APRIL 13, 2009 I first became aware of the Centre for Cultural Renewal at a talk to the Catholic Physician's Guild in Vancouver. Since then, the Centre for Cultural Renwal has not only been an inspiration, but has given me the much needed tools to navigate through the difficulties I encounter in my efforts to influence College policy in relation to the proctection of conscience. The Centre has also helped me to voice my concerns in the public setting, as I have been invited to speak at various conferences over the years. Behind the scenes, Iain Benson has also given generously of his time to review papers that I have had published in pharmacy journals, the latest being "The 'Hijacking' of Moral Conscience from Pharmacy Practice: a Canadian Perspective. Not only did Iain offer some valuable insights for the final draft of the paper, but the masters thesis in Bioethics in which the paper is based would not have been possible without the wisdom I gained from studying various papers published through the Centre for Cultural Renewal. Cristina Alarcon,
Pharmacist, West Vancouver
MARCH 9, 2009 As a freelance journalist who covers religion and politics in Canada’s national capital, I am well aware of the important work the Centre for Cultural Renewal does in explaining the importance of religious freedom and conscience rights to a free and robustly pluralistic society. Over the years, the Centre has provided me with a wealth of contacts on religious freedom issues; provided excellent briefs before the courts and legislative committees; important analysis of important court decisions; and sponsored informative conferences and lectures. Now more than ever, the Centre’s work in this area is needed as religious freedom and conscience rights are under attack, often through the best intentions of various so-called human rights commissions that operate like a shadow justice system without the Common Law protections of a real court of law. Deborah Gyapong
Best Way Communications, Ottawa
MARCH 2, 2009
I don’t often take time to express my appreciation to those who make my teaching much more fruitful by their diligent work. I am currently teaching a course at the University of Alberta on religion and human rights. A number of students are struggling with the complex nature of legal cases associated with this theme. They go to the Centre’s website and draw on what you and your colleagues have done over the last number of years, both the analysis of Canadian cases as well as the essays on the secular. The result is always the same: a kind of epiphany through which they are ushered out of their comfortable ideological silo into the serious world of thinking about what at best is competing virtues and often much less than that. From one day to the next they are thinking and seeking new ground upon which to stand to express their concerns and aspirations, ground worthy of a pluralistic society and, I might say, of a thinking mind. The Centre has given all of us an enormous gift through your work and our country is better for it. David Goa
Director, University of Alberta
This is why I support the Centre for Cultural Renewal. It is the one charity that takes both religion and society seriously and believes that there should be no cultural or political wall to divide the two. CCR fights to recover what has been lost and finds it again-often in the most unpropitious conditions, with shabby equipment of logic, dialogue and a sense of respect for the other. click here to read whole letter David Jennings
Barrister and Solicitor
Vancouver, BC
Viewed from New York City, the emergence of the Centre for Cultural Renewal is a most welcome event. As Canadians are keenly aware, intellectuals and policy experts in the United States tend to be grossly ignorant of the important arguments taking place in Canada. Responsibility for our ignorance is partially mitigated by the paucity of independent centers of intellectual initiative in Canada, such as think-tanks and research institutes outside the university structures. The Centre for Cultural Renewal is an important step toward remedying that lack. Even more encouraging, the Centre is focused on the great question of the complex connections between public policy, culture, moral discourse, and religious conviction. These are precisely the connections that have, in recent years, reshaped public life, including politics, in the United States. I would be much surprised if similar problems and opportunities do not become much more pronounced, albeit in a distinctively Canadian way, north of the border. Our institute and others are grateful for the partnership of the Centre for Cultural Renewal in communicating the possibility of a more free and virtuous society in both the United States and Canada. Richard John Neuhaus
President, Institute on Religion and Public Life
Editor-in-Chief, First Things
The intellectual fire-power at the Centre for Cultural Renewal puts it at the top of its game in Canada, and among the finest think-tanks in North America. Neil Seeman
Former Editorial Board Member, National Post, Toronto.
During the last several years I have found the Centre to be a stimulating source of ideas....both its publications and its conferences have contributed directly to my work as a journalist. David Cayley
Writer and Broadcaster, Ideas, CBC Radio, Toronto.
On Pluralism, Liberalism, Religion and the Law Conference
This was the best conference on constitutional law which I have ever attended...it marks a major step forward in bringing philosophers and lawyers together to engage in a meaningful discussion about pluralism in Canadian Society. David M. Brown
Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto.
The conference was of an exceptionally high caliber. Each one of the papers was well written and thought provoking...the Centre is filling a much needed role in Canada. Kevin Sawatsky
Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver.
On the Centre's Arts Symposium The Leap to Meaning
[This Symposium] was a nearly unique event in combining work of the highest quality in literature, the fine arts and performing arts [with] rigorous but open-hearted intellectuality. Albert F. Moritz, Ph.D.
Poet and academic, Toronto.
I have never had a week so intellectually stimulating, spiritually enlightening and emotionally balancing. Crispin Elsted
Actor, poet and fine-press bookwright, Mission, British Columbia.
This Conference is the result of an astonishing vision reminiscent of the academies of the past which spawned opera, four-part harmony and many scientific achievements. Creative minds need nurturing and interaction...thank you. Janet Danielson, Ph.D.
Composer, academic and President, Association of Canadian Women Composers.
Lex View's timely analysis of court cases provides us with valuable insight into the implications of judicial decisions for public policy and the subtle interactions between law and morality. [The analysis] carefully balances the need for accuracy and fidelity to the court documents with clear analysis and critique accessible to a layman. Again, I wish to thank you for this excellent service which I hope you will be able to continue to provide. R. Paul Wilson, Ph.D.
Director of Research, Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Ottawa.
I am very impressed with the work of the Centre for Cultural Renewal... my involvement in some of its programs has been highly beneficial to my work. The Centre brings a perspective informed by the Judeo-Christian tradition to questions of public policy in Canada. It provides a voice for many Canadians who are concerned with the preservation and enhancements of our religious and civil traditions and their importance for the character of our society. Rabbi David Novak
Professor and Director of the Jewish Studies Programme, University of Toronto.
Press, Television and Radio:
The Centre for Cultural Renewal does terrific work on issues that, although central to good public policy and to the concerns of many citizens, are almost entirely absent in contemporary policy debates. It deserves the attention and support of everyone interested in grounding policies and discussions in sound first principles. John Robson
Columnist, Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa.
[The Centre] is a high-impact organization ... pressing for a civil society that links religion and morality to public policy ... as its head Benson challenges the liberal cliché that British Columbians and [Canadians] live in a "secular" culture full of "unbelievers" who have no faith.... Vancouver Sun.
The Centre ... maintains the tradition of coherent reasoned argument on controversial social, political and cultural matters. Moderate in the true sense of the word, the Centre is a necessary voice in the ongoing discussion over the present and future of our civilization and our country. Philip Marchand
Senior Books Columnist, The Toronto Star.
The Centre has provided me with a network of contacts who can speak intelligently about the deep social, political and legal issues facing Canada. Many of these people affiliated with the Centre have appeared as guests on various television programs I have produced over the years. The Centre has contributed to my personal intellectual development ... broadening my horizons and sharpening my critical skills. Deborah Waters Gyapong
Senior Producer, CBC Newsday, Ottawa. |
