What readers get out of The Interim

Maria L. Dalgarno

The Interim has been reporting the unvarnished truth for a quarter-century about life and family issues. The topics of abortion, euthanasia, same-sex “marriage” or a myriad of other topic are important, but darkly sad. Reporting on the advances of the culture of death can be emotionally draining and reading them is no joy. So why do so many pro-life Canadians persevere not only in their activism, but in their need to remain informed about these vital issues? The Interim asked some of its long-time readers what benefit they have received from their monthly dose of pro-life journalism.

Patrick O’Brien is the former federal Liberal and independent MP for London-Middlesex, Ont. He still lives in the city with his wife Evelyn and their children. First elected as an MP in 1993 and re-elected three times. O’Brien brought his faith into his political career in whatever he did, but it was on the infamous day of June 6, 2005 that O’Brien took thecourageous stand of conscience, when he resigned from the Liberal caucus and party as then-prime minister Paul Martin aggressively pushed Bill C-38 (which changed the legal definition of marriage).

In January 2006, O’Brien retired from politics. When asked what the paper meant to him, he replied, “I’ve read The Interim for 15 years and to me it is the voice of the pro-life movement in Canada. It is an extremely important vehicle to bring the necessary balance to the abortion debate in the almost complete absence of fair treatment in the so-called mainstream media.”

O’Brien added: “It leads me to pray for success in ending abortion in Canada and renews my hope that victory is possible. It reinforces my determination to never quit the fight for life, no matter what the current setbacks and frustrations are, and gives me renewed courage to take a public stand for life. It makes me grateful for all the men and women who soldier on in the fight to end our worst national disgrace, the scourge of abortion.”

Encouraging words indeed from a former federal MP.

Denise Hounjet-Roth in Saskatchewan is a teacher and president of the provincial CLC in the Prairie province, wife of Louis and mother of two boys. She said she has been a reader for 20 years, since her initial involvement in pro-life. As part of the national CLC team, The Interim keeps her constantly updated on the pro-life movement in Canada. “The Interim encourages me to do a pro-life action: write a letter, make a phone call, stand up for life at a march, attend LifeChain and visit a public official.”

She thinks the paper plays an unsung role in the political arena for many pro-lifers. “I believe the information on pro-life politicians given in The Interim definitely led to the victories of many of them – people depend on The Interim for this reporting.”

And how about things in the legal world? Paul Formby is a lawyer and pro-life activist in British Columbia. The reason he chose to study law was, along with needing to provide for his family, the knowledge that his “direction was scripturally based,” quoting the wise words of Proverbs 31:8: “Open your mouth and speak up for the dumb, against the suit of any that oppose them.” These words have been his guide throughout a legal career spanning 20 years that included the courageous representation of a number of pro-life activists, as well as others on society’s sidelines.

Formby experienced first hand that the smell of true justice can prove most offensive to many in positions of power and wealth. He sees one of the benefits of having The Interim at home on the kitchen table is that the articles become topics of family conversation, which Formby hopes will one day serve to inspire outright activism. “In reading it, I wonder why so many Christian leaders in our society do not challenge more directly the secular media.”

He says, “I’ve been a fan of The Interim since it began. I read it from start to finish, because it keeps me well-informed on the abortion situation in Canada and helps me think of new ways to work at changing things to help the pro-life, pro-family direction. With today’s secularist agenda, we need effective means of communication and The Interim is that.” He adds, “We need many more voices like The Interim. Unless we support it, I feel we will not really know what is going on internationally or nationally in the pro-life movement. It’s important to know what other pro-lifers are doing and (the paper) is a motivator to try new things. It is an essential pro-life, pro-family voice in our country - in many respects, the only voice.”

James Brooks, originally from Lancashire, England, who emigrated to Canada in 1960, worked in the electrical field in Toronto up until 15 years ago, when he and wife Cecile, now deceased, retired to Quebec. James was commissioned to “light up” St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto when Pope John Paul II visited there in 1984. He will never forget meeting him. Brooks says The Interim has been his vital source information for the last 20 years, not only regarding the pro-life movement in Canada, but also internationally. He counts on it especially at voting time and particularly values the profiles of Canadian politicians. “Since we can no longer find moral or cultural values in the secular press, I turn to The Interim,” he explained, noting few publications take Christian values seriously any more.

The Rev. Reynolds James, a Free Methodist minister who lives in Kingston, Ont. with his wife and children, says he has been an avid reader for 15 years. “It’s my number one paper and magazine and I read it cover to cover,” he says. The paper “talks about life and the family as God made it and clearly explains why it opposes, abortion, same-sex ‘marriage.’ The Interim’s articles helped me bring 18 new members to the FCP.” He added, “Family and this newspaper go together.”

In Nova Scotia, Ed and Pauline Mullen have read The Interim since its inception in 1983 because it provides authoritative, truthful articles on current issues, challenges and opportunities and “guides our discussion and efforts to effect changes to Canadian laws to provide protection to the unborn, the disabled and the helpless.”

Ed told The Interim: “The Interim provides a library of study materials in our home and does affect our family.”

Heather Stilwell from B.C. became a member of the pro-life movement in the late 1970s. She and Bill, married for 42 years, have eight children and eight grandchildren. She started the Surrey-Delta Pro Life Society and was a founder of Alliance for Life and served both as president. She also helped found the Christian Heritage Party and, since the early 1990s, has been an elected trustee with the Surrey Public School Board.

She says The Interim makes her feel she is not alone when defending life and family in the public square, because it keeps her connected with her many friends across Canada who share the “deep-seated knowledge that every human life has value.”

She says, “I like to receive it regularly, because it gives the truth on so many life issues which the mainstream media ignore or get wrong. I use it in daily conversations to help other people see the other side of the story. It reminds me that you can’t ever retire from the pro-life movement.”

For 25 years, The Interim has been educating pro-lifers about life and family issues, presenting a side of the debate that is seldom covered in the mainstream media. It not only informs readers, but inspires them to action, leading them to take part in all forms of activism. It educates them on the issues, especially during elections, helping them to make clear decisions about whom to support and why (or whom to avoid). The Interim provides readers the information necessary to educate their friends and family. It helps guide them in life. In short, it helps regular Canadians make a difference in their society, for the good of that society.