Canada celebration brings Millennials to a faith summit

In pursuit of genuine pluralism and friendship across the religious spectrum.

Carolyn Moynihan | Jul 7 2017 | comment

Canada recently celebrated its 150th anniversary of the confederation of four provinces to form one nation. To mark the occasion Cardus, a Christian think tank, held a faith summit for Millennials in the federal capital, Ottawa. Judging by the video below (one of several on Cardus' You Tube channel) it was a teriffic event, attended by dozens of young adults from a wide range of faith communities.

Two of the organisers talked about what their faith meant to them in this 9-minute interview on CBC radio -- also very impressive.

This is an idea that should catch on.

| MercatorNet | July 7, 2017 | MercatorNet |

An 11-month-old British baby has captured the attention and wrung the hearts of people the world over during the past week or so. Charlie Gard has a very rare genetic condition which is incurable and progressive, and for the past eight months he has been kept alive by ventilation and tube feeding in the intensive care unit of a London hospital.

The dispute between the medical team, who say it is time to stop what is futile treatment causing the baby suffering and let him die a natural death, and Charlie’s parents, who want to try an experimental treatment available in the United States, has seen courts supporting the doctors, and Pope Francis and Donald Trump come out in support of the parents’ wishes.

Just a few hours ago the New York hospital where Chris Gard and Connie Yates want to take their son offered to send the drugs they would use to treat Charlie to the Great Ormond Street Hospital where the baby is. The doctors there are unlikely to welcome the offer as they have already said that further treatment would only prolong Charlie’s suffering.

Many pro-life and pro-family people have sided with the parents, saying it is a parent’s right to make decisions for their child, especially since they have raised the money to cover expenses. Mistrust of medical experts and “quality of life” judgements also come into play.

Charlie’s is an extremely difficult case and good people will differ over it. After reading various opinions this week, we at MercatorNet found a statement by the Anscombe Bioethics Centre in the UK, a Catholic institution, the most balanced and helpful. See what you think.

Either way, let’s keep his mum and dad in mind as they live through the anguish of these days.