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Canada. Moving with the times
The promotion of justice and the preferential option for the poor urged by GC 32 were inspiring principles that led to the creation in 1983 of the Quebecois Centre Justice et Foi (CJF). Originally a cultural and editorial initiative for the publication of the journal Relations, it was soon allied with a new initiative, Vivre Ensemble (living together), dedicated to the problems of refugees and to the integration of migrants. Catholicism in French Canada has gone through a gruelling period of critique and large-scale abandonment by the faithful. In the 70s and 80s in particular, many felt that traditional Christianity was indifferent to the challenges of modern life.
Through that period of crisis, CJF was able to retain its social edge by bringing men and women from various religious backgrounds onto the editorial board of Relations, and by addressing social and political issues from the broad perspective of religion and ethics. There has also been a significant effort to make the publication of each issue a participatory process. A growing Muslim population in the country has led to inter-religious dialogue as a means to face common issues of civic life. Articles on the “mixité sociale” or social intermingling (May 2003), on Muslim society in Quebec (June 2003), and the future of inter-faith dialogue (August 2003) are examples of the journal’s increasing concern with a new pluralistic society. Although its origins actually go back as far as 1911, the CJF celebrated last year the 20th anniversary of its foundation. The Headlines editorial team congratulates the Centre and all who work there on this happy occasion. [HL40202]
Jean-Marc Biron S.J., Director of the Centre Justice et Foi,
To learn more about the Centre, go to: (in French)
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