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December 2000
LETTERSArchbishop Exner on voting
It has just come to my attention that The Interim has published in their November issue an excerpt from a statement about voting that I made over twenty years ago. This statement was made when the context was very different from the present context. At that time in almost every riding there still was a choice between pro-life and non-pro-life candidates. Today's climate in Canada is quite different: in today's context voters often have to choose the lesser of two evils.
In your November issue, you make no attempt to clarify for your readers when this article was written and consequently in what context. My statement of over twenty years ago has been taken out of context and I feel I have been misrepresented by The Interim. I ask that you clarify this matter for your readers in your next edition. Enclosed for your information is my current brochure, A Canadian Catholic Voter's Catechism.
Most Rev. Adam Exner, OMI
Archbishop of Vancouver
Vancouver
Editor: Archbishop Exner's current brochure was brought to our attention after the November issue of The Interim went to press. Had we been aware of it, we would have quoted from it instead. It did not occur to us to question whether the archbishop would object to our quoting the document we quoted, even though we were aware of its date of publication, because, in our view, the moral dilemma facing pro-life voters has not changed radically. It did not occur to us that the archbishop might feel that that document is no longer applicable. Nonetheless, of course we respect the archbishop's judgment and heartily applaud his current statement, which clearly states that the right to life is the most important issue in deciding how to vote. That statement is referred to in the article, "," on p. of this issue.
Ontario injunction
If there were a breakout in the women's prison by the Toronto Airport and every women had an equal opportunity to do so I think they probably would, except for two. Why? Because it is against the law and these two are grandmothers who would never break the law, except for a special interest/politically correct one, and they are literally being held as political prisoners under the bubble-zone law.
Mind you, the bubble-zone law is not in any criminal code because it is blatantly unconstitutional in that it denies free speech and it assumes guilt by association. Why two gentle grandmothers would be associated with a very few mentally ill people, except that they might share one belief at best, is beyond my understanding. It wouldn't be a new phenomenon in illogic brought on by feminist hysteria, anti-Christian hate propaganda and tabloid sensationalism, would it now?
In effect, we have a war measures act declared against pro-life individuals and prosecuted by the Ontario government. This in the form of a (wink-wink) "temporary" injunction. In another solidly left-wing province, British Columbia, with a similar injunction, the police swooped onto a couples home and hauled the couple's daughter off to prison with dubious charges at best, not unlike old-style Communism. Of course, Mike Harris, who in many ways has been more a socialist than Bob Rae even dreamed of, and who promised to put an end to this injustice while he was in opposition, has gone so far as to forbid the issue to be discussed in cabinet or among the rank-and-file.
As for the grandmothers, who are allowed two phone calls per week and two 20 minute visits per week - Who knows? Who cares? Certainly not the Catholic Church in Ontario, else they would voice and display outrage!
Paul Gordon
Marmora, Ont .
Mary Wagner
In a just world, Kevin Pielak would win international acclaim for his exquisite photograph of Mary Wagner kneeling in prayer before a Vancouver abortion mill (Interim, October 2000). Ted Gerk mentions twice in his article on this topic that Mary does not want attention drawn to herself. Instead she invites us to an examination of conscience concerning our personal effort to witness to the sanctity of human life.
It might interest Mary to know that another pro-life hero of recent memory also disliked being the centre of attention. This other woman said, in fact, that having her picture taken was the hardest trial of her whole life! Knowing what her life consisted of - caring for the sick poor in disaster-ridden areas - many of us found her assessment of her hardest sacrifice surprising. Her name was Mother Teresa.
Lise Anglin
Toronto
Anti-Christian bigotry
Re: attacks on Stockwell Day's faith during the recent election campaign. What started out as attacks on a Christian leader in an effort to alienate a portion of the voting public and increase the Liberal chances of winning, soon progressed to mock anyone who believes in creation and then quickly moved on to poke fun at God. It is one big smoke screen with the hopes that everyone will be so distracted that the real issues will not be brought up.
If you think you will not be affected by such ignorant and malicious behaviour, I would just give a quick review of history. We are being asked to trust these politicians to protect and guarantee the very beliefs that they mock. You have never been closer to losing your religious freedoms than you are today. When you bring a nation to fear a man because of his beliefs, you bring that same nation to fear all who hold to those or similar beliefs.
This should be more than a wake-up call to everyone of all political parties. Both those who proclaim no religious persuasion and those who hold strong views are disgusted. For too long we have allowed our politicians, through well organized ads, created by masters of public relations, to shape how and what we think.
Now is not the time to sit back and shake our heads at such pathetic behaviour, it has gone far beyond that. Let your voice be heard when you vote. To stay silent is to abdicate in favour of a further loss of the rights and freedoms in Canada that we hold dear, and the very rights that our country was founded on.
Place a frog in a beaker and gradually raise the water temperature. That frog will not leap to safety, but the end result is still the death of the frog. Many great kingdoms have come and gone, are we willing to be one of them?
"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14)
Esther Whittingstall
Vancouver
Two-tier medicine
Canada's dirty, not so little secret, is of course abortion, now at 115,000 a year, edging up to three million since Trudeau's amendment legislation of 1969.
The Liberals, who gave us legalized abortion, encouraged by the NDP socialists, have made the fight against two-tier health care their main election issue.
Ever since the courts allowed Henry Morgentaler to get away with breaking the 1969 law, Henry has been getting paid both publicly and privately in various provinces at various times.
Henry has been a true pioneer in two-tier health care with the "tolerance" of the ever-hypocritical Liberals. Trudeau called Henry a friend. And friends of Liberals always do well in Canada.
Paul Vandervet
Brantford, Ont.
Alliance deserves support
In your November 2000 editorial, you urged pro-life people to vote for a pro-life candidate in whatever party they belong. I do not think that a pro-life MP in the Liberal party would have much influence in that party which governs from the top down and whose philosophy is pro-choice. Even though not all Alliance MPs are pro-life there is much more hope that the party would consult the public and bring at least some restrictions on the public funding of abortions. I have read your advice on these matters for the past 25 years and what has it produced? Here we have a party in the Alliance that gives more hope for a change than anything I have seen in years and it deserves our wholehearted support.
Fred A. Vaughan
Innisfil, Ont.
Life Chain reflections
Recently I participated in the Life Chain on Broadway Ave. in Tillsonburg and found myself very much absorbed in the "Why." As I pondered the reasons, I had to make comparisons. Defending human rights - e.g. life, the right to life - I immediately thought back to the great wars and what our ancestors, our loved ones, did on the horrific battle fronts to accomplish the same thing. As I thought I realized, how easy, how lucky, our call to protect human life and basic human rights demands so little effort: Our votes, our prayers, our taking a few hours a year to get involved, to get informed is too easy, yet, for so many, too hard.
As such thoughts circulated, I could not help but wonder, where are all the others who know better, who agree with the cause? Do we really have such an epidemic of complacency and
indifference while our little brothers' and sisters' lives are being ruthlessly terminated? The obvious "Yes" to this almost brings tears.
Now I hear and see the reactions from pro-choice. It's not life, it's not human. This makes it easier, for some, to roll over and go to sleep, but it doesn't change the facts even the abortionists hate to admit. They do indirectly, they know it is human life in the womb. If you don't accept this, ask yourself - why is a Toronto doctor recommending that babies to be aborted should be given an anaesthetic before killing them because of the terrific pain of abortion? Is this not admitting life in the womb? Ask yourself, why did the Alberta Medical Association decide to inject potassium chloride into the heart of the baby to be aborted to prevent the gruesome task of killing those babies who survive the attack of the abortionist? Is this not admitting there is life in the womb? Ask yourself, why is the ultrasound image of the baby in the womb hidden from the mother being prepared for the abortion? Too much information is bad for this lucrative business. If this is not a human baby how come her or his body parts are harvested and bring in such big bucks? If her or his mommy only knew!
The truth about the abortion holocaust here and around the world is so depressing. The cause is so important this Life Chain should reach from coast to coast. Returning to the sidewalk scene I see some bright spots. Many good people are in this Life Chain making a difference. Nineteen motorists give us a big smile, a wave and a thumbs-up. Only three waved with one finger. One motorist shouted, "Who says so?", but didn't bother to wait for the answer (must have been afraid of it or really didn't want the truth). We are encouraged. We are saving lives and we shall continue. We know God wants us to at least try. We are comforted by Luke chapter nine verse 48, where Jesus is quoted, "Whoever welcomes this child in My name welcome Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me." WOW!
Chuck Roche
Tillsonburg, Ont.
Term 'preborn' is incorrect
Precooked food is food which has already been cooked, a preheated oven is one which has already been heated, and a preshrunk garment is one which has already been shrunk. So what is a "preborn" child?
I wince whenever I see this word, which cannot be found in any dictionary. The new Concise Oxford has more than ten pages with words beginning with "pre", but "preborn" isn't one of them.
If it was invented to make the pro-life message clear, it has evidently failed in this purpose. At a recent Ottawa demonstration I heard an onlooker express bewilderment at the word, which he saw displayed on our signs. He may have wondered, perhaps, if a "preborn" child was one born earlier in a previous incarnation.
In England I belong to the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Children - not "preborn" children. "Unborn child" is a well established, easily understood expression which confuses no one. "Preborn child" is a poor, unhelpful substitute which ought to be avoided.
Philip Cooper
Torquay, England
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