ought to bring us closer to others. She especially wants us to pray the Rosary and read the Bible.

Finally Our Blessed Mother speaks to the visionaries of the need for fasting. This practice is an exercise in self-control. If a person has the will power to control himself, then he is also free to abandon himself to God and his neighbor. Fasting on bread and water, at least once a week, helps us to free ourselves from the slavery of sin which results from not controlling our insatiable appetites, pleasures and desires. Fasting can be a loving reminder of the needs of the poor, the destitute and the gulf which exists between the rich and poor. Curbing our over indulgence of food and material things can bring us closer to others. In this way, we get closer to those who are suffering and in need. This awareness can bring a dimension of peace in our lives and help to bring down the walls between the rich and the poor, the have and the have nots.

In summary, Our Lady stresses peace in her messages. This is a supreme good for all humanity. To achieve this great good we must have faith, pray, fast and have a conversion of the heart. This conversion is a gift of the Holy Spirit, but we can ask for this grace by praying, attending Mass often and going to confession regularly.

Before I end this entry, I want to share with you the message for Oct. 2, 2010, the day we were there with thousands of other pilgrims: "Dear children, Today I call you to a humble, my children, humble devotion. Your hearts need to be just. May your crosses be your means in the battle against the sins of the present time. May your weapon be patience and boundless love – a love that knows to wait and which will make you capable of recognizing God's signs – that your life, by humble love, may show the truth to all those who seek it in the darkness of lies. My children, my apostles, help me to open the paths to my Son. Once again I call you to pray for your shepherds. Alongside them, I will triumph. Thank you."

It was truly a privilege and a blessing to have had the opportunity to travel to Medjugorje. It was a wonderful week for the soul. It’s a trip I highly recommend to everyone. When you go there, you will not return as the same person. You will feel the grace, the peace and the joy of Mother Mary’s prayers for all Her children. Also, Medjugorje was a strong reminder for me to continue to spread in Canada the message of hope and faith in life. By defending life, promoting Our Lady’s message of peace and of truth, we let God know that we love Him and what he has created. Let’s pray for our shepherds. Let’s pray for Canada to come away from “the darkness of lies” and one day soon become truly a country of peace for all its citizens: a country which will declare a truce from the war against the unborn.

(Note to our readers: the apparitions at Medjugorje have not yet been officially recognized by the Church. Pilgrimages are permitted as long as they are conducted privately. The Church has formed a commission to investigate the events for authenticity.)

When does one become a human being in Canada?

Press conference held in Markham,
Ontario by the Coalition in Support of Motion 312

Everyday for Life Canada shares with its readers the information released this morning at a press conference held in Markham, Ontario, August 27, 2012, from the Coalition in Support of Motion 312. The Coalition consists of a number of community groups who want the government to pass the motion and re-examine the definition of human life in Canada. Here is the motion proposed in the current Parliament by Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth:

That a special committee of the House be appointed and directed to review the declaration in Subsection 223(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada which states that a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth and to answer the questions hereinafter set forth.

This is the Open Letter from the Coalition to the Prime Minister, Party Leaders and Members of Parliament concerning Motion 312:

Dear Prime Minister, Leaders of the Parties and Members of Parliament:

The Motion 312 that a special committee of the House be appointed and directed to review the declaration in Subsection 223(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada which states that a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth should be supported by the Parliament.

After careful examination and much thought, we are of the opinion that the rationale behind the current definition as stated above can no longer stand before the present day medical evidence. Current medical researches show that a fertilized ovum contains human chromosomes that have the embedded characteristics of human being and develops the parts of human being that become obvious even at as early as the third week.

The heart and the circulatory system are formed in the 3rd week after fertilization and start to beat on day 21, like other ‘recognised’ human beings after birth. The heart beat can be heard using Doppler in the 7th week and using stethoscope in the 17th week. Ultrasound can detect movements of the limbs in the 7th week. The foetus will hold its fist in the 8th week and move freely in the mother’s womb in the 11th week. Quickening starts in the 17th week and can be felt by both the mother and other people. All these demonstrate that the foetus is a real life as other recognized human beings, worthy of respect.

As we can observe, the growth of a child after birth is just a natural continuation of the development of the parts and the characteristics that are already happening in the body of the child when before birth. It does not involve the process of metamorphosis like insects, and even the butterfly that goes through metamorphosis is recognized as a ‘butterfly’ throughout the various stages. We recognise and treat a frog as a frog at whatever physical stages it undergoes development. Therefore, it is irrational we should treat our own species differently and say that such a life form inside the mother that comes out and continues to grow with the same genetic and basic physical characteristics should be called otherwise.

The law attempts to protect human beings and ensure their safety, health and other aspects that they as human beings and inherent of human rights deserve. However, when a human being is not legally recognized as human being, then this human being would be put at risk, deprived the protection and privileges that they should have. This would and should not be acceptable to any human being with the sense of justice and love for the human race, not to mention our Parliamentarians who are responsible lawmakers and protectors of all human citizens of Canada.

Human life is precious. Human lives before birth should not be put at risk, especially in a country like Canada that is a crusader of lawful justice and human rights and is proud of being a pillar and protector of the human rights for their citizens. If a human life is put to danger just because an outdated law makes them ‘non-human’ would not be tolerated by the lawmakers of such a country. Since various evidence point to the possibility of having an outdated law that critically affect children before birth, it is the duty of responsible lawmakers and protectors of the citizens to ensure that, by passing this Motion, there is a chance to look into such law and to find out if such a just law is made and every human citizen is appropriated protected in all aspects. Our petition campaign result shows that thousands are in support of this Motion and would support Members of Parliament to look into that matter.

We therefore urge you, our leaders and lawmakers in the Parliament and protectors of the lives and well being of every Canadian citizen, to kindly support and pass this Motion 312. Thank you!

Respectfully,

Coalition in Support of Motion 312
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At the press conference a number of speakers including Stephen Woodworth made very eloquent and convincing arguments in support of the motion. Other presenters were as follows: Allan Tam, School Trustee, David Kong, Toronto Chinese Catholic Task-force, Dr. Jason Kwok, Knights of Columbus, Raphael Wu, CMCC Pro-Life Group, Teresa Pierre, Parents As First Educators, William Kwok, Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship and Jeff Gunnarson, Campaign Life Coalition. Edwin Lok and Peter Chan co-ordinated the entire presentation.

Here's the petition which you can copy and sign, inform others and get them to sign it as well. Make sure you inform your MP on where you stand on the issue. Over 4,000 signed petitions were given to MP Stephen Woodworth at the press conference to take back with him to the House of Commons.

Petition in Support of Motion 312

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED

Whereas Canada’s 400 year old definition of a human being says a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to twenty-first century medical evidence;

And whereas Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says some human beings are not human;

Therefore, we call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending Section 223 of our Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect twenty-first century medical evidence.

SIGNATURES ADDRESSES

(Original signatures; do not print) (Provide your city and province)

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________

All Canadian residents (any age) may sign. Submit petitions to your local Member of Parliament (see www.parl.gc.ca for addresses) and ask them to inform you when it is read in Parliament. A petition needs only 25 valid signatures to be presented in Parliament.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Finally, please do what you can to support this motion and bring back the debate about the definition of life in Canada. For too long now, since 1969, we have had no law to defend the unborn or any restriction on abortion whatsoever. This is morally wrong and we know it. Let's re-build a culture of life in Canada and not allow the culture of death to continue to flourish. We are killing about 100,000 lives a year and all paid with our tax money. This is a country that has for decades now, without saying so, declared war on its own children. Together, with God's help, we can stop it.

Ontario Catholic leaders have no intention of defending Catholic education

Every Day For Life Canada would like to share with its readers this timely message which was recently released by Sharon McMillan, the Co-ordinator of Communications and Media Relations for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association. It was sent to all trustees and directors of education. This is very important information for parents to know since the new school year for 2012-13 opens in just over a week.

Parents can easily conclude from this politically correct message that OCSTA has no intention of defending Catholic education when it comes in conflict with Bill 13. In fact, directors are instructed to tell school principals that where there’s a contradiction between the teachings of the faith and Bill 13, it will be the law that takes precedence. So why bother having Catholic trustees,  Catholic unions and Catholic teachers? Parents please read the language spin coming from a Catholic leader and you’ll soon realize that there’s nobody in the school system that will protect your children’s moral education and make sure that they are being taught the truth. The Windsor-Essex Catholic School Board has already said yes to Gay/Straight Alliances, GSAs, in their schools. Can your local school be far behind? Is this the real beginning of the end of Catholic education in Ontario? It's also a complete violation of parental rights.

The doublespeak message from McMillan makes it very clear that Catholic schools don’t have to follow the rules set out in the Respecting Difference document. Remember this is a document written by Catholic trustees with the support of our bishops and now the association says it has no intention of adopting these guidelines in schools when implementing Bill 13, the  Accepting Schools Act. This is a complete betrayal of what trustees are called to do as stewards of Catholic education. Parents can no longer trust the schools to do what is right, and so we urge them to monitor what goes on in their schools and act accordingly. To do nothing is to accept and promote the lies and deceptions because Bill 13 cannot be reconciled with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  We must not allow our children to be used as moral guinea pigs for a government and a school system that wants to force its misguided ideology on their innocence and the rest of society.

We will now let OCSTA's hypocritical message speak for itself:  

“Last spring, following the passage of Bill 13, The Accepting Schools Act, OCSTA shared with CDSBs messaging to address media questions and to clarify for parents and students the position of Catholic schools regarding this legislation and Gay Straight Alliances in Catholic schools. For your reference and convenience please see below the messaging that was previously distributed. 

“Of particular note at this time are the following three key messaging points:

“The Respecting Difference Resource created for Catholic schools provides guidelines for ensuring that student-led groups to combat bullying reflect Catholic values and adhere to Ministry guidelines.

“Respecting Difference groups to address bullying related to sexual orientation will operate like all other student-led equity based groups in Catholic schools. As per legislation, if requested by students, these groups may be called GSAs.

“If a student or students in Catholic schools wish to name a group a Gay Straight Alliance this will be allowed as Catholic school principals will adhere to the law. This does not, however, remove the right of a principal to ensure the appropriateness of materials used in Catholic schools.

“When the government’s Accepting Schools Act legislation was first announced, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association joined the Minister at Queen’s Park in support of provincial efforts to eliminate bullying in schools and to provide effective supports for students who are bullied.

“For decades Ontario governments have called upon Catholic school boards to share our perspectives on the creation of legislation that will serve the best interests of all Ontario students.

“We followed that tradition with the development of this legislation and shared perspectives with this government that offered our distinctive faith-based approach to combating all types of bullying in our schools.

“It is unfortunate that some of our concerns regarding Bill 13 were not addressed in the final version of this legislation, but as part of Ontario’s strong and vibrant publicly funded system Catholic school boards will comply with what will now be law.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with the government to meet the needs of our students in a manner consistent with the Education Act and the Denominational rights of Catholic schools.

“Where there is a contradiction between language in the guidelines for Respecting Difference Groups and the provisions of Bill 13, with respect to naming a support group, the legislation will take precedence.

“Ontario’s education system is considered one of the best in the world and that is because of the educational innovation, student achievement, and distinctive contributions of students, staff and board leadership teams that comprise the four distinct segments of our system, which include English-Public, English-Catholic, French-Public and French-Catholic school boards.

“Discussions in these groups will be initiated and driven by students in a way that allows for dialogue on important issues threatening the safety and well-being of students and/or the school environment.

“Like any environment in a Catholic school, the safety of students participating in these groups will be a priority and will be addressed by the presence of a trained educator who can help facilitate dialogue, if needed; provide reference and guidance on the tenets of the Catholic faith, as needed, and; ensure that the privacy of students is protected as much as possible.”  

Time to take a holiday

In Genesis, we are told that "On the seventh day God had completed the work he had been doing. He rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating." (2: 2-3)

Pope Benedict XVI has given Christians good advice when resting and talking a vacation. The Holy Father has suggested a number of ideas to keep in mind for a spiritually sound and happy holiday. The Vatican press secretary Fr. Lombardi in his weekly radio program summarized these. Let's examine each point and we can add our own ideas.

The Pope's wants us to spend our "vacation time in a way that helps renew ... relationships with others and with God." Simple advice, but it's the message we need to hear in our busy lives. Let's think about what's most important in our lives: God, family, friends and neighbours. A holiday is a good time to revitalize our prayer life. We have so many modern distractions in our midst: computers, TV's, radios, movies, magazines, newspapers, novels, cell phones and the list goes on. A holiday is a perfect time to shut off all these daily distractions and focus on things of the spirit. It's an opportune time to talk to God.

The Pope also "suggested we include a copy of the Sacred Scriptures in our suitcase." So we can consider reading from the Bible, the lives of saints or one of the many documents of the Church as go and plan our vacation. The hectic pace of our modern lives can be very distracting and in reading something spiritual or praying the Rosary can better reconnect us to God. Last year we visited the Abbey of Genesee and while there on retreat, which is a kind of holiday, we participated in the prayer life of the Trappist monks. They follow the Rule of St. Benedict. We attended the celebration of Mass daily and retreatants were free to join the prayers: vigils, lauds, terce, vespers, sext and compline. All of this and some quiet time for meditation/reflection can make for a time of peace and grace. This can refresh and nourish our spiritual lives and reenergize our physical bodies as well.

Everyday for Life Canada once more as we did last year will be following Pope Benedict's good advice and not publish anything for the month of August. We wish all our readers a blessed and restful holiday.