By Bennett Collins, University of St Andrews and Alison Watson, University of St Andrews

On July 9, Pope Francis stood in front of a crowd that included indigenous peoples and social activists in Bolivia and asked:

forgiveness not only for the offenses of the church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.

On September 23 in Washington, DC Pope Francis will canonize Junipero Serra. The Spanish monk may have been called California’s founding father, but he is also seen as responsible for a policy that resulted in widespread violence and abuse against the Ohlone people, as well as others, in his quest to Catholicize the “New World.”

“Many grave sins were committed against the native people of America in the name of God,” said Pope Francis in front of his Bolivian audience.

However, is the pope able to recognize that these “grave sins” of the past continue into the present?

Through our weekly newsletter, we like to let you know about our upcoming events as well as a number of issues and campaigns that we think might be of interest to you. Let me know if you have any suggestions to include in future roundups. Email: [email protected]

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DISCLAIMER: The opinions which appear in the newsletter and in this roundup of all the news which didn't fit within the newsletter are not necessarily shared by all or even most of the members and board of the BC Humanist Association.

Following pressure from the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada and local pro-choice activists, the city of Williams Lake, BC has rejected a request to proclaim "Celebrate Life Week." This victory comes after the city council had rubber-stamped the proclamation for several years. The council is now set to review their proclamation policy.

Humanism is a philosophy of life based on reason, compassion, and hope.

Our new Humanist Action campaign seeks to put those values into action by coordinating charitable fundraisers, community cleanups, and other good works, as suggested by our members.

Through our weekly newsletter, we like to let you know about our upcoming events as well as a number of issues and campaigns that we think might be of interest to you. Let me know if you have any suggestions to include in future roundups. Email: [email protected]

And for the latest news items, be sure to like the BC Humanists on Facebook and follow @BCHumanist on Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions which appear in the newsletter and in this roundup of all the news which didn't fit within the newsletter are not necessarily shared by all or even most of the members and board of the BC Humanist Association.

On February 6, the Supreme Court unanimously struck down the laws against physicians helping someone end their own life (assisted suicide) and actively ending someone's life at their request (consent to death). Individuals seeking help must have a grievous and irremediable medical condition (which may be due to illness, injury or disability) to qualify, and assistance must be provided by a physician. These changes take effect a year from the court's decision: February 6, 2016.

Today, the BC Humanist Association has responded to two consultations on how physician-assisted dying will be legalized in Canada. We are calling on the federal, provincial, and territorial governments of Canada to take a leadership role and ensure that safeguards for physician-assisted deaths do not unjustly impede access. Read our news release and response below and please respond to the consultations.

People who are suffering must not have their freedom to choose a humane and compassionate death restricted by religions who see suffering as virtuous and life as a gift from God. Our lives are our own. We must make sure the voices of reason and compassion are heard.

Ignoring the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision and the overwhelming majority opinion in Canada, today’s National Post View uses long debunked arguments to once again claim that legalizing assisted dying will result in a “slippery slope” to utter moral bankruptcy (or something like that, they don't actually say). Here I debunk those claims, one by one.

Religious leaders are lobbying to stop a private member's bill in the UK that would allow physician-assisted dying. Russell Blackford, Conjoint Lecturer in Philosophy at University of Newcastle, argues in this essay (originally published on The Conversation) that their arguments are little more than propaganda and provide a poor basis for government policy.

The following letter was sent to the National Post in response to Christie Blatchford's article in today's paper about anti-choice protester Linda Gibbons who has repeatedly been arrested for protesting outside The Morgentaler Clinic in Toronto.