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FAITH AND FREEDOM ALLIANCE FORMED IN CANADA

We are all aware that the Canadian courts, using the Charter of Rights as their tool have been, for the past twenty years, setting Canada adrift from its anchor by "re-interpreting" the intent of legislation to reflect the judges' own biases and ideologies.

The majority of the constitutional challenges before the courts, especially in regard to marriage, the natural family, the sanctity of life and religious freedom have all been funded by the unsuspecting Canadian taxpayer. Generous contributions have been provided to selected special interest groups such as feminists, civil libertarians, homosexual activists, child rights activists and a host of other radical "rights-based" groups who claim discrimination against their so-called "charter rights." The federal government Court Challenges Program, Human Rights Commissions and various government grants offered especially by way of the Department of Justice and the Secretary of State Women's Program, are providing the financial resources to fund these legal challenges.

In recent years, only a small group of lawyers, religious and pro-family organizations such as REAL Women, have intervened in some precedent-setting legal cases in order to stop a radical makeover of our society. While these coalitions have had a significant impact, they have been limited by inadequate funding and operate solely on the support of a small number of lawyers who have taken a reactive rather than proactive approach. Most importantly, these case-by-case interventions have lacked a cohesive, long-term strategy to impact on the courts in a way that affirms and promotes the sanctity of life, the natural family and religious freedom. Furthermore, up to the present time, there has been nothing implemented to train more and especially younger lawyers in constitutional litigation with respect to these critical issues.

In response to these needs, a proposal was put forward in 2000 that pro-life/family lawyers who support religious freedom and pro-family and life causes, should put together a national proactive legal advocacy organization to oversee the following mandates:

  • Train Canadian lawyers to litigate at the lower levels of court and decisively win cases involving religious freedom, family values and the sanctity of life;

  • Facilitate strategic planning and coordination of lawyers and legal strategies with like-minded social action groups involved in litigation; and

  • Facilitate funding for cases that have a high likelihood of establishing new legal precedent in the areas of law related to religious freedom, family values and the sanctity of life.

After two years of tireless effort, this legal organization called Faith and Freedom Alliance has finally come to fruition. It is supported by Focus on the Family, REAL Women, the Catholic Civil Rights League, the Evangelical Christian Fellowship and the Home School Legal Defense Fund - organizations which have all been involved in the court challenges to-date. The organization's Steering Committee is comprised of members from each of these organizations as well as several committed Christian lawyers. Much of the leadership in organizing this important project has come from Dallas Miller, Q.C. of Medicine Hat, Alberta, legal counsel for the Home School Legal Defense Fund in Canada.

Incorporation Proceedings

The organization's Steering Committee is, at this time completing the federal incorporation as well as an application for charitable status from the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA, formerly called Revenue Canada). A formal name for the organization was selected - Faith and Freedom Alliance (FFA).

In the meantime, a long-term litigation strategy is also being considered and plans are being made to solicit funds to support litigation in key legal cases, and to co-ordinate the volunteer time of the lawyers involved. It is also hoped that an office with a full-time director and support staff will be established to assist with this work.

Highly Successful Training Sessions Completed

This new organization has already completed two highly successful training sessions for committed lawyers across Canada, who are prepared to make a difference in Canadian society by advocating on behalf of truth and life. These lawyers attended the training sessions and had their expenses paid in return for their pledge to provide 120 pro bono (voluntary, without charge) hours of legal work each year on behalf of faith, family and life for a period of three years. This pro bono work will be provided to churches, public policy organizations and not-for-profit organizations that are active in these areas. We hope this commitment by these lawyers trained to provide their expert legal services will have a significant impact on our pro-family and religious freedom causes. They will be sorely needed if Svend Robinson's Bill C-250 (hate crime bill) is passed into law.

The first training session for an initial group of 15 committed lawyers was held in Montreal in October 2001, and the second session was held in Banff, Alberta the following October, with 20 lawyers in attendance. The next training session is being planned, hopefully to take place at the end of September, in Southern Ontario.

This is a very crucial undertaking at a very critical time in our history. Please pray for its success.

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