- Date
- 1967 August 22-31
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Resolution
- Mover
- Dr. D.J. Broadwell
- Seconder
- Canon J.G. Lethbridge
- Text
- That Resolution G, page 133 of the Convening Circular, be amended to read as follows:
- "Whereas there are legislative changes contemplated in Canada in relation to abortion,
- Whereas there is a need for a comprehensive study into matters relating to abortion, and
- Whereas there has been no definite statement made by the Anglican Church of Canada regarding abortion,
- THIS GENERAL SYNOD
- 1. Requests the Primate to set up a special study committee of theologians, parish clergy, obstetricians, doctors engaged in family practice, lawyers, and specialists in behavioural and medical sciences to prepare a statement on all aspects relating to abortion, and further
- 2. Authorizes the said committee to submit a brief in the name of the Anglican Church of Canada when opportunity is provided to do so by the Government of Canada." CARRIED in both Houses.
- Subjects
- Abortion - Law and legislation - Canada
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
Long Range Planning Committee Report [Abortion]
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official1124
- Date
- 1980 June
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Act 89
- Mover
- Miss W. Ainsworth
- Seconder
- Mrs. E. Rankin
- Text
- That this General Synod encourage each diocese to be responsible for sending copies of resolutions passed at General Synod regarding abortion and programs of education on this topic once they are developed, to the various secular agencies involved in counselling of families and young women facing issues of abortion. CARRIED ACT 89
- Subjects
- Abortion - Canada
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
Long Range Planning Committee Report [Abortion]
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official1125
- Date
- 1980 June
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Act 90
- Mover
- Rev. W.J. Lunny
- Seconder
- Ven. R. Blyth
- Text
- That the words "as best they may" be deleted.
- The motion now reads:
- That this Synod reaffirms the responsibility of the Church to minister to those women and men and their extended families who have reached a decision to obtain an abortion.
- The amended motion was put and CARRIED ACT 90
- Subjects
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
Long Range Planning Committee Report [Abortion]
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official1231
- Date
- 1980 June
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Act 91
- Mover
- Dr. Betty C. Graham
- Seconder
- Rt. Rev. R. Hollis
- Prologue
- That this General Synod is of the opinion that the Criminal Law is not a good or appropriate instrument or agency for the restriction or control of abortion and that the proper means of attaining the goals in the resolution previously passed is through education and social measures, having in mind that laws relating to health and the discipline of the medical and nursing professions are made by provincial legislatures.
- Text
- That this motion and other outstanding motions be referred to the National Executive Council for consideration. CARRIED ACT 91
- Subjects
- Abortion - Law and legislation - Canada
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Medical laws and legislation - Canada
- Medical ethics - Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
Motion on Abortion
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official4135
- Date
- 1973 May
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Act 18
- Mover
- Dr. D.J. Broadwell
- Seconder
- Canon A. Gordon Baker
- Prologue
- Moved by: The Rev. M.J. Barry
- Seconded by: Canon E.R. Fairweather
- THAT this General Synod, while admitting the necessity of therapeutic abortion in special circumstances, rejects the policy of abortion on demand and directs National Executive Council to petition the governments with respect hereto and take all necessary action to promote both education for family planning and measures in support of families and individuals facing serious difficulties in this area.
- An amendment to this motion was
- Moved by: Dr. L.L. Whytehead
- Seconded by: Mr. Desmond R. Smith
- That this General Synod take all necessary action to promote both education for family planning and measures in support of families and individuals facing unwanted pregnancy, such as skilled Christian counselling, and emphasize the loving concern of the Church for those involved, whatever their final decision.
- An amendment to the amendment
- Text
- THAT this General Synod, while admitting the necessity of therapeutic abortion in special circumstances - as spelled out in our 1967 brief to Government, commends the Government of Canada for the present law which is in accordance with this philosophy. We respectfully request that this law be rigidly enforced so that abortion on demand be not possible and take all necessary action including general distribution of our brief throughout the Church, to promote both education for family planning and measures in support of families and individuals facing serious difficulties in this area.
- Motion to refer was DEFEATED IN ORDER OF DELEGATES.
- Chancellor Ryan, on behalf of the Assessors, then ruled that the vote on the amendment was to be taken next.
- The amendment was DEFEATED IN ORDER OF DELEGATES.
- The amendment to the amendment was then presented as a second amendment to the motion.
- This amendment CARRIED IN BOTH ORDERS.
- The motion, as amended CARRIED IN BOTH ORDERS. Act 18
- Notes
- Moved by: Mr. P.J. Andrewes
- Seconded by: The Rev. R. Stockall
- "That this General Synod stand for one minute of silent prayers for all those human lives which have been killed by abortion in Canada by the present state of the law".
- This motion was withdrawn by the mover and seconder. In doing so, the mover said that he was responding to the personal request of the Primate, who had assured him that he had the right to put the motion if he insisted, but that several people had indicates to the Primate that it amounted to moral blackmail, would be unfair to those who disagreed, and would divide the Synod. Mr. Andrewes stated that he did not agree with these objections, but was acceding to the Primate's request.
- Subjects
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Abortion - Law and legislation - Canada
- Birth control - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
Motions re Abortion and Support of Family Life
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official4117
- Date
- 1971 January - February
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Resolution
- [Act 126]
- Date
- 1971 January - February
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Resolution
- [Act 126]
- Mover
- Dr. D.H. Gould
- Seconder
- Dr. J.E. Merriman
- Prologue
- Moved by: Mrs. J.H. Craven
- Seconded by: Reverend P.S. Irwin
- "Recognizing that,
- The right to life involves not only the right to existence but also the right to human dignity and the opportunity for healthy development; and recognizing the increasing need for assistance to people of all ages in their mutual relationships especially with the basic unit of our society -- the Family:
- This Synod,
- - (a) Requests the Government of Canada to modify the legislation relating to abortion so that consideration of health of the pregnant woman may include concern for emotional and sociological factors which bear directly upon her ability to cope with the pregnancy.
- - (b) Urges government at all levels, as appropriate to strengthen legislation in support of a Family Counselling, Family Planning and Family Life Education within the school system and the community at large.
- - (c) Urges all dioceses to support and assist in the development of Family Life Education programs both within the Church and in the community.
- Moved by: Dr. D.H. Gould
- Seconded by: Dr. J.E. Merriman
- That this Resolution (on abortion), be tabled, and that the National Executive Council set up a task force of theologians, physicians, social scientists and lawyers to study the question of a definition of 'human life' in its applications to the question of medical morals and ethics on subjects such as abortion, transplantations and medical experimentation for report to the next General Synod. CARRIED
- The Assessors ruled that this motion was really two motions, and at this point in the debate it was agreed that the question should be re-opened.
- Moved by: Miss Betty C. Graham
- Seconded by: Reverend E. Bull
- That the question be re-opened. CARRIED
- That this Resolution on abortion be tabled. CARRIED
- Text
- That the National Executive Council set up a task force of theologians, physicians, social scientists and lawyers to study the question of a definition of `human life' in its applications to the question of medical morals and ethics on subjects such as abortion, transplantations and medical experimentation for report to the next General Synod. CARRIED
- Notes
- A revised motion was then introduced.
- Moved by: Reverend P.R. Ellis
- Seconded by: Reverend H. McSherry
- Building on the work started by the meetings of General Synod in Ottawa, this 25th Session endorses the statement of the Primate's Special Study Committee on Abortion as our authoritative position, and commends the Canadian government for the changes made in the criminal code.
- The revised motion was DEFEATED.
- [Recorded as No. 126 in Acts of Synod, p. 72. List of Acts includes actions which are NOT resolutions/acts.]
- Subjects
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc. - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Medical ethics - Canada
Report of the Task Force on Human Life
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official4134
- Date
- 1973 May
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Act 17
- Mover
- Canon A.D. Brown
- Seconder
- Mr. Brian Allen
- Prologue
- Miss Betty Graham introduced this report:
- Text
- That this Task Force request General Synod to authorize the continuance of its work for further report to the National Executive Council before the next Synod.
- An amendment to this motion was:
- That this Synod request the National Executive Council to reconsider the constituency and purpose of the Task Force on Human Life with the object of a report giving priority to the problems related to abortion by the November meeting of the National Executive Council.
- Moved by: Archdeacon J.G. Morden
- Seconded by: Mrs. Mary Fenwick
- That the motion be put. CARRIED IN BOTH ORDERS.
- The amendment CARRIED IN BOTH ORDERS.
- The motion as amended CARRIED IN BOTH ORDERS. Act 17
- Subjects
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod. Task Force on Human Life
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
Sanctity of Human Life
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official1229
- Date
- 1977 August
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Act 98
- Mover
- The Rt. Rev. F.F. Nock
- Seconder
- The Rev. Canon H.C. Quinn
- Text
- That this General Synod re-affirms the sanctity of human life as the first principle in the care of human beings. CARRIED Act 98
- Subjects
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
Task Force on Human Life
http://archives.anglican.ca/en/permalink/official1216
- Date
- 1980 June
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Record Type
- Act 42
- Mover
- Dr. R.J. Gardiner
- Seconder
- Mr. H. Parsons
- Text
- That the question be put. CARRIED
- The motion reads as follows:
- That this General Synod, in proclaiming a Gospel of Life and Hope and Compassion for all of God's people, rejects the principle of "abortion on demand" or for the reasons of convenience or economic or social hardship, and commits itself to strong support of:
- a) such educational programs in the Church and compatible secular agencies which exist or may exist in the future for family life, birth control and social responsibility;
- b) effective action to provide skilled counselling for families and individuals facing unwanted pregnancy;
- c) community responsibility to ensure adequate practical help in the care and nurture of children.
- The motion as amended was put and CARRIED Act 42
- Subjects
- Abortion - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Birth control - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Contraception - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Bioethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Family - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada