Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute Turns 10!

Tucked away on the campus of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto sits a wonderful gift within our Catholic community in Canada. The Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (CCBI) quietly goes about its business in tackling issues that are seeping into the everyday lives of Canadians, whether we're aware of it or not.

Their work is critical to ensuring that there is a Catholic voice involved in issues related to bioethics. This week, the CCBI celebrates its 10th anniversary of sharing collective wisdom and pastoral guidance with the Catholic community both in the Archdiocese of Toronto and throughout the country.

For those not familiar with the work of the CCBI, a little background courtesy the CCBI website:

The Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute came about as a result of discussions, dating back to 1998, among some Toronto-area physicians and lawyers, ethicists at the three Catholic hospitals of Toronto, University of St. Michael's College, Regis College, St. Augustine's Seminary, and the Canadian Association of the Order of Malta. This group felt that it would be helpful to create a centre or institute to help enhance Catholic research and communications in the area of bioethics in a way that would be of service to Canadians generally.

In particular, it was felt that there was a need to foster collaborative research and to communicate the fruits of that research in ways that are accessible to Canadians of all backgrounds. The group also stressed the need for a proactive approach to bioethics by Catholics, academically credible research, and stronger links across the country among academics, clinical ethicists, and workers in health and pastoral care.

In the summer of 2000, under the direction of His Eminence Cardinal Ambrozic, the Archdiocese of Toronto agreed to provide sufficient funds to organize the proposed institute, to fund its activity during the first year, and to provide significant annual support thereafter.

With this support assured, an office was established on the campus of the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto. A director, Dr. William Sullivan was appointed effective January 2001 to begin the process of Canada-wide consultations that would help to shape the Institute's vision, mission and activities.

I've had the pleasure of working with the CCBI on numerous projects over the last several years. With a shoestring staff and budget, they are making a profound impact in our faith community and beyond.

Their first director, Dr. Bill Sullivan paved the way and continues to be a treasured resource to the CCBI and our faith community. Some may recall that in 2007, Dr. Sullivan was asked by the Vatican to serve on the Pontifical Academy for Life, a talented group of international experts tasked with assisting the church as she explores biomedical issues and questions relating to the dignity of human life.

Current director, Dr. Moira McQueen is one of the busiest Catholics around. You may catch her lecturing on Moral Theology at the St. Michael's College, offering commentary to the media on any number of ethical issues from organ donation to stem cell research or end of life care to name a few.

She also makes "house calls" to parishes throughout the Archdiocese where the popular "People in the Pews" program is offered for Catholics looking to learn more about bioethics through four, two hour evenings.

If that's not enough, she's an author, having published Bioethics Matters, a helpful introduction for Catholics looking to become more informed on ethical issues (stem cell research, reproductive technologies, end of life issues, etc.) from a faith perspective.

If you haven't had a chance to experience any of these offerings from the CCBI, you're missing out. Consider a visit to the CCBI website where a host of resources, including information on organ donation from a faith perspective, short articles on issues of present day relevance can be accessed. They also offer regular lectures that are always a popular and informative chance for Catholics to learn more about what's currently "on the radar".

With court cases underway, particularly around end of life issues, there's no better time to get educated. When Catholics or non-Catholics get together and ask you why the church teaches what it does or perhaps a colleague misrepresents the position of the faith, you'll be in a much better position to recant the argument.

More importantly, as we all face challenging ethical decisions in our own lives and those we love, we can take comfort in knowing that the church has provided us with a roadmap and a toolkit to help navigate through these most difficult moments.

So Happy Birthday to the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute. For a 10 year old, you sure know a lot about a whole bunch of stuff! Can't wait to see what you're like as a teenager!