On Wednesday, the Canadian bishops addressed one of the more controversial topics of the CCCB Plenary Assembly: the ongoing process of renewal of Development and Peace (CCODP). According to Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary, the bishops are continuing to revision Development and Peace in light of Benedict XVI’s social encyclical Caritas in Veritate. The reform efforts, started in 2009, coincided with reports that CCODP was funding projects by partner organizations abroad that were also involved in pro-abortion rights advocacy. Bishop Henry told S+L that, during the Wednesday morning session, the bishops developed “tools to respond to some of the questions” about CCODP. One question has been whether the CCODP should require the approval of the local bishop where a project is taking place. Bishop Henry revealed that the local bishop will not be asked to give a nihil obstat, meaning a formal declaration that he has no objections to the project. Instead, the Canadian bishops will seek to inform the local bishop and involve him as an active partner. The bishop of Calgary also responded to complaints by some in the pro-life community that the reform process has been too slow and insufficiently transparent. He says that while “bumps in the road” are to be expected in the renewal of a 43 year-old organization, he is “amazed” at the progress that has taken place in the past year. Posted above is the full-length version of the interview that was also featured on the Wednesday edition of Perspectives Daily.