Letters

Take note of pro-life businesses

I really liked the report, "The big money behind the abortion industry" (The Interim, October 2002). Tony Gosgnach should be commended for writing such a thorough and well-researched report.

Although some companies and foundations fund anti-life or anti-family programs, some do the opposite. For example, Pratt & Whitney Canada has an adoption assistance program. That is very pro-life. Some companies provide free and professional counselling on elder care, family problems, etc. and flexible work schedules to better accommodate family or other commitments. These, too, are pro-life because they help people to better cope with stressful situations that could lead to seeing those involved as a burden.

Business managers in any industry have a great opportunity to create pro-life policies within their companies, without labelling them pro-life or attracting criticism. Perhaps pro-lifers and Catholic and Christian business associations could recognize the good already achieved by some businesses and skillfully encourage others to do the same.

Fabiano Micoli,
Toronto, Ont.

About paying for the boycott list

As a member of the board of directors of Life Decisions International, I would like to explain the logic behind the fee for a copy of the boycott list ("Boycott List ad offended reader," January letters). First and foremost, the fee is not part of a fundraising plan. The fee is charged simply as a means of recovering the cost of maintaining the list accurately. Pro-lifers often quickly support the latest initiative that comes from the leadership in the movement. A boycott of companies that support baby killing is an incredibly effective strategy. Corporations see a decline in revenues and a long list of individuals willing to put their money where their mouths are. The list of companies who have stopped giving money to Planned Parenthood is a very long one because of the boycott.

This leads to the bottom line at Life Decisions International. An accurate list is one that is constantly added to and deleted from. Charging a nominal fee enables LDI president Doug Scott to work full-time maintaining the list. The research done by Scott to ensure the accuracy of the list is what has kept LDI out of the courtroom for 20 years. Imagine a large corporation taking the time and effort to make sure its name is finally not associated with baby killing. It then discovers that local pro-life groups are still circulating outdated lists that encourage members to boycott them.

I, for one, have no problem with paying for a list that helps me ensure not one dollar I spend ever ends up in the hands of Planned Parenthood. I consider it money well spent.

John Hof
Langley, B.C.

Hold it on the war

As a high school teacher and department head of religion at Brother Andre high school in Markham, I see many students who present a variety of challenges to established beliefs and paradigms of behaviour. In each case, one must realize that each of these individuals is the product of a family that has entrusted its hope and dreams in the future. Many of these children are the sons and daughters of sensitive mothers and fathers. I ask your readers to look at the perceived evil members of the community in Iraq with the same open-minded vision. Our enemies may be the sons and daughters of caring families and one must not be blinded by our politicians, who call on their citizens to see the enemy as the source of all evil. If we act impulsively, the outcome will be disastrous for many innocent families. Jesus called us to be tolerant and understanding towards our enemies so that they in turn will be forced to reflect on their own feelings and anticipated actions.

President Kennedy came to realize the residual effects on the lives of innocent people if he was to act out of impulse in the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is my hope that prudent voices in Washington will be able to guide Mr. Bush in the same direction. Through prayer and a paradigm shift, George Bush and the rest of the civilized world may have a future worth considering.