Winter 2014 – Vol. 37, No. 3
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In Review | Editor’s Note | Letters to the Editor
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Churches Fear Future of Refugee Sponsorship
by Ashley Chapman
The government has been in hot water lately over its refugee policies. First for the underwhelming response to refugees fleeing Syria, and then for the refugee health care cuts which were deemed “cruel and unusual” by the Federal Court. Everyone from doctors to lawyers to frontline refugee service providers have spoken out. And now the government faces another set of critics: churches.
Canada’s Invisible Citizens
by Michael Cooke
In November 1989, the members of the House of Commons unanimously passed a resolution promising to bring an end to child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. In 2009, they renewed that promise. Yet today, one child in seven still live in poverty and among our Indigenous children, the numbers rise to a shocking four in ten. In fact, more children and their families lived in poverty in 2011 than in 1989. This is stark and disturbing evidence that we have not kept our promise to our children.
2015: A Big Year for the Climate
by Joe Gunn
Canada’s next federal election is currently slated for October 2015, with the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris following just two months later. These two events present Canadian citizens with crucial opportunities to put pressure on our government to change course.
Chew on This! a Success
by Thea deGroot
October 17, 2014 was the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and for the second year in a row the Dignity for All Campaign organized Chew on This! At 45 events in 36 cities across Canada, food bank workers and anti-poverty advocates joined together to call for a poverty elimination plan.
Is your church Living Ecological Justice?
CPJ’s latest book has been studied by faith communities across Canada. Start your own book study or invite CPJ to coordinate a workshop!
CRA Audits: Six Questions
by Kathy Vandergrift
A robust, independent non-profit sector that can freely engage in public debate about the challenges facing our society is vital for a healthy democracy. Faith-based organizations are a significant part of the charitable sector and protect our own interests. It may be time to speak out for the important role of the whole sector in building a more just society.
The Heart of God
by Thomas Coldwell
We have all heard the saying, “Give someone a fish and you’ll feed them for a day. Teach someone to fish and you’ll feed them for a lifetime.” While there is some truth to this, there are many other considerations. What if the fishing gear is too expensive? What if access to the water source is too restricted? What if the waters are polluted and the fish are all dead?
The Advent of Justice… Again
by Brian Walsh
Advent is often cheapened by the secular sentimentality of Christmas. This book of meditations led readers into a costly time of waiting and longing. It also bore witness to the radical hope that Isaiah proclaimed and Jesus embodied.