News briefs

United Church welcomed Huynh family

Gold medalist Carol Huynh

Canadian Pornography Channel Approved

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Canada's broadcasting regulator this month has approved a Canadian pay-television pornography channel -'Northern Peaks' produced by Real Productions.

Gwen Landolt of REAL women (Realistic, Equal, Active for Life) a non-partisan, inter-denominational organization for women's issues and advocacy, states that this decision on the part of the CRTC was short-sighted and "detrimental" to Canadian culture. "[The decision to approve Northern Peaks] is denigrating to society, number one. Number two: it is about money grubbing to the detriment of women and children and families, as so many studies have shown the negative effects of pornography." says Landolt. "I do not believe this is what most Canadians really want or think or approve of." REAL women are suggesting people "respectfully voice concern to the Canadian Government" by writing to either the Prime Minister or the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Josée Verner.

Calvin College prof on Solzhenitsyn

An interview with Edward Ericson, Jr., professor of English emeritus at Calvin College, (part of the Christian Reformed Church of North America), on the legacy of recently deceased Russian writer and Christian Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn has been posted online. In 1983 Solzhenitsyn collaborated with Ericson on an abridgement of The Gulag Archipelago, a partnership that allowed the Calvin professor to stay with the author at his Vermont home. For the full interview go to: http://www.crcna.org/news.cfm?newsid=725

MCC Saskatchewan new director

Claire Ewert Fisher has been named executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan (MCCS) effective September 1. She is replacing Bruno Baerg who is leaving this position after more than 12 years. Baerg becomes MCC's associate director for Southern Africa. Ewert Fisher and her husband Garth are co-pastors of Mennonite Churches in Herschel and Fiske, Saskatchewan, a position they have filled since 1999.

Catholic Insight appeal

Edmonton-based homosexual activist Rob Wells has appealed the recent dismissal by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) of his complaint against Catholic Insight. On August 12, Toronto-based Catholic Insight and its editor Father Alphonse de Valk received notification that Wells had filed an appeal on July 31 with the Federal Court of Canada. Wells is requesting that the appeal be heard in Edmonton. In July Catholic Insight, a national magazine of news, opinion and analysis, received word that the charges of "bigotry, discrimination and hate" raised against it by Wells had been dismissed by the CHRC.

Atlantic Baptists release year in review

To coincide with it's annual convention to be held 20 - 23 August at Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches has released an online 'Year in Review.' The theme of the convention is "Oasis' with an emphasis on worship away from business.

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New Lutheran president

The Lutheran Church of Canada will celebrate the installation of their new president Robert Bugbee, and the newly-elected board of directors, September 28 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in downtown Kitchener. Following the installation there will be a reception at the historic St. Paul's church.

Chief Justice under fire

REAL Women of Canada is one of the 41 who have signed a letter of complaint, dated August 13, sent to the Canadian Judicial Council. The letter accuses Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin that while serving as Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Order of Canada, "overruled the decisions of previous councils to reject Henry Morgentaler for the Order of Canada." It also states that "decisions to appoint to the Order of Canada have previously been based on the consensus of Council members, but, in this particular case, there was no consensus."

Crossroads Walk for Life

Five Canadians participating in the Crossroads pro-life awareness walk that began in Toronto on August 5, celebrated the successful completion of their journey in Ottawa August 15. The five walkers constituted Canada's participation in the growing Crossroads organization, which every summer sees dozens of volunteers walk thousands of miles across the U.S. and Canada in support of the Culture of Life. This is the second year that Canada has had such a walk. Coordinator Nicole Campbell commented, "I want to sincerely thank those who participated in this year's Crossroads pro-life walk, those who offered their prayers and support and everyone who attended the mass and celebrations on Friday," said Campbell.

"Archbishop Prendergast fully supports us and we are extremely excited about its success and future walks like it," she added. Their first stop in the nation's capital was the Morgentaler abortion clinic where they prayed for an hour, before moving on to offer prayers in front of the Parliament buildings. They officially ended their walk at Notre Dame Basilica. LifeSiteNews.com

Cadet Camporee evacuated

More than 1,300 teenage boys and youth leaders from churches across the United States and Canada had to be evacuated last week from a park in northern Ontario due to heavy rain that turned the ground at their remote campsite into a sea of mud. The youth, ages 11 to 16, were camping in Burk's Falls, Ontario, north of Toronto, as part of the Camp Northern Lights Cadet International Camporee, an event of the Calvinist Cadet Corps.

Somerville critical of media

Margaret Somerville respected Canadian ethicist , Christian and director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University has recorded her thoughts on media bias and imbalance when reporting pro-life issues. All this in the light of the recent controversial Order of Canada award to abortion doctor Henry Morgentaler.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

August 21/2008