Dis-Order of Canada
The opposition to Henry Morgentaler being named to the Order of Canada has been coming fast and furious. I would like to present a few of the thoughts and facts that have been noted on this issue. I borrow heavily from news releases and article that have been written in the last few days.
Joanne McGarry, executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League, that Dr. Morgentaler named to the Order “would be a most unfortunate choice.” “As Canadians we would like to see the Order of Canada given to people whose contributions to such initiatives as charity, education, culture, the environment, things of that kind that are uniformly viewed as positive and tend to unite people,” she said. “With this choice, the one thing that everybody really agrees on about Morgentaler is that he is a very divisive figure.”
The Knights of Columbus of Ontario note that the Order was established as the highest civilian honour within the Canadian System. It is supposed to exemplify the motto “desideranted meliorem patriam” (Hebrews 11:16), meaning “those who desire a better country”. It is a sad day indeed when this honour is bestowed on an individual who has brought destruction to the defenseless unborn.
REAL WOMEN of Canada notes that the Order has been awarded to feminists, homosexuals, environmentalists, left-wing broadcasters, writers and others involved in promoting the political left in recent history. Rarely has the Order of Canada recognized the services of those who take a conservative approach to issues. Since it is politics, rather than achievement, that is the operating principle of the Order of Canada, the Order of Canada should be discarded because it is a partisan organ.
How can Canada celebrate the man who has become a multi-millionaire by promoting such a desperate procedure? As Ian Hunter said in Wednesday’s National Post, “all who are touched by abortion are hurt by it. No winners, only losers.”
Finally, Archbishop Collins of Toronto has publicly asked the faithful of the his diocese 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.
His statement goes on to say ask all his churches to pray this Sunday “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.”
Amen
Related: Outraged priest returns Order of Canada medal
Catholic Community Return Foundress’ Order of Canada
Former N.B. lt.-gov. quits Order of Canada over abortion controversy A Thousand Attend Ottawa Rally Demanding Order of Canada to Abortionist be RevokedUpdate: July 8th
The Sault Star published a version of this posting in the Letter to the Editor section on July 7th. If you are interested it is at: http://saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1103525
I have been asked what evidence there is that the Order is partisan, as REAL WOMEN claim it is. For an answer to that, I will quote from an article by Henry Aubin of The Gazette (Montreal) on July 8th, 2007. The link follows the quotation, if you care to read the whole article.
McGill ethicist refused OC because she was ‘too controversial’
The Order’s receptiveness to new, taboo-breaking social mores was evident well before the Morgentaler appointment. The Order last year approved the candidacy of Brent Hawkes, a Toronto cleric who performed Canada’s first same-sex marriage. Also last year, the Order appointed writer Jane Vance Rule, lauding her specifically for “populating her novels with homosexual as well as heterosexual characters.” And when it honoured Jean Chrétien, the Order put a curious emphasis on his support for same-sex unions.
Few people, even critics of gay rights, made a fuss. I think most Canadians thought the Order was making an effort to reflect a significant current of public opinion. It’s hard to be against broad-mindedness.
Now, however, it suddenly turns out that the Order is not so broad-minded after all. It has refused admission to Margaret Somerville, the McGill University ethicist who is a leading critic of the social views that the Order welcomes.
