I am a long standing member of the NDP from Sault Ste. Marie and have been actively involved in the riding association. I am very opposed to the formation of the Faith and Social Justice Caucus. My belief is that the NDP is a secular party and there should be no discussion of issues from a religion perspective and the member should keep their reiligious beiefs to themselves.
As well, the social justice component is reduntant as our Party whole basis and philosopy is SOCIAL JUSTICE. If we require a causus to bring forward issues of social justice then why do we have a Party.
My husband Dan Sweezey Jr. and I are considering resigning our long-standing memberships if this caucus continues to exist.
Secularly yours
Theresa Sweezey
S.S.Marie Riding

The goal is simply to offer a space for those people who DO come to politics from a faith perspective to discuss, to meet, to outreach. The existence of this group does not put in to question the fundamental secular principles within or outside the party. It's better to offer a space for this kind of discussion than to have none. At least, that's the perspective.

Theresa and Dan,
I am sad to read your post. The NDP stands for the social democratic values of inclusion and diversity. The faith and social justice causus seeks to promote these values by providing a space for people whose committement to social justice is grounded in faith. Faith is a very personal matter, but not a private matter. Private faith leads to a disengagement from the world, public faith leads to engagement with the world. Those of us who are committed to the NDP and are grounded in a faith or spirituality do not betray the 'secular' characteristics of the party. We are not seeking 'power' we are simply seeking a place to share with one another our hope for a better world. Faith may inspire, but it is through the social democratic principles of the party that we work for change. To exclude our voice because it is inspired by faith, to exclude our language because it calls on faith is a betrayal of the social democratic values of the party. It is unclear from your post why a faith perspective is so threatening. Were this a group bent on 'evangelizing' the NDP, then I too would be concerned, but it is not. I'll be at convention, I hope you will be able to join us for lunch at our event. It is often much easier to dialogue on sensitive issues in person, then through electronic posts.
Chris Duncanson-Hales

I believe this can be a useful resource for those who are involved in Catholic School board politics, as I am. I want to be able to share other faith perspectives when crafting a solution to a problem.

Max Lombardi
Candidate for Catholic School Board Trustee; Cambridge, Ontario

I am very pleased to be able to hear of other's faith perspectives on social justice. I come to the NDP because of their basic belief in social justice. I am a catholic who believes and works for social justice, and although I don't believe in everything the NDP professes or works toward. It is still the better choice of political parties. I also come from a union perspective. We as people are diverse and our views are formed from the various aspects of our lives. I would be interested in being able to have dialogue with others in the party, who come from a faith perspective as well. Thank God for a party that believes in equality, and diversity of views. I don't want to preach to people nor do I want to be preached to. We live in a diverse world including diversity of faiths and politics. I would hope that people of faith and those who are 'secular' can still be in the same party, as we are in the same world. If the NDP is simply for people who are secular it isn't the party I think it is. Thanks for forming this forum.

Those feeling anxiety over the possibiity of a Faith & Social Justice Caucus should take some time to sit quietly and ponder this:

"We are thankful for these and all good things of life. We recognize that they come to us through the efforts of our brothers and sisters world over. What we desire for ourselves we wish for all. To this end may we take our share in the world's work and the world's struggles."

"Grace Before Meat" Prayer
J. S. Woodsworth Social Gospel Minister, First Leader of the....
Cooperative Commonwealth Federation
(Sounds NDP to me!)

It's presumptuous to judge the Faithful/Spiritual Left within the mental illness of religious fanatacism & or hard-right politics. My Christian CCF Grandfather stated light years ago "Liberal-Tory same old story" which is why he joined the CCF. Both grandparents knew Tommy Douglas, lived genuinely decent lives, understood only too well the corruption & hypocrisy of organized religion and rose above conservatism to be Social Gospel. Less we forget the original Spiritual Left movement in Canada eradicated child labour - and that was just for openers people!
Aren't New Democrats supposed to be that driven, willing to work in convergence with others?
Rejecting both major capitalist parties comes from choosing innovation over typical, having the talent to lead on social & economic justice as well act as interventionists.
I'm as delighted with the possibiilty of a Faith & Social Justice Caucus for the NDP, as for the Socialist Caucus to continue, the Disability Caucus...a Green Caucus would be nice....etc
It's called progressive democracy and tolerance dear friends.

to social democracy,
Carole Payne
Disability & Medicare Advocate
Environmentalist
Canadian Sovereignist
NDP/Council of Canadians
Publisher - Spiritroots Communications www.spiritroots.ca/

On the surface, why NOT a faith and social justice caucus? Others have their caucus or place within the NDP. On a deeper level, though, I know as a social democrat that many social justice campaigns I have worked on or participated in were strengthened and energized by people, including party faithful, motivated by their faith and spiritual values. I encourage a very big tent for the NDP that allows people to come to causes from different places -- labour, human rights, politics and yes, faith. Religion gets a bad name, deservedly I say, when we read the headlines about clergy abuse, residential schools etc. But religion, and in a broader sphere, faith and spirituality, deserve a good name for outstanding work in contributing to peace, social justice and rights' campaigns. Martin Luther King frequently wrote on how many protests against injustice began and end in churches. Take the refugee issue for example. As a party, we find allies, and workers, in some churches and their strong justice work. They have worked with refugees directly, offered sanctuary in the face of hasty deportation orders and assisted in resettlement efforts. When they don't lose their way,churches can be a voice for the vulnerable. I for one welcome within the party those who will reinvigorate our work for justice.

Thanks Pierre for informing me about this forum. I too am saddened when I read Ms. Sweezey's comments. Her statement sound as dogmatic as many Christians who decry involvement in the NDP, perceiving the NDP as advocates of a godless society.

I came to the NDP because of my faith. I see the goals of the NDP and the CCF it followed are rooted in a faith-based approach to life. Ms. Sweezey's faith appears to be in the secular, social justice values that I, as a Christian, find appealing when I view the NDP.

We, all NDPers, wish to form the government in Canada at some point. To do this, we need to be able to appeal to the masses, whether they be secular in their worldview or informed religiously in their worldview. We need to claim back the religious community from the Conservative Right, who take their cues from the American Religious Right.

We can not impact change in Canada, if we are unable to relate to all Canadians, irrespective of their religious views. I hope that we as a political movement can be accepting of all perspectives that add to the values and principles we believe as Social Democrats.

in solidarity,

Douglas

Hi Pierre:

I'm so sorry I was unable to attend National Council in Winnipeg and join in celebration of the formation of this Commission. As a Quaker, my spiritual philosophies inform everything I believe and do in my life (well, I try, anyway). That includes social justice issues, of course, and as a pacifist, non-violent solutions to conflict.(While I support the NDP stand on Afghanistan, I'd like Canada to eventually demilitarize its military and make use of its organizational expertise for civilian use. And I bet the NDP is the party to make it happen. But that's for a long way in the future, I guess.)

I was drawn to active involvement in the NDP, after throwing my hands up in despair of every understanding politics, because it was the only party I felt *genuinely* cared about and worked for those in our society who are not getting a fair deal and should, and its demonstrable encouragement of women to enter politics (and terrific results, as our current federal caucus shows).

I would like to be actively involved in the Commission in some way. It will provide a great learning opportunity as I try to work through some residual discomfort as a Quaker, dealing with such a confrontational set-up as our poltical system is today. Personally, I think the NDP should advocate for the Talking Stick to be used in the H of C, to eliminate the puerile shouting in the background, and another symbol that limits how long a person can speak for!

I am sorry that some people oppose the Commission because they assume that anyone who actually talks about the spiritual part of their lives in relation to the world they live in is a right-wing religious fanatic. Gosh, people in society are much more diverse and interesting than that! I think the Commission can be of real service to the NDP, to enrich and inform its policy making.

Daphne Davey

I was pleased to hear about this caucus and I hope to be able to participate. Like many who have written above, I think that it is very important to have people of faith provide an alternative to the Religious Right and its politics of war, exclusion and unfettered capitalism. It is time for the religious left to make itself heard! Thank you to the organizers of this initiative.

The Bishop of the Diocese of St. Paul in Alberta has recently issued a pastoral letter on the oil sands development in that province which is definitely worth reading. It includes an excellent summary of Catholic theology on the environmentalism. You can find it at http://www.dioceseofstpaul.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=11