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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Maple Hill borders our farm, and every autumn an array of red, yellow
and copper-coloured leaves creates a breathtaking view from my kitchen
window. This year is no exception. However, just as autumn continues
its course towards winter, REAL Women's work moves forward at a
constant, but never slow, pace.
In late August, REAL Women forwarded a "Submission
to the Review Panel on Common-law Relationships" in Manitoba,
which dealt with the issue of gay adoptions. Our brief explained
that adoption is a privilege, not a statutory right. In decisions
regarding adoption, the best interest of the child must be paramount.
Studies confirm that children do best when raised by both a mother
and a father. Society should aim for this objective. Our submission
was made at the request of the panel Chairman, Mr. Justice Hamilton.
The Canadian International Development Agency held
consultations in September on its paper "Strengthening Aid
Effectiveness". CIDA operates without controls, and has been
criticized by Auditors General and government committees alike for
incompetence and mismanagement of its $2 billion annual budget.
REAL Women addressed these issues during its presentation and also,
in a press release.
"NAC Extremism Hits New Heights" exclaimed
the headlines of another press release from REAL Women on October
2. A former head of the government-funded National Action Committee
on the Status of Women exposed her extremist views. She claimed
that US foreign policies were soaked in blood and had led to the
terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. Most Canadians were
horrified by her remark, but sadly these views received wild cheers
from conference radicals and Jean Chrétien said his government
would continue to fund such extremism.
REAL Women was an intervener in the British Columbia case dealing
with the petition to grant same-sex couples the right to marry.
On October 3, the BC Supreme Court agreed with us and restricted
marriage to heterosexual couples only. The battle is not over because
the litigants will appeal this case to the Supreme Court. This was
argued in British Columbia in July, and was the first of three cases
before the courts this year.
A challenge to the Ontario marriage law was heard
on November 5 and another was heard on November 8 in Quebec. It
is to be hoped that the British Columbia win will set a precedent
for the next two cases. Our Legal Defence Fund has passed just over
the halfway mark. If you have not as yet made a donation, please
do so now. We need your help. (See page 16.)
Our National Vice President, Gwen Landolt, spoke
on "The Immorality of the Law" in early November, at the
Alliance for Life annual Ontario Provincial Conference. She spoke
about how the courts have deliberately set about to change the fabric
of Canadian society, even though this was never the intention of
the government when the Charter of Rights came into effect.
Aside from the work we do, a friend recently brought
to my attention a problem some of you may have experienced. Does
your local bookstore have little or no selection of pro-life, pro-family
or Christian literature? Apparently that is due to small demand.
You can make a difference by requesting, then purchasing literature
that reflects your values.
I am sure all of you have the horror of September
11 etched in your minds and have already prayed for the victims,
their families and world leaders. Continue to do so. We cannot begin
to see all the ramifications of the terrorist attacks.
By the time you receive this issue of REALity,
the time to prepare for Christmas will be upon us. Remember the
REAL Women Cookbook will make a delightful and inexpensive gift
for family and friends. Order one today! Have a Merry Christmas
and a holy New Year!
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