And learn to Build a Culture of Life
By Jo-Anne Jackson-Thorne

Despite unusually hot weather during a week filled with World Youth Day activities, more than 250 Pilgrims showed up on Friday July 26, 2002 for a seminar organized by the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (CCBI) and co-sponsored by the Order of Malta. An audience of healthcare professionals and university students from around the world participated in an interactive, thought-provoking seminar on the relevance of faith to some of the challenging areas of bioethics. Whether the pilgrims sat or stood in Carr Hall at the University of St. Michael's College or overflowed into the foyer, they listened attentively to the speakers and responded with intelligence and enthusiasm. One pilgrim described the event as "truly an amazing sight and display of faith." It was inspiring not just to see so many young people come together, but also to share in the deep reflection that was stirring their souls.

Camille De Blasi, Director of the Center for Life Principles in Redmond, Washington gave an inspiring keynote speech on "Building a Culture of Life." In her talk, De Blasi connected our society's prevalent notions about happiness to its attitudes towards suffering and illness. ( For further information on this topic visit www.lifeprinciples.net .)

Afterwards, pilgrims participated in small group sessions to discuss the integration of faith and reason in specific areas such as sexuality and fertility, end-of-life-care, spirituality and health, medical research, and clinical ethics. Participants were encouraged to think about concrete ways to be effective witnesses of the Gospel of Life in their studies and work in health care, biological research, and bioethics. This format allowed young people to witness to one another and be inspired by mentors working in their chosen professions. Worship music led by Andrew McGorman, Chris Bray and French pilgrim Céline Fromention was followed by other prayers offered by Fr. Bob O'Brien and Archbishop Blanchet of Rimouski, Québec. There were also displays with information for pilgrims provided by organizations such as the Marguerite Bourgeoys Family Centre, the Life Center of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist of Meriden, Association of Christian Therapists, and the Centre for Clinical Ethics in Toronto.

"It was overwhelming to see so many young and articulate people from all over Canada and the US and countries like Belgium, Colombia, and Japan interested in their faith and learning about bioethics," said Dr. Bill Sullivan, Director of the CCBI. "Many of them, who are considering careers in areas of healthcare and bioethics, indicated that they found the seminars to be tremendously inspiring and encouraging." The Institute engages in interdisciplinary research and education in health care and the life sciences to promote and protect the dignity of the human person.

To date, the Institute's research fellows have prepared an analysis of the Romanow Commission Interim Report on the Future of Health Care in Canada, various short papers on cloning and embryonic stem cell research, and a commentary on the proposed Canadian legislation on assisted human reproduction. The first think tank organized by the Institute was held in June, 2002 and brought together 45 clinicians and academics to discuss human genetics in the context of health care reform in Canada. The think tank has resulted in a book that will be peer-reviewed and published.

There are a number of events that will involve the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute in the next few months, for which the public is welcome to register to attend. In October, Dr. Sullivan will speak at a Christian Health Care and Healing Prayer Symposium sponsored by the Association of Christian Therapists as well as at an International forum, "Creating a Culture of Life," sponsored by Campaign Coalition and LifeCanada. On November 22, at the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto, there will be the Second Annual Connie Heng Lecture to be given by Dr. Dan Sulmasy, OFM, Sisters of Charity Chair in Ethics at Saint Vincent's Manhattan, on ethical issues in genetics.?

For more information on CCBI's upcoming events, visit www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/bioethics/

Jo-Anne Jackson-Thorne is Administrator of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute.