The Morgentaler
'Order of Canada' Award:
In solidarity with
pro-life groups and organizations across the country, Priests for
Life Canada is deeply disturbed with the awarding of the Order of
Canada to Henry Morgentaler.
We, like millions
of other Canadians, believe that this award should be immediately
revoked from Henry Morgentaler.
We refer our
supporters to the excellent statements recently released by
Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto and the Canadian Conference
of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). They reflect very clearly the position
and stance of Priests for Life Canada.
Priests for Life
Canada urges all its supporters and friends to contact the
Governor General and request that this honour be revoked
immediately. We believe that if enough likeminded Canadians call,
email, fax and write the Governor General that we can reverse this
terrible decision.
Yours for Life
Father John Lemire,
Chairman of Priests for Life Canada
www.priestsforlifecanada.com
Statement from His Grace, Thomas
Collins, Archbishop of Toronto re: Appointment of Henry
Morgentaler to the Order of Canada
July 1, 2008
Canada's highest honour has been
debased. Henry Morgentaler has been awarded the Order of Canada.
We are all diminished.
A community's worth is measured by the
way it treats the most vulnerable, and no one is more vulnerable
than in the first nine months of life's journey. No person may
presume to judge the soul of Henry Morgentaler, but it cannot be
denied that the effect of his life's work has been a deadly
assault upon the most helpless amongst us.
Canada glories in the names of Banting
and Best, and the other medical heroes who selflessly brought
healing where there was disease and suffering. Now it honours with
the Order of Canada a medical man who has brought not healing, but
the destruction of the defenseless and immeasurable grief. This
award must not stand.
I earnestly appeal to all who are
tempted to resort to an abortionist, or are pressured to do so by
those around them. I urge you to contact organizations such as
Birthright, and others who will support you and love you and your
precious child. Contact your parish. We are here for you. I pledge
to you the support of the Catholic Church. Look to our
archdiocesan website at www.archtoronto.org for information
concerning places where you may find loving help.
For those who have had an abortion,
and bear within your heart the fearful grief, I urge you to
contact us, to find love and support in your anguish, and in the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, to find the gift of inner peace.
I ask the faithful of the Archdiocese
of Toronto, and all people of good will, to protest this act of
dishonour. Write, phone, or e-mail the Governor General, the Prime
Minister, and your Member of Parliament. Ask that this action be
revoked.
This coming Sunday will be a day of
special prayer in the Archdiocese of Toronto, for an end to the
evil of abortion. I have asked that the following prayer be
inserted in the Prayer of the Faithful in all the churches of the
archdiocese:
"That the scourge of abortion be
lifted from our land, that those who promote it may be brought to
a change of heart, that all who are tempted to abortion may be
lovingly helped to protect the precious gift of life, and that all
who have experienced an abortion may be comforted with the healing
gift of love."
www.archtoronto.org
Comment by the Canadian Conference
of Catholic Bishops on the awarding of the Order of Canada to Dr.
Henry Morgentaler
03 July 2008
The Canadian Conference of Catholic
Bishops is dismayed by the upcoming appointment of Dr. Henry
Morgentaler to the Order of Canada. We believe that linking this
award to a procedure as harmful as abortion constitutes a serious
error which undermines the significance of the Order of Canada.
On the Governor General’s website, it
is written that “The Order of Canada’s motto is DESIDERANTES
MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country)”. Far from
improving our country, Dr. Morgentaler’s actions continue to
create controversy and division in our nation. In the name of
freedom of choice, he has encouraged the development of a culture
of death and has thus attacked the most vulnerable, the unborn.
Awarding such a decoration in this
context discredits the Order of Canada. It amounts to an
inadmissible affront to the numerous Canadians who dedicate their
lives to the protection of the most vulnerable, especially the
unborn.
We ask the appropriate authorities to
reconsider this nomination and not to award this distinction to
Dr. Morgentaler.
2 July 2008
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