end-of-Life Issue in the Supreme Court
The EFC appeared as an intervener before the Su- preme Court of Canada on Dec. 10 in the case of Cuthbertson v. Rasouli. The case concerns an Ontario
man in a coma due to complications after minor brain surgery. Machines are required to keep him alive. The doctors
in charge of this man’s care determined the time had come
to remove him from the medical equipment keeping him
alive. The family disagrees. Read more, including the EFC's
written arguments, at www.theEFC.ca/Rasouli. The court
decision is expected in a few months.
an evening to end Prostitution
The EFC’s policy analyst Julia Beazley is participating with
Defend Dignity in a series of thought-provoking conferences in Portage la Prairie (Jan. 27), Calgary (Jan. 31, Feb.
1), Caledonia (March 1) and beyond. Defend Dignity is an
initiative of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Find
out more at www.DefendDignity.ca and www.theEFC.ca/
ProstitutionLawReform.
evangelicals Draft new
Creation Care Document
The Lausanne Movement in collaboration with the World
Evangelical Alliance, of which the EFC is a member, met
recently in St. Ann, Jamaica to discuss creation care and
the gospel. Read their final commitment at www.lausanne.
org/CreationCare. You can add your own signature there
or submit an institutional endorsement.
why Is assisted Suicide requested?
In a new EFC discussion paper, Palliative Care and End of
Life Therapies, researchers at the EFC’s Centre for Faith
and Public Life examine reasons why people request
assisted suicide. The paper also considers two recently
developed therapies which can alleviate suffering while
offering dignity and hope. Download a copy at www.
theEFC.ca/ResourcesOnEuthanasia.
abortion Funding:
How Provinces Decide
The EFC recently released a new report which explains
how provinces and territories can determine whether or
not they will fund abortions. Provincial Decisions: Abortion
Funding in Canada corrects common misconceptions and
equips readers to challenge their government’s position
on using tax dollars to fund abortions.
“Provincial governments determine whether and
when abortions are ‘medically necessary,’ and as such,
whether to fund them and in which circumstances,” says
EFC Vice-President Don Hutchinson. He points to a 2010
Angus Reid poll which found only 44 per cent of Can-
adians felt the “health care system should fund abortions
whenever they are requested.” About 39 per cent felt the
system should only pay for abortions in cases of medical
emergencies, and 10 per cent said abortions should not
be funded at all.
update on abortion opinion Polls
The EFC has released an updated version of Abortion Polls
in Canada: A Compilation by Topic of Opinion Polling in
Canada from 2007-2012 to include the most recent opinion
polling data. This resource assists pro-life activists with
drafting articles, columns and blogs, as well as preparing
for interviews and debates. Download a copy at www.
theEFC.ca/AbortionPolls2012.
Praise and Prayer alert for Pakistan
The EFC’s Religious Liberty Commission released an alert
in November when an important blasphemy case against
a young Pakistani Christian teenager, accused of burning
a Koran, was dismissed by Pakistan’s higher court. Many
in Pakistan are praying this case will be a precedent for
others awaiting trial. Read more at www.theEFC.ca/alerts.
Interns Share experiences –
apply now
The EFC’s internship testimonials page has been updated
with one of last summer’s students sharing his experience.
You can also watch a video interview of an intern from
summer 2011 as he shares his experience in Ottawa at the
EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life. New applications
are welcome. Please visit www.theEFC.ca/internship to
learn more.
Video resource on Poverty
Three Christian ministries have launched a video resource
to inspire the world’s Christians to help end the agony of
1.4 billion people suffering extreme poverty. Christian Aid,
Compassion and Micah Challenge have released the nine
mini-videos which include supporting comments from
world figures such as former British prime minister Tony
Blair and Alpha Founder Nicky Gumbel.
Rev. Joel Edwards is the international director of Micah
Challenge. “Extreme poverty is a modern-day evil,” he
says. “There are an estimated two billion Christians in
the world, which is an unstoppable force to end the plight
of the 1.4 billion people suffering extreme poverty.”
Canadian Geoff Tunnicliffe, CEO of World Evangelical
Alliance, says, “This unique study raises some provoca-
tive questions and asks us to reimagine how Jesus’ words
should inspire and motivate the Church today.” For more
information see www.theJesusAgenda.org. FT
