This past weekend, we in the Montreal pro-life movement received a very special grace; Ms. Lia Mills spent three days with us.

Seventeen year-old Ms. Mills gained international attention five years ago as a video of hers, taken by her mom and a friend, and placed on YouTube went viral. To date over 1.5 millions viewers have seen her pro-life six minute video.

//www.youtube.com/embed/wOR1wUqvJS4?list=PL7QafMgCIrZr6Db_aOhF2dcYbMkldSWdb

We invited Ms. Mills as preparation for the upcoming 40 Days for Life prayer vigil for the end of abortion which begins on Ash Wednesday - March 5, 2014.

During her time here in Montreal she made three speaking engagements: Holy Name of Jesus church (Laval), Loyola High School (Montreal), and Montreal Cathedral Mary queen of the World.

At holy Name of Jesus, Pastor peter Sabbath invited the young woman from Ontario to address the congregation at the end of each of the weekend masses.

sevena young pro-life advocate

Dear Friends of Life,

Blessed Lenten greetings to you and your loved ones.

Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are integral elements to our Lenten observance. Dare I suggest two more: advocacy and education.

ADVOCACY - I wish to encourage you, during Lent, to acts of advocacy against an all too long provincial governmental practice of funding abortions In this mail out you will find three inserts aiding to this end.

First you will find a poster. This may be conspicuously placed so to inform your neighbours about this hideous policy.

Second, you will also find a defund abortion letter. Addressed to the provincial finance minister, we invite you to read, sign, and mail it to the Honourable Mr. Nicolas Marceau expressing your disagreement with governmental paid in full abortions.

Finally, also included herewith is a petition for you to invite friends, family, and like-minded persons to sign. Mailing this will also strengthen our position.

Remember, a unified voice has clout. No better example of this is the recent interruption of the euthanasia legislation, bill 52 – also known as Medical Aid In Dying. A vocal, unified front of physicians, non-professionals, disabled person groups, and others, both within and outside Québec, expressing disapproval for this piece of law-to-be thwarted its acceptance in the National Assembly.

(Another Lenten deed you may wish to get involved with is the April 10, 2014, day of protest. Whether meeting with your MNA on that date or gathering outside his or her local riding office, it is important to bring you our opposition to this unconscionable practice of funding abortions.

EDUCATION - In addition to advocacy, we also believe that education is fundamental to rid the blinders that are obscuring Quebecers about the harm of abortion.

To this end, we are making available a small yet powerful little booklet entitled “Sharing the Pro-Life Message.” Though published in the US and containing many facts and figures from south of the border, the booklet is helpful, nevertheless for us as it touches on generic information about the pro-life movement such as how to share the message, life in the womb, addressing pro-choice arguments, among others.

With a small financial gift, I would be delighted to mail one to you.

A second educational tool is our yearly congress.

In 2010, the Quebec City congress garnered much media attention and brought much attention to our work. Our invited guest then prelate of Quebec City, Mgr. Marc Ouellet, spoke powerfully about the sanctity of life in the womb and the inherent harm of abortion, irking the sensitivities of many within the culture of death, particularly the media.

Likewise our 2012 congress in Sherbrooke, Qc, did not go unnoticed either. Occurring during the “printemps érable” period, many disenfranchised college age youth attempted to disrupt the proceedings but were met with vigilante congress attendees, thwarting their plans.

This fall, as the leaves turn into their fabulous hues, we will meet once again and discuss how to bring colour back to the pallor that characterises much of Quebec culture. The theme remains to be determined, yet our speakers will undoubtedly discuss such topics as: abortion defunding, obstructing the euthanasia agenda, the education of our youth, among others.

There you have it: advocacy and education, two bulwarks that we at the Quebec Life Coalition foster in our efforts to maintain the values on which our province was founded and which today have been deemed “passé” by Quebec’s intelligentsia.

Thank you for your on-going support in these and other projects and have a blessed Lenten period.

For life,

Brian A. Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator

(Date)

Minister Nicolas Marceau

Minister of Finance, Province of Quebec

12, Saint-Louis Street, 1st Floor

Quebec, Qc G1R 5L3

Honourable Minister Marceau,

Kindly be informed that I oppose the funding of abortions by the RAMQ. As the latter is a promoter of health and life and as a pregnancy is not a disease, I refuse to be complicit in the death of innocent and defenseless human beings by the levying of my taxes.

Are you aware that Quebec taxpayers pay at least $ 26 million annually for surgical abortions? This is not an insignificant amount and it does not include the related costs due to complications such as perforations, uterine bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, sepsis, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, infertility and breast cancer. All these indirect costs can easily drive up the annual charge resulting from abortions to hundreds of millions of dollars!

Further, for $ 26 million per year, Quebec could hire 121 family doctors or 360 nurses, thereby allay the severe lack of personnel in our health care system. Or again that money could provide therapy for the 328 autistic children per year or purchase 17 MRI units. In so doing, taxpayers' money would then indeed be used to address real health care ... instead of killing babies.

So I ask you to stop funding abortions with public money.

Also, with this letter, I wish to inform you that I heartily associate myself with the campaign against the public funding of abortion launched this February 17 in Montreal (You can find all the details on this campaign WWW.CQV.QC.CA ).

Thank you for your attention,

____________________

Dear Friends of Life,

I trust this letter finds you and your loved ones well.

At this time of year, we are moving along with various projects – welcoming guest speakers to Montreal, coordinating the 40 days prayer vigil for the end of abortion, planning the Triduum for Life including the day trip to the National March for Life in Ottawa, and more. See this month’s bulletin and subsequent ones as well as our web site for on-going details.

There is also an all new initiative, one closely aligned with our organization’s political aim, one which has taken root elsewhere across the country -  the defunding of abortions from our provincial financed health care system.

Yes, abortion on demand is covered by our tax dollars.

• FACT: Quebec taxpayers fund at least $26 million every year for the killing of children in the womb.
• FACT: There is a shortage of family doctors and nurses, and funding for elder care and for treating autistic children sorely lacking.
• FACT: Abortion is an elective procedure that is not medically necessary.
• FACT: Over 96% of abortions are performed for convenience, as a back-up birth control method.

$26 million is a conservative figure. This past December the deVerber Institute in Toronto published a scientifically rigorous examination of the impact of abortion on women’s health. Its findings show how abortion adversely impacts physical health, both immediate and long term, contributes to intimate partner violence, and more.

$26 million is a conservative figure, representing only the direct costs. The TRUE cost rises significantly when accounting for the indirect charges due to abortion’s complications. These latter, as per the deVerber study, include breast cancer, infertility, autoimmune disease, mental health, and more.

So, figuring in both the direct and indirect costs, the TRUE price tag of abortion from these complications easily drains our health care system of upwards to $100 million annually!

Are you ok with that?

Also, the business school at the Université de Montréal came out with its annual evaluation of Québec’s productivity and prosperity and the conclusions were not good. The bottom line stated that we are living well above our means. Many of us believed as much, yet to have the prestigious École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal corroborate our intuition is affirming.

Is it not time for Quebec legislators to treat our money with respect!

To use our funds for Health Care and not some medically unnecessary procedure - i.e., abortion?

The cash windfall from defunding abortion can either be used to spruce up our ailing health care system. For $26 million per year, Quebec could hire 138 family doctors or 360 nurses to help alleviate the shortage crisis. Or purchase 17 life-saving MRI machines every year. Or provide crucial therapy to 328 autistic children each year. All theese uses of taxpayer dollars would present genuine health care… rather than killing babies.

It’s one thing for an individual to make a personal choice to kill a baby in the womb. It’s quite another to expect the rest of us to pay for it.

So we urge everybody to join us on Monday, February 17, 2014, outside the CLSC des Faubourgs, 1250 Sanguinet Street, (between ste. Catherine and René-Levesque), site of late-term abortions in Québec, at 11 a.m. to inaugurate this defund campaign.

For life,

Brian A. Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator

Tuesday, February 11, 2014: Day of Prayer and Fasting

Montreal Archbishop Christian Lepine is calling all faithful to a day of prayer and fasting to commemorate the World Day for the Sick.

The day also holds special significance, said the archbishop in an open letter, as the Quebec legislature reconvenes tomorrow and will be voting shortly on legislation which will permit physicians ot euthanize their patients.

The archbishop concluded his letter by inviting all persons to come to the Cathedral tomorrow evening for a Eucharistic celebration. The purpose of the celebration is to "celebrate in solidarity with those who are sick and suffering."

The following video is the archbishop's invitation to participate tomorrow:

//www.youtube.com/embed/pFWoiZSUpKc

The following comes from the group Living with Dignity.

• Modern medicine is able to relieve all physical pain.
• "Medical aid in dying" is the injection of a poison that KILLS IMMEDIATELY.
• "Medical aid in dying" is euthanasia, forbidden by the Criminal Code.
• Bill 52 won't solve the lack of access to palliative care.
• The provisions of Bill 52 aimed at legalizing euthanasia are unconstitutional.
• Bill 52 will irreparably damage the health system.
• Legalizing "medical aid in dying" is Criminal Law.
• Only the Federal parliement can legalize euthanasia.
• The oversight Commission's processes don't provide sufficient guarantees for the safety of patients.

To claim the contrary is to deceive the public and our legislators.

The Numbers

• 88 % of palliative care physicians oppose Bill 52 52.¹
• 67 % of Quebecers don't understand what "medical aid in dying" is.²
• 69 % of Quebecers don't have access to palliative care.³
• 25 % of Quebecers don't have a family doctor.⁴
• 34 % of Montrealers don't have a family doctor.⁵

Bill 52 is modelled closely on the Belgian euthanasia law.

Deaths in 2012

Belgium

1 % ⁶ (1 432)⁷ deaths caused by euthanasia.

Netherlands

3 % ⁸ (4 188)⁹ deaths caused by euthanasia .

Quebec

60,800¹⁰ deaths. There would have been between 608 and 1,824 deaths caused by euthanasia depending on whether one uses the Belgian or Dutch percentages.

Some worrysome statistics

• 47 % Euthanasia cases in Flanders (Belgium) are not reported.¹¹
• 31 % Euthanasia cases in Flanders (Belgium) carried out without the patient's explicit agreement.¹²
• 78 % Euthanasia cases in Belgium carried out without agreement weren't even discussed with the patient.¹³
• 22 % Euthanasia cases in Belgium carried out by nurses (which is illegal).¹⁴
• 23 % Lung transplants in Belgium come from donors killed by euthanasia.¹⁵
• Deaf twins euthanized because they were going blind¹⁶ – Belgium.
• Transsexual euthanized because the surgery was unsuccessful¹⁷ – Belgium.
• Woman euthanized because she was depressed, her family not notified¹⁸ – Belgium.
• Woman euthanized because she was anorexic ¹⁹ — Belgium.
• Woman euthanized because she was going blind and couldn't handle not seeing dirt²⁰ – Netherlands.

Euthanasia Worldwide

In 2013, the World Medical Association (WMA) publically stated its position against euthanasia²¹. WMA: 106 member states²², representing over 9 million physicians.

• 196 countries in the world²³. 3 countries where euthanasia is legal.
• 99.6 % world population protected by law against euthanasia. 0.4 % world population not protected against euthanasia.²⁴

According to the World Health Organisation, palliative care intends neither to hasten nor postpone death .²⁵

Vote in February 2014

Ask your MNA to vote against Bill 52. Now. You can easily contribute to the prevention of this catastrophy: contact your MNA as soon as possible and inform them of these facts they probably don't know about. The final vote will take place in February 2014

Bill 52 – "an Act respecting end of life care," is set to be considered by the National Assembly when it returns for its February sitting. The Bill tries to legalize “medical aid in dying” and “palliative sedation” so that doctors will be able to end human life. This legislation has set off a round of public discussion on the question: Is it ever justified to take a human life?

You are welcomed to listen to various panelists on the implications of bill 52 for the practice of medecine in Quebec, on Tuesday, February 4, 2014, from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

• Location: Martin Amphitheater, Room 504
• 5th floor, McIntyre Medical Building, McGill University
• 3655 promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, H3G 1Y6

Keynote presentation: The Proposals of Bill 52 and the Experience of Other Jurisdictions - Mtre Robert Reynolds

Mtre. Reynolds has practiced law in Quebec since 1969 and has pleaded cases at all levels of court up to the Supreme Court of Canada. He was involved with the recent LeBlanc case. He is currently the President of the Christian Legal Fellowship for Canada.

Responses:

Dr. Liette Pilon, "What will be the effect on medical practice?"

          Dr. Pilon is a general practitioner who practices medicine in Montreal.  

Larry Worthen, "Protection of patients and dissenting health care professionals"

Mr. Worthen is a lawyer and adult educator who has had a career in management in government. He is the Executive Director of the Christian Medical and Dental Society.

Moderator:

Jonathan Morasse

Mr. Morasse is a second year medical student at McGill.

All are welcome. Everyone will be affected by this legislation, either as a health care professional or as an eventual patient who will someday confront end of life issues. A public discussion will be held after the presentation.

Dear Friends of Life,

Blessed New Year greetings!

At this time of year, I become nostalgic, reminiscing about the past twelve months, the fond moments, the difficult trials of our pro-life ministry, so as to plan for the year ahead.

Here are a few moments that made 2013 memorable.

First, among the fondness of memories was your participation in the National March for Life in Ottawa, in early May. We needed to charter three buses for the day trip; that is, two more than in the previous years. Also, one of these traveled all the way from Quebec City!

Also vividly etched in my memories of 2013 was our annual Triduum for Life, particularly so was the presence of Montreal’s Auxiliary Bishop, Mgr. Thomas Dowd, in a mass and a candlelit Eucharistic procession with many of you outside of the Morgentaler Mill.

Next, in 2013 I was privileged to meet 25 intrepid women, outspoken on their commitment for life and all opposed to abortion, many of whom were post abortive. We met and prayed outside the former Morgentaler mill in East end Montreal, before they walked to Ottawa to attend the March for Life.

2013 also saw the death of Henry Morgentaler. His passing away into eternity was commemorated by a silent candlelight prayer service outside the abortion mill bearing his name on Saint Joseph Blvd., asking our Maker for the repose of his soul, hoping that he had renounced his slaughter of many innocents.

As the attacks on life are not restricted solely to the outset of life, 1700 of us met in Quebec City to denounce the government’s plan to permit the euthanasing of our fellow citizens. We were part of a two-bus convoy from Montreal to our provincial capital to have our voices heard

Finally, in 2013 we coordinated two 40-day prayer vigils for the end of abortion. These symbolize the bridgehead of the culture of life in our society rampant with attacks against life and our families.

The Frailty of Human Life

The most significant events of the year for me were our support of women and the life which they carry within them – the unborn child.

In 2013, I was blessed by three women in particular.

First, on March 15, Théofil was born. His mom had left the Morgentaler abortion mill the previous October and crossed the street to seek our help. Over the ensuing months, through varying trials, mother chose life for her child and on the fateful day, a boy was born.

The second woman I met, over the summer months, also chose life for her unborn child, though the situation was precarious. Having had two abortions in her early life and caring for three preterms – a 6 year old, a 2 year old, and a six-month infant, she had thought of aborting her latest. Circumstances proved otherwise and in early September she saw the fruit of labours – a little baby girl.

The third woman I met was also within the grasp of the abortionist. I met her as she left the abortion mill, seventeen-weeks pregnant with her second child. She was thinking of aborting so as to solve a difficult life situation.

As the procedure would last two days, I had two further chances to convince her that death is not a solution to the difficulties that come our way. In the end despite our efforts and support, she decided to abort the child.

These three women confirmed how frail and fleeting life can be. I saw this when I visited the preterm shortly after her birth and again when I saw the third mother leave the clinic the day she had aborted her 17-week-old.

With this new sensitivity, I pray that these latter experiences of 2013 may foster within all of us at Quebec Life Coalition and all our supporters greater resourcefulness and perseverance to be supportive of women to choose life for their unborn children

For life,

Brian A. Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator

P. S. Congratulations are in order to the women who gave birth this past 2013, particularly those of whom join us in our ministry - Natalia, Maria del Pilar, Michele, and Monica.

Blessed Advent greetings to you!

First I wish to thank you for your continued support of our ministry both spiritually and financially. It is a source of comfort to have you consistently respond to our appeals. Please accept my heartfelt thanks and my apologies if we have ever been unable to extend our appreciation to you more readily. Though we may not have responded to your letters or emails, we do read them all.

Also, you will notice with this mail-out that there are changes in our image, in our approach. We believe that this will make us more persuasive and more effective when it comes to winning hearts and minds to our cause of protecting innocent human life. I am pleased to present you these three changes that will permit the Quebec Life Coalition to radiate more brilliantly in Quebec with the light of truth.

First we have a new logo. It may look familiar to many of you. It is inspired from a photo, frequently known as the “precious feet,” that has resonated with many in the pro-life movement. This photo, seen here, is of the feet of a small unborn child at 10 weeks gestation.

Also, our new logo is reminiscent of a newborn child’s footprint, occasionally taken right after birth. These feet represent humanity in all its fragility, and the circle about it suggests a nest or protective barrier for this vulnerable life.

Our second change is our newly designed website – i.e., CQV.QC.CA.

You cannot fathom the dramatic growth of our web site since its inception. For example, in 2009, the site hosted on average a hundred visits a day for a total of two to three thousand per month. Today, through the first 28 days of November, it has been visited an amazing 54,000 times from around the world – i.e., an average of 1,900 per day! This means that our message is spreading across Canada and the world. (Our website has recently been redesigned - see picture, and will shortly reflect this change.)

Our third change is the most important one. We have a new slogan that reflects more clearly the totality of the human person to be loved and protected. We are advocating “Respect for the human person - body and soul - from conception to natural death.” Yes, it is both the body AND the soul that we are affirming in all and any moral or ethical reasoning. In fact, our new brochure (which we will publish shortly) describes the work of Quebec Life Coalition as follows:

Respect for the human person in its entirety, whether moral or ethical, is founded on respect for the Divine person, known under the name of “God.” For without God, our immortal soul and the associated free will that He gives us, the human person is reduced to but a pile of material to be appropriated and/or discarded at will. All, therefore, have a duty to deepen their knowledge of God, His commandments and His love-filled plan for life and the family.

So we are pointing out the root problem that without God, the human person becomes a mere “clump of cells,” which each may use for his or her own ends. On the other hand, if each person is of inestimable value, it can only be because he or she has been created and loved by God.

For Life,

 
Brian A. Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator

P. S. Please help spread the message of the “precious feet,” by using the complimentary return address stickers inscribed with our new logo.

Dr Paul Saba shares a personal story of diagnosed illness and a success against the odds.

//www.youtube.com/embed/n1Ib4NHOims

This video provides a counter argument to those advocating the euthanising of children, as Belgium has enacted earlier today; click here for this story.