Probe Clears Canadian Agency of Funding Abortion

Nearly four months since the international development arm of Canada's episcopal conference was accused of having funded pro-abortion groups in Mexico, the agency has been cleared of the allegations.
Archbishop James Weisgerber, president of Canada's episcopal conference, confirmed to ZENIT that a report will be sent to the bishops of Canada this week that will vindicate Development and Peace from complicity in programs supporting and promoting abortion.

The report, which followed an investigation of five Mexican partner agencies that have received Development and Peace funds, is also expected to lead the bishops to evaluate their pro-life leadership in Canada and the protocols followed by Development and Peace.

The agency is also the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis.

"I can tell you that the bishops’ visit found no evidence that Development and Peace was in any way implicated in abortion services or abortion advocacy," said the archbishop, who heads the Winnipeg Archdiocese. "[But] that really wasn’t the allegation being made. The allegation is that they are funding people who are involved in other ways, and we found no evidence of that, either."

Archbishop Weisgerber acknowledged that some of the agency's partners are collaborating on separate projects with groups that adhere to principles opposed to Catholic teaching. He insisted, though, that the support given by Development and Peace is directed to specific projects that are not in violation of the Church’s position on abortion and contraception.