Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board 90 MULBERRY ST., P.O. BOX 2012 HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA LBN 3R9 .. TEL (905) 525-2930 FAX (905) 525-1724 .. June 6, 2003 The Right Honourable Jean Chretien Prime Minister of Canada 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0A2 Dear Mr. Prime Minister: At the June 3, 2003 meeting of the Hamilton- Wentworth Catholic District School Board, the Trustees unanimously supported a recommendation that we write to you to express our strongest concern with your recent comments concerning abortion. As you know, your statement, am Catholic and for abortion has been widely quoted in a number of media outlets. Since you have not indicated the quotes are inaccurate, we must assume you hold them to be true. Through our dedicated teachers and other sta?j we strive each day to teach our 30,000 students the beliefs and values of their Catholic faith. One of these fundamental beliefs is that all of God '3 daughters and sons, particularly the most vulnerable and those yet to be born, must be treated with respect and protected by the laws of our country. The teachings of the Catholic Church are absolutely clear regarding the right to life from conception to natural death. There is no stronger advocate of the protection of the unborn than our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. He has indicated throughout his Papacy that abortion is a ?moral evil" and that we all have a responsibility speak out against what he describes as the ?culture of death - - - .The Right Honourable -2- June 6, 2003 Jean Chretien The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in article 5, a section on the fifth commandment, ?You shall not kil states the following concerning abortion, ?Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his/her existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person, among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. Since the first century, the Church has affirmed the moral evil ofevery procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. These are the truths taught by the Catholic Church, joining with many other people of conscience who are working to protect life in the womb and who are seeking an end to abortion so as to restore our country ?s respect for the core human value of the right to life. Each and every day, these values and beliefs are taught to the students of our schools and hundreds of thousands of students throughout Canada. The most fundamental building block of a just society is respect for human life. Among all the justice issues a society should view with grave concern, abortion is a key social evil, as well as a human rights issue. To have someone, especially the Prime Minister of our country, use his Catholicity to support a position which obviously goes against Church teaching, we find reprehensible. In light of your position, your words could have the ajfect of undermining the efforts of those who teach in Catholic and other faith-based schools. More than ever, our young people and our world need leaders who give witness to the truth and who, by their words and actions, serve to protect the marginalized and the innocent. We pray that you will refrain from using your/our Catholic faith as a means to your own beliefs and that, upon discernment, work to protect life, especially that of the unborn. Yours very truly We Patrick J. Daly Chairperson of the Board cc Most Rev. A.F. onnos, Bishop of Hamilton The Honourable Ernie Eves, Premier of Ontario The HonourablePeter McKay, Leader of the Conservative Party The Honourable Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP The Honourable Stephen Harper, Leader of the Canadian Alliance Party The Honourable Sylvain Sauvageau, Leader of the Bloc Quebecois The Honourable Elizabeth Witmer, Minister of Education Federal Members of Parliament Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association