REAL WOMEN CHAPTERS AT WORK

By Doris Darvasi
President, BC Chapter

Through the generosity of its members, Laurie Geschke and I of REAL Women of BC attended the World Congress of Families II in Geneva last November. Upon their return, we organized an informal meeting on January 19, 2000, to inform people about what had happened at the Congress, to pass on information, in particular the tapes of the speakers, and to enable others to make early plans to attend the next Congress. Invitations went out to churches, pro-life and pro-family groups, as well as Campus Crusade for Christ, Christ for the Nations, and the Sociology Department at the Trinity Western University. Additionally, the information went to the BC Christian News which was very interested in the articles written about the Congress, as well as in the pictures that were taken during the course of the event. BC Christian News is planning to write an article about our attendance at the World Congress of Families II.

While I was visiting my family in Zurich following the Geneva Conference, I had an opportunity to meet with a couple, both medical doctors, who work with an organization called "AIDS-Information Switzerland." After exchanging information on what was happening in both countries, I returned to Vancouver with a suitcase full of material. I also brought additional information from an organization called "Drug-Free Youth Switzerland," such as the brochure, "International Criticism of the Swiss Heroin Trials," and brochures on the dangers of cannabis, which are extremely informative and very helpful in the fight against legalizing some of the drugs in Canada. I will be returning to Switzerland this coming summer and have already arranged further meetings with these organizations. The fight going on in Switzerland in regard to drugs and AIDS is similar to the one we are fighting in BC.

Spanking Pamphlet

REAL Women BC has mailed out the spanking brochure to its members. The brochure was also passed on to a very large Christian school in the Vancouver area. The school has over 1200 students, and the information on the spanking issue was included in the school's newsletter.

Issuing Alert Bulletins

REAL Women of BC has an excellent e-mail members' list to provide information on new developments. These Alerts are issued quite regularly by Laurie Geschke who is doing a wonderful job keeping the members informed. The Alerts go out weekly and some have an "immediate action needed" heading. The BC members have responded very favourably.

The BC chapter is also busy with the child pornography issue which is front and centre in our province. We've written many letters about it. We're praying for the success of the appeal in the Supreme Court of Canada in January.

REAL Women's Alberta Affiliate
Alberta Federation of Women United for Families (AFWUF)
By Hermina Dykxhoorn
Executive Director
AFWUF

Lesbian Adoption Case

Two years ago, a lesbian couple living in Calgary applied to the Court to have the non-biological lesbian partner adopt the other partner's biological child.

AFWUF intervened in the case asking the court to uphold Alberta's Child Welfare Act that prohibited same-sex adoptions. In May 1999, however, the Alberta government capitulated to the homosexual lobby group and amended the relevant section of the Child Welfare Act to include same-sex partner adoptions. This was in spite of Premier Klein's declaration, following the Vriend decision by the Supreme Court of Canada, that his government would "build fences" around family law to protect it from homosexual/lesbian intrusion. Moreover, in a shocking move, all three readings of this Bill and the final vote were held in one single day, a process which usually takes a year! The Bill permits private adoptions by homosexuals/lesbians, but public adoptions still include only heterosexual couples.

The Alberta government next withdrew from the lesbian adoption case, leaving AFWUF to fight the case alone. Since the government had withdrawn, AFWUF applied to the court for amicus curae status (friend of the court). This would have provided us with the opportunity to place before the court evidence that the government would have presented, as well as other evidence.

Mr. Justice Keith Martin, however, denied AFWUF amicus curae status. As a result in the adoption ruling was based solely on the testimony of the lesbian petitioners and the Psychologist Association of Alberta, which had intervened on behalf of the lesbian couple.

Mr. Justice Martin ruled in favour of the lesbian couple. He also ordered AFWUF to pay the sum of $3,500 towards the lesbian lawyer's costs!! What better way to silence opposition to homosexual/lesbian court challenges than to make those opposing them pay a financial penalty for doing so.

As a result, AFWUF now must pay $3,500 to the lesbian's lawyer, plus a further $8,000 to cover the costs of our own lawyer. AFWUF is a group of volunteer women, united by our concern for the family. We have funding only through our membership dues and donations, so this penalty has created problems for us.

It is clear that because we uphold Judeo-Christian principles, we are being heavily penalized. This will not stop AFWUF in its work, however! We are determined women. We will somehow find the money and continue on with our efforts on behalf of life and family.

Durham Region Chapter
By Barbara Laing
Durham Region Chapter

My sister, Susan Shetler (President of Durham REAL Women Chapter), Claire Demski and I — all Durham Region REAL Women — managed the Durham Region People Against Pornography booth at the Oshawa Shopping Centre to kick off the annual WRAP campaign in October (see photograph).

We had a successful day, collecting names on a tear-away ballot to be sent to MPs. They also offered information, as well as accepted donations. There was good coverage on local TV and radio and "fair" coverage through newspapers. (What a surprise!)

Susan and I are speakers for the Durham-based anti-pornography group and REAL Women. We talk to school and church groups, young offenders, Girl Guide troops, etc., throughout the year. Susan is also a public school trustee for the Durham Public School District #13.

North Bay Chapter
By Betty Stock
Vice President
North BayChapter

Last fall, the Northern Ontario Chapter decided to take an active role in preserving Section 43 of the Criminal Code, which now permits parents to discipline their children by spanking. Section 43 states:

The position of REAL Women is not whether or not one should or shouldn't spank a child, but whether or the government has a right to interfere with the family's choice as long as it is reasonable. We believe that the parents are the primary caregivers and, therefore, bear the primary duty and responsibility for the raising of children. We believe that there exists a presumption that parents act in the best interests of their children, and we believe that parents should be allowed to use reasonable corrective discipline for their children.

Our chapter decided to participate in this campaign in the hope of counteracting a government-funded lobby group, the Toronto-based Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law. This group is arguing in the courts that S.43 is unconstitutional as it fails to "give children the same rights and protections as adults." Our chapter looked for the most efficient way of reaching the greatest number of people. We then decided to circulate 20,000 REAL Women pamphlets on the spanking issue through our local newspaper. We also encouraged people to photocopy the pamphlets and hand them to their churches, schools, etc.

The response was encouraging. We received replies from those who agreed with our platform and from those who opposed it. Some also photocopied our pamphlet and circulated it in their communities. We also received applications for new memberships, as well as requests for subscriptions to our bi-monthly publication, Reality. All these are as a result of just a few hours work!

For many of us, it is disheartening to watch the wheels of government turn with seemingly little or no concern for what the people of this country really want. The government's interests are self-serving. It establishes unnecessary institutions and bureaucracies and pours in our tax dollars to sustain them. Our governments also usurp the authority and the rights of the individual and the family. While our governments refuse to establish any system of accountability, they claim we live in a democratic country.

The role our Chapter took last fall might seem miniscule, but every bit helps. Through inaction, it seems that Canadians deserve the government they get!

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