REAL Women of Canada.

Toronto--The 1999 national conference of REAL Women was held April 17. The majority of the 100 women in attendance were from Ontario, but there were also representatives from as far away as Saskatchewan and B.C.

The theme of this year's conference, "Canadian Women Take A Stand," found echoes in the views of many of the speakers. National Vice-President Gwen Landolt indicated that while the war against the family still continues, some chinks in the armour of the anti-life and anti-family forces are starting to appear. Recent positive developments include the abolition of most government funding for the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (N.A.C.), the granting of permanent NGO status at the United Nations to REAL Women, and, in the world of the media, the coming of the National Post which has, so far, given a more balanced coverage of events than other newspapers.

Mrs. Landolt, however, noted that many concerns still remain. Within Canada, the homosexual juggernaut, aided by judicial activism, continues to plough its path through what remains of our Judaeo-Christian society, while, on the international scene, Canada and agencies of the United Nations still persist in tying financial aid to developing countries to acceptance of population-control methods.

The "take a stand" attitude was very apparent in the rousing presentation of Rev. Thomas Pillisch, a chaplain at Metro West (women's) Detention Centre. While lamenting the general moral decay of our era and the marginalization of religion, he urged the audience to "come Out of the closet" and refuse to feel embarrassment over their Christian beliefs.

The conference wound up with a political panel featuring Reform M.P. Maurice Vellacott and Liberal Senator Anne Cools. Mr. Vellacott, health critic of the Reform Party, is presently sponsoring Bill C-461, a conscience bill, which aims at preventing medical personnel from being forced to participate in abortion and euthanasia. He indicated that he and other members of his party are in favour of scrutinizing all legislation through a "family-friendly lens" to ensure that no future law will have a detrimental effect on the family.

Senator Cools, since her appointment to the Upper Chamber, has devoted her energies to work on behalf of families in crisis. In recognition of her recent work on a Parliamentary Joint Committee which recommended "shared parenting" for children of divorce, rather than custody being given to mothers alone (in many cases resulting in the fathers being denied access to their children), Senator Cools was given the "REAL Women of Canada Award" for 1999.

The conference provided a much-needed opportunity for women of traditional values to get together, exchange ideas and news, and formulate some tactics on mending society.

ACTION ITEM: Write or phone your local MP asking him/her to support Mr. Vellacott's "conscience clause" bill. He requires the support of 100 colleagues "signing on" in order to make the bill votable.