| Abbreviation | CCRL |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1985 |
| Type | Religious organizations based in Canada |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | lobbying, courts, and media relations |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Region served | Canada |
| Official language | English French |
| Website | Official website |
The Catholic Civil Rights League is a Canadian lay Catholic organization which makes statements in the media about Catholicism and which lobbies the government and takes part in court cases to advocate policies in line with its interpretation of Catholic teachings. The CCRL has played a prominent role in Canadian social debates surrounding abortion, same-sex marriage and prostitution, where it has argued from a social conservative standpoint, in line with Catholic social teaching. The organization works closely with other Catholic organizations on social issues that matter for the Church.
The group was formed in 1985 to counter anti-Catholic sentiment, which had increased when the Ontario provincial government had extended funding to Catholic secondary schools.
Media
The League opposes what it views as anti-Catholicism and anti-religion in the media. It responds to criticism of Catholic teaching in the media and to comedy programs about Catholic characters which it views as blasphemous, sometimes filing complaints with the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) and Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). It has opposed media such as the television show Father Ted, the film Dogma, and the book The Golden Compass.
Court and tribunal cases
CCRL has been involved in a number of cases which relate to its interpretation of Catholicism, opposing same-sex marriage in several cases in the late 90s and early 2000s, calling for the notwithstanding clause to be used to overrule court decision in favour of same-sex marriage. It opposed the Ontario court's decision in the "three-parent case" which determined that a child's second custodial parent could become his legal parent without a non-custodial biological parent surrendering parental status. It has also taken a socially conservative position in a case challenging Canada's restrictions on prostitution, and advocated for policies protecting discrimination and hate speech against LGBT people, and displays of graphic anti-abortion posters where not permitted, as an expression of religious belief.
References
- "New RC group to fight anti-Catholicism." Oziewicz, Stanley. The Globe and Mail; Toronto, Ont. 12 Mar 1985: M.1.
- It's the second coming of Father Ted: 'Scandalous' TV series returns on the Comedy Network: Hunt, Brian. National Post; Don Mills, Ont. 17 Aug 1999: B7.
- It's Dogma eat dogma: Some Catholics riled by funny, profane and bizarre film: Horton, Marc.Edmonton Journal; Edmonton, Alta. 14 Sep 1999: C1 / FRONT.
- Catholic group seeks book ban: Wilhelm, Trevor.The Windsor Star; Windsor, Ont. 28 Nov 2007: A1.
- Some of what was said Tuesday in reaction to a decision by the Ontario Appeal Court allowing same-sex couples to marry Canadian Press NewsWire; Toronto 10 June 2003: n/a.
