{"id":14670,"date":"2011-10-27T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-10-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/cccc\/2011\/10\/27\/cccc-legal-defence-fund-update\/"},"modified":"2011-10-27T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2011-10-28T00:00:00","slug":"cccc-legal-defence-fund-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/cccc\/2011\/10\/27\/cccc-legal-defence-fund-update\/","title":{"rendered":"CCCC Legal Defence Fund Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Re: CCCC Legal Defence Fund<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I was preparing a mailing the other day, I needed one of those manila envelopes with “bubble wrap” on the inside. Those plastic air bubbles, which my children loved to pop when they were younger, provided tremendous protection for the books I was sending. In many ways, the CCCC Legal Defence Fund is just like plastic bubble wrap, since it provides protection for our Members as they travel through the legal realities of Canadian society.<\/p>\n

This protection would not be possible without the support that you and your organization have provided over the years. I want to thank you for your generosity, which has contributed to the great successes of the past and now prepares us for what we may have yet to face in the future.<\/p>\n

The CCCC’s community has a well-established tradition of looking out for one another, especially when it comes to legal challenges. When one of our Members is unfairly targeted or there is a developing legal issue that will affect the broader community, we are quick to intervene and support the cause that will bring the greatest good for our Members. We take this role seriously – we understand it to be our duty.   <\/p>\n

We are mindful of several responsibilities:<\/p>\n

• First, we are to be informed of what legislation and cases are up and coming that have the potential to dramatically affect the ministry of our Members;<\/p>\n

• Second, we investigate those cases which are most problematic and monitor their development;<\/p>\n

• Third, we make the strategic decision whether to intervene in a case, lobby an Act, or otherwise be involved to ensure that the broader questions at issue, affecting our CCCC community, are addressed by the courts and the legislatures; and finally,<\/p>\n

• Fourth, we must be prepared for the expensive reality of litigation.<\/p>\n

Without the continued support of our Members, we would be hard pressed to monitor and litigate cases and\/or legislative initiatives that may hinder Christian ministry. This does not mean that we are of the view that all courts or legislative bodies have a malicious intent to discourage Christian ministry – it is more often a matter of unintended consequences. Because a court or an elected body does not have Christianity as its primary focus, they are unable to see the end results of their decision or legislation. This is where we come in. It is our role to review litigation and legislation with the purpose of understanding its ultimate affect on Christian ministry.<\/p>\n

It is for this reason that we have intervened in cases such as the clergy residence deduction with the Canada Revenue Agency; the Christian Horizon’s case, involving the right of ministries to have a lifestyle and morality code in the workplace; and the Drummondville Case in Quebec, where we stood for the right of church schools to opt out of a provincially mandated course on religion. Our Members’ right to do ministry is to be protected.  <\/p>\n

Your support in maintaining the CCCC Legal Defence Fund is crucial – not only are you protecting your ministry, but you are also strengthening the hand of all of our Members in their advance to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God.<\/p>\n

Here is a quick update on the latest matters we are considering:<\/p>\n