Salt + Light Media Home
Salt + Light Media Menu
Salt + Light Media Home
Magnifying Glass
coverPhoto
Premium content

Asset title

Asset description

Development and Peace continues renewal with pro-life protocols

Kris Dmytrenko

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Last month on Perspectives, S+L reported from the annual plenary assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Of particular interest to pro-life and social justice advocates, the agenda included a report by the bishops' Ad Hoc committee on Development and Peace (CCODP). CCODP is the official international development agency of the Catholic Church in Canada. On Monday the bishops released new details about the report that was discussed behind closed doors.
The committee's mandate was to assist Development and Peace as it re-examined its principles and mandate in light of Pope Benedict’s social encyclical Caritas in Veritate. The “renewal process” followed reports that CCODP was working with some partner organizations who engaged in pro-abortion advocacy. The projects specifically funded by CCODP were not related to abortion.
With the cooperation of Development and Peace, the Ad Hoc committee reviewed all 248 projects that the organization was funding. The bishops said that they received “complete and detailed information” and “full disclosure” throughout the lengthy process. The bishops concluded that they were “satisfied” with the results of their inquiry.
The committee reported that CCODP is now preparing new protocols. One such regulation would require its partners to disclose involvement in work that would “contradict Catholic principles of respect for life”. Moreover, revisions to the CCODP Partnership Agreement “will reflect the obligation to respect life values and conformity with Church teachings”. The committee notes that these changes may take months to formally approve, given CCODP's by-law process.
A new protocol already in place resembles a funding restriction established by the Archdiocese of Toronto. In July 2009, Archbishop Thomas Collins placed conditions on the allocation of ShareLife funds to Development and Peace. To distribute Toronto's donation, CCODP needed to obtain approval from the local bishop where the project was taking place. A similar requirement now extends to all CCODP's projects. Program officers will routinely visit the local bishop to inform him about their funding relationship with the local partner organization.
The new protocols could spur reforms of other Catholic development organizations. The Ad Hoc committee noted that Caritas Internationalis was “following the current CCODP renewal process with considerable interest”, given “similar concerns” about Catholic Relief Services and CAFOD, operating in the United States and Great Britain respectively.
-
Photo: CCN / Deborah Gyapong


Related Articles:

Category: General Posts

Tag: abortion, Ad Hoc committee, Canada, Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, Catholic bishops, CCCB, CCODP, D+P, Development, Development and Peace, episcopal conference, peace, plenary assembly, pro-life

Address of Pope Leo XIV to Members of the Diplomatic Corps

Friday, May 16, 2025

Pope Leo XIV

On Wednesday, May 16, 2025, Pope Leo XIV addressed members of the Holy See's diplomatic corps, focusing on the pillars of peace, justice, and truth.

What’s in a Name? History’s Greatest Popes Named Leo

Friday, May 16, 2025

Matthew Neugebauer

What's in a name? When a new pope chooses a name that's been used before, it’s usually to highlight some of his predecessors or other historical figures, as ways of recalling the importance of their legacy in the present day. Here's a look at some of history's greatest popes named Leo.

Address of Pope Leo XIV to Participants in the Jubilee of Oriental Churches

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Pope Leo XIV

On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Pope Leo XIV addressed individuals participating in the Jubilee of Oriental Churches.

Address of Pope Leo XIV to Representatives of the Media

Monday, May 12, 2025

Pope Leo XIV

On Monday May 12, 2025, Pope Leo XIV addressed members of the media who had covered the Interregnum and the Conclave. He said that "Peace begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others. In this sense, the way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war."

Pope Leo XIV’s First Regina Caeli Address

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Pope Leo XIV

On Sunday, May 11, Pope Leo XIV gave his first address during the Regina Caeli prayer. He spoke about praying for vocations, "especially those to the priesthood and consecrated life." 

SUPPORT LABEL

Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Copyright © 2025 Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation
Registered Charity # 88523 6000 RR0001
FR | CH