The state has a place in the labs of the nation

Respected ethicist Margaret Somerville has released a statement ('Examining Society's Role') commenting on the recent California birth of octuplets and the 60-year-old Calgary woman who gave birth to twins. "Natural conception and conception through reproductive technologies are more different than they are the same," she writes, arguing that the state generally has no business interfering with natural conception, but that society has a right to intervene in conception through reproductive technologies since "the resulting families are deliberately constructed with state assistance, rather than simply occurring naturally." Somerville is the founding director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University.

The family has a place in the deliberations in Ottawa

The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC) is holding a conference in Ottawa March 12 on 'Social Justice and the Family: Connecting the dots between poverty, justice and strong families.' Keynote speakers are British MP Iain Duncan Smith, founder of the Centre for Social Justice in England; Dr. Gabor Mate, staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and resource centre for people in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside; and Kay Hymowitz, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Presentations will include new research on some of today's greatest social concerns. The IMFC is coordinating the event with the Manning Centre for Building Democracy.

Christians should have a place in Iran

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), of which the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is a member, recently issued a statement condemning the "systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom, including prolonged detention, torture, and executions based primarily or entirely upon the religion of the accused, especially for religious minorities such as Protestant Christians" in Iran.

Parliamentarians should have a place in our prayers

The National House of Prayer has launched a new website aimed at "helping you pray specifically for your parliamentarian." Each day, the site presents information on a different MP, Senator or Supreme Court judge, as well as specific suggestions for prayer. Eventually, 422 government leaders will be included.

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The internet is a place to celebrate Easter

Mennonite Brethren have released an online Easter devotional guide, 'Walking in the Light,' written by faculty, staff and students of the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (MBBS) in Fresno, California. "We hope the devotional guide helps people follow Jesus and be immersed in the Word of God as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Easter," said Lynn Jost, acting president of MBBS, to Canada's Mennonite Brethren Herald.

Leaders have a place at MissionFest

Organizers are gearing up for MissionFest Toronto April 16 - 18. The event will include an On Purpose Leadership Day April 17, beginning with a breakfast featuring Tony Campolo. This half-day session will bring together leaders from mission agencies, the church and the workplace, crossing denominational, ethnic and generational borders. The morning will also include 'breakout' sessions with a number of prominent Canadian leaders, including David Macfarlane, director of national initiatives for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada; Robert Melnichuk, director of Crossroads@Work; Kenny Blacksmith of Gathering Nations International; Brother Bian, a Chinese missionary elder; Rick D'Orazio of the Freedom Centre; Mark Rivers of Presidents of Enterprising Organizations; Faytene Kryskow of 4MY Canada; and Benji Devadason of SIM Canada.

Marching again in the same place

Canada's Roman Catholic bishops have declared their support for the National March for Life set for May 14 on Parliament Hill. Last year's march drew 8,000 people, the biggest turn-out yet. This year's march marks the 40th anniversary of the bill that legalized abortion. -- Western Catholic Reporter

The Pope has a space on YouTube

For Catholics all over the world, the Vatican has launched a new channel on YouTube that will feature coverage of Pope Benedict and major Vatican events. Commenting on this development, the Pope expressed hope that this will "enrich a wide range of people, including those who have yet to find a response to their spiritual yearning, through the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ." -- Catholic News Service

February 26/2009