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Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea and say, “Here is the message of the Amen, the faithful, the true witness, the ultimate source of God’s creation: I know all about you: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other, but since you are neither, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Rev 3: 14-16)

I recently received a great blessing that I’d like to share with you.

You may already be familiar with our sidewalk ministry in downtown Montreal, which we have named “Vigil 365.” It involves prayer volunteers spending about ninety minutes each day, year-round, at the centre of the abortion industry in the province of Quebec. Within a half-kilometer radius of the corner of St. Catherine and Berri Streets there are five abortion facilities, one of which performs late-term abortions (after 25 weeks of gestation).

Our presence there does not go unnoticed. Men and women from all walks of life travel through this busy intersection daily – workers, tourists, CEGEP and university students, and the homeless, as well as people on their way to or from the abortion facilities.

Reactions to our presence are varied, ranging from smiles and words of support, through mute indifference, to frowns and disparaging words.

The blessing I mentioned above came as the result of this sidewalk activity, following an exchange with a young man about 22 years old, who is passionately opposed to our presence in this public space. His attitude then as well as in two subsequent visits was antagonistic.

Much like a severe storm indiscriminatingly pickup everything in its path, his remonstrations embraced issues not limited to the pro-life movement – organised religion, women’s rights, and others endearing to us who value family, faith, and life.

Through it all, my peers and I remained calm. We also offered rebuttals to the varied comments when permitted, as the young man did listen to us.

Afterwards, on reflecting upon the three encounters, I came to recognise a tremendous blessing received. Yes, remaining calm and verbal were blessings in themselves, examples of God’s grace at work. Yet there was more, much more.

It occurred to me how much God cares about and loves this young man. In His great mercy, Our Lord manifested Himself through the presence and words of three different interlocutors – first with a vigil participant named Mary, then with me, and then with Denis, another vigil participant.

Our Lord manifested Himself to the young man, calling him to Him through three different servants, calling him to be with Him.

Through these three visitors, the young man was met, then welcomed and then listened to. He met three witnesses, all of whom were avowed believers in God and the culture of life.

Though “cold” and offensive to God and to the culture of life, he was not cast into Gehenna, but called to be part of Our Lord’s plan of an abundant life. This moment of insight permitted me to understand more clearly why Our Lord prefers those who are “cold” to the “lukewarm,” as this “coldness” can lead people to gravitate to God, unlike the “lukewarm” who remain in suspension like motes of dust hanging in the air.

A further insight. This incident revealed not only God’s largeness but also how we are His instruments to reach out to others.

I learned that God is ever ready to embrace us all, the indignant included.

I pray that you too may have such opportunities to be God’s instrument in the lives of others.

With this in mind, consider joining us in our upcoming activites so you too may experience God's munificence:

- Day of Action against renaming a city park to honour an abortionist - Saturday, September 10, 2022. See newsletter for details.

- Life Chain. On Sunday, October 2, 2022, a sixty-minute silent, prayerful vigil at the corner of Décarie Blvd. and Jean-Talon Street. Signs will be provided to draw the public’s attention to the truth that abortion is not a solution.

- 40 Days for Life prayer vigil for the end of abortion. From September 28, 2022, to Sunday, November 6, 2022, in Sherbrooke, QC.

Thank you for your on-going prayerful support for our mission to change hearts and establish a culture of life.

Brian Jenkins
Outreach Coordinator
Quebec Life Coalition

A provincial election is expected to take place on or before October 3, 2022, and a relatively new party may surprise persons on election day – the Conservative Party of Quebec (CPQ).

Established in 2009, the CPQ has run candidates in the three elections since then – 27 in 2012, 60 in 2014 which received 0.39 percent of the total votes cast, and 101 in 2018 collecting 1.46 percent of the total vote. (There 125 ridings in total.) None of these candidates were elected to the provincial legislature.

The current party leader is Éric Duhaime, a former columnist and pictured below. Ms. Claire Samson became the party’s first and only member in the legislature, having been elected as a candidate representing the Coalition Avenir Québec party in the 2018 election, but leaving to join the CPQ in June 2021.

What to think about Mr. Duhaime and the CPQ? Particularly as an election is looming on the horizon?

This is the question which Quebec Life Coalition (QLC) President Mr. Georges Buscemi addresses to the French readership of the QLC in this month’s newsletter. I include selected extracts, which I have translated, in the lines below.

A first point that Mr. Buscemi makes about Mr. Duhaime is his charismatic personality.

After a lopsided victory in the CPQ leadership race last year, he knew how to augment the membership roll of the party from 500 members to about 57 000, rivaling that of the CAQ (the governing party). Furthermore, current public opinion polls rank the CPQ second, behind the CAQ but ahead of both the Liberal and Parti Québécois parties. Such leaves no doubt about Mr. Duhaime's talent as a communicator and (of his) popularity.

A second point that Mr. Buscemi raises concerns Mr. Duhaime’s openly gay lifestyle.

Unfortunately, he publicly expresses his gay lifestyle. Moreover, he has a habit of brandishing his "minority status" as a talisman to neutralize the criticisms of leftists and progressives towards him. It is as if to say: “do not criticize me unduly, dear friends …, because you know that I am not one of those 'backward' conservatives, I am a gay person!”

Mr. Buscemi believes that such an avowal is a ploy, though sincere, by Mr. Duhaime to shield himself from the current anti-conservative narrative that runs in Quebec’s social and mediatic circles.

This annoying behavior, although understandable in the Quebec context, where any deviation from the Quebec progressive doxa is severely punished in the influential media, becomes a cause of scandal and acts as a sanction for the serious "lifestyle" sin by Monsieur Duhaime. It is not surprising, then, that some see in him not a real alternative to the rotten system embodied by (premier) François Legault's CAQ, but a controlled opposition: artificial, ineffective, and even accomplice. What to do then? Abstain from voting?

To these questions, Mr. Buscemi replies that one must first and foremost examine each candidate in one’s riding to discern his or her personal views regarding faith, family, and life. Yes, the party leader and the party platform are important determinants but subordinate to the values of the candidate on the election ballot.

As for the party’s policy commitments, as found on the party’s webpage, Mr. Buscemi notes several importance features:

- Better support families and encourage the birth rate (section 3.2.2)
- Better support seniors and their caregivers (3.2.3)
- Affirm parental primacy as a fundamental principle of family law (3.2.4)
- Democratize school choice by allowing all parents to choose (5.2.1)
- Ensure the growth of the Quebec culture in the context of the low birthrate and the aging population (6.2.2)

Although the party platform is silent on matters of abortion, euthanasia, and the like, Mr. Buscemi doubts that frontal attacks on such travesties would further the party growth in the current decadent climate.

In conclusion, Mr. Buscemi notes that yes, Mr. Duhaime’s lifestyle choice poses a danger to himself and is a scandal to others. Yet, the party which he leads contains quality policies that are far from insignificant.

Three choices - A pro-life person can vote this autumn for a candidate in this party, especially if the latter is solidly pro-family and pro-life. Else, if the candidate is neither, the CPQ may still be chosen if this avoids a worse candidate or party. And finally, a third option would be to annul one’s ballot, sending the message that no candidate worthy of the high calling of being an elected official was on the ballot.

For life,

Brian Jenkins
Outreach Coordinator
Quebec Life Coalition

p.s. By clinking on the image below, you will access this month's newsletter. Your financial support helps defray the charge of the printing and mailing it to those unable to use the internet. Thanks.

Life at all stages is fragile, requiring care and attention.

From conception through the various stages and right up to old age, it needs protective and caring hands.

What are the necessary qualities of those hands?

Dr. Peter Breggin, nicknamed by his peers “the conscience of psychiatry,” notes four principles which seem appropriate to develop caring hands.

Digression: I enjoy discovering the origin of words. Doing so, I find, reveals meaning about the word. For instance, the word “principle” has at its Latin source the term principium meaning “beginning, origin, first part” and is akin to the term princeps which means “first man, chief leader; rule, sovereign.”

The four principles which Dr. Breggin cites, which he does not take credit for but rather sees as being central to human society since antiquity, are at the beginning and origin of human actions and integral to being a leader.

The four are: 1. Protect freedom, 2. Take responsibility at all times, 3. Express gratitude for all gifts and opportunities, and 4. Become a source of love.

These four find expression in our Judeo-Christian heritage. For example, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church the first two notions - freedom and responsibility, are united and discussed in paragraphs 1731-1738. Here are two extracts from that section.

As long as freedom has not bound itself definitely to its ultimate good which is God, there is the possibility of choosing between good and evil, and thus of growing in perfection or of failing and sinning. This freedom characterizes properly human acts. It is the basis of praise or blame, merit or reproach. (1732)

Freedom makes man responsible for his acts to the extent that they are voluntary. Progress in virtue, knowledge of the good, and ascesis enhance the mastery of the will over its acts. (1734)

The third principle states to express gratitude for all gifts and opportunities.

Returning to the CCC, paragraph 800 reads:

Charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by all members of the Church as well. They are a wonderfully rich grace for the apostolic vitality and for the holiness of the entire Body of Christ, provided they really are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit and are used in full conformity with authentic promptings of this same Spirit, that is, in keeping with charity, the true measure of all charisms.

The final principle, though not the least, concords quite well with the theological virtue which Saint Paul acknowledges as the greatest (cf. 1 Cor 13:13)

Becoming a source of love, according to Dr. Breggin, isn’t a narcistic act, but rather a turning to another whether in the form of nature, God, family, art or music.

As we begin the Lenten season, journeying with Christ in the desert, we can reflect upon and integrate into your lives these four principles – protect freedom, take responsibility at all times, express gratitude for all gifts and opportunities, and become a source of love.

In so doing, we can be assured that our hands will be transformed into protective and caring ones.

For Life,

Brian Jenkins
Outreach coordinator
Quebec Life Coalition

p.s. The Lenten prayer vigil for the end of abortion is about to begin. It runs daily beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 2, through to Palm Sunday, April 10, 2022, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at 505 Saint-Catherine Street E, metro Berri-UQAM. For additional information, see our flyer, call our office at (514) 344-2686 or visit our web page.

p.p.s Your financial support permits the Quebec Life Coalition to continue its work of building a culture of life. This Lenten season the QLC is teaming up with the Cistercian abbey outside Montreal, Val Notre-Dame, to raise funds for our work. A portion of your purchases from the abbey's store will be given to the QLC. Click here for details.

I trust this newsletter finds you and your loved ones doing well.

Since I last wrote to you this past january, violence in three different ways entered my life.

First, violence was a subject in the essays of a colleague of mine, an active writer on social issues. Two of her recents essays dealt with breaking the cycle of violence and gang violence.

Next, physical violence broke out in the rooming house where I live in a discussion concerning Mr. Legault and his imposed sanitary measures, resulting in one man physically striking another.

Finally, in January we all experienced a string of brutally cold days. One of the homeless who on occasion greets us during our downtown sidewalk ministry sadly succumbed to the frigid temperatures, dying of cardiac arrest in the doorway of a metro station.

These instances of literary violence, physical violence, and the violence of nature, brings into sharper focus the violence of abortion.

Yet the violence of abortion differs significantly from these three other expressions. By and large abortions are a hidden form of violence. Our society has legislated bubble zones around abortion facilities preventing the dissemination of helpful information. Also statistics about the yearly number of abortion performed are not readily available - see here and here.

How then do we exposing the violent nature of abortion to change minds and hearts? Here are three approaches.

First, Dr. Anthony Levatino, MD, exposes the ghastly nature of the abortion procedures. Before congressional committees or in YouTube videos, the former abortionist turned pro-life advocate can be found shedding light on these horrors.

(click image to video)

A second approach taken is the use of abortion victim photography. In the past, photography has been able to change hearts in matters dealing with issues like slavery, child labour, and segregation. Displaying the dismembered victims of abortion builds on this tradition to change hearts and minds.

A third approach, one which the Quebec Life Coalition has increasingly adopted over the past few years, accentuates appeal to divine assistance via public displays of faith.

Two examples adopted by the QLC are:

40-day prayer vigils for the end of abortion

Walking Pilgrimages

A third method was initiated this past January 2022, a weekly rosary campaign, entitled "Canada Prays", where Canadians are encouraged to form or join community groups throughout the province. To date there are 120 separate locations registered in this initiative - 65 in Québec and 55 elsewhere in Canada.

What is its goal?

To take action publicly through prayer and to  profess our Faith. We must entrust our nation to Our Lady and ask for her help in this crisis in order to find peace, freedom, order, and respect for natural and divine law in society.

History is rife with instances when a rosary campaign produced “miracles.” The battle of Lepanto in 1571 was a victory of Christian naval forces over a superior invading Muslim flotilla, which came on the heels of a prayer campaign initiated by the Holy Father.

Again, in the last century, a rosary campaign begun in Austria following the Second World War when the country came under Communist rule preceded the inexplicable retreat of the occupied soviet troops and their return to Soviet Union.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

Our land needs healing. Abortions in Quebec is estimated at 30 000 per year and the current social ills are no less menacing than a Muslim invasion or a Communist takeover. A rosary campaign is a proven effective tool to address these.

Let us humble ourselves before God our creator and His Blessed Mother to bring an end to the violence occurring in the womb of pregnant women and division in our society.

Sincerely Yours

Brian Jenkins
Outreach director
Quebec Life Coalition

p.s. Our 40-day prayer vigil begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022. To learn more, call (438) 930-8643.

Blessed New Year greetings to you and your loved ones.

The Christmas season comes to an end this coming Sunday with the memorial of the Baptism of Our Lord.

Though the shortest of the liturgical seasons, the Christmas season is full of many important memorials - the birth of Our Saviour, the slaughter of the Holy Innocents, the Epiphany of the Lord, to name a few.

An important one to the pro-life movement is the memorial to the Holy Family.

Our Lord entered the world a full nine months before His birth and during the early and vulnerable stages of His life, the frail Son of God was conferred into the care of two outstanding people.

Mary tended to the physical needs of her newborn son, while Joseph kept watch ensuring that mother and child had everything they required.

The Blessed Virgin kept Our Lord warm, that he was well fed, slept peacefully, and received all the bodily cares necessary to ensure his development.

On the other hand, Joseph kept vigil at Mary’s side, personifying the words of the English poet John Milton in his19th sonnet, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”

Yet, Joseph did more than just “stand and wait,” as he also provided for his family’s needs as a carpenter.

Josephite Prayer: Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus, chaste spouse of Mary, you spent your life in the perfect accomplishment of duty, maintaining with the work of your hands the Holy Family of Nazareth. Grant your kind protection to those who turn to you now.

And finally, even more significantly than his role as guardian of the Holy Family and as a provider for the needs of his household through toil and labour, Joseph was a man of faith.

He heeded the angel’s bidding to take Mary as his spouse;

He heeded the angel’s further instruction to take the Holy Family to Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution;

He heeded the angel’s subsequent message years later to leave Egypt and return to Israel; and

He heeded divine direction for a fourth time in a dream, by not returning to Judea but to Nazareth.

Is it any wonder that Joseph has become the patron saint of expectant mothers, of fathers, of families, of travelers, of immigrants, and of craftsmen, to name a few?

As for Mary, Scriptures tells us that she is the mother of us all.

26 And Jesus, seeing his mother there, and the disciple, too, whom he loved, standing by, said to his mother, Woman, this is thy son. 27 Then he said to the disciple, This is thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his own keeping. (John 19)

Christ conferred his mother to the apostle John and, symbolically, to all of humanity.

As she doted on Him, she similarly cares for all children of God, and is prepared to intercede when called upon.

In an essay on the significance of the name of “Mary,” Philip Kosloski quotes Saint Bonaventure:

This most holy, sweet and worthy name was eminently fitted to so holy, sweet and worthy a virgin. For Mary means a bitter sea, star of the sea, the illuminated or illuminatrix. Mary is interpreted as Lady. Mary is a bitter sea to the demons; to men she is the Star of the sea; to the Angels she is illuminatrix and to all creatures she is Lady.

As we begin this new year, let us be mindful to turn to Joseph and Mary for help in our personal needs and those of our society.

We pray that Joseph and Mary inspire us in virtue, not only to be present for the women and their infants who seek our aid, but also to discern the ways in which God the Father is leading us to a greater relationship of personal conversion and intimacy with Him.

For Life,

Brian Jenkins
Outreach Coordinator
Quebec Life Coalition

P.S. Wish to help us in our mission of promoting a culture of life. Are you thinking of selling a property? Please consider hiring an agent at Real Estate for Life, where a percentage of the proceeds of the sale will be given to the Quebec Life Coalition. Further details and to register, visit www.realestateforlife.org.

Note: the French-language original of this letter may be found here. Many thanks to Stefan Jetchick for the translation.

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ's Social Kingship -- A hidden Treasure Due for Reinstatement. That's what we need to build a Culture of Life in Quebec, Canada and around the world!

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
[Matthew 13:44]

Today I feel a lot like the man in the parable who has found a hidden treasure. Yet the treasure I have the joy of making you discover has been consistently honored by the popes of the 19th century and early 20th century. On the other hand, shortly before I was born (in 1974), this treasure was buried among the rubble of a practically ruined civilization... It was only through Providence and the hard work of Catholic faithful that I was recently able to discover this treasure of inestimable value.

What is this treasure? I spoke about it last month: it's the doctrine of the Social Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This doctrine, reaffirmed by several popes, teaches us that it's Jesus Christ who has power in society and not the people. [1]

In this letter, which will be longer than usual, I'd like to give a more in-depth presentation of this very important doctrine of the Social Kingship of Christ which I mentioned last month, to basically tell you how, in my opinion, it can influence all future activities of Quebec Life Coalition, for the greater glory of God and the salvation of our country.

All power comes from God

It's difficult to overestimate the scope of the doctrine of the Social Kingship of Jesus Christ! Although it can be summed up in the phrase "All authority comes from God" [2], it has serious consequences. The first is that it's opposed to a certain idea of "democracy" which claims that the legitimate use of power absolutely requires the consent of the persons concerned. On the contrary, according to the doctrine of Social Kingship, if a leader commands, it's in the name of God that he commands, and not in the name of those under his responsibility.

We can't accept that a politician tells us: "I have no choice but to vote in favor of abortion, for my constituants are in favor." To this we must respond: "Your authority comes from God, not from those who voted for you; and therefore, you must obey God, not the multitude!"

Jesus Christ is King of the temporal and spiritual

In addition, it's important to understand that, in our doctrine, the God who is the source of all legitimate power is none other than Jesus Christ. Any family, any company, association, and especially, any State, has the duty to formally recognize the supreme authority not only of a vague and formless "god", but that of Jesus Christ, true man and true God.

To those who claim that Jesus Christ would have abdicated earthly rule, and would only be the king of our souls, Pope Pius XI replies: "From this it follows not only that Christ is to be adored by angels and men, but that to Him as man angels and men are subject, and must recognize His empire" [3]. Jesus Christ is the perfect union of divine and human nature; it's this union which enables the royalty of Jesus Christ "on earth as it is in heaven."

Leo XIII, for his part, explains the statement of Jesus to the Apostles "All power is given to Me in heaven and on earth" [4] as meaning that the empire of Jesus Christ "must be supreme, absolute and independent of the will of any other, so that none is either equal or like unto it: and since it has been given in heaven and on earth it ought to have heaven and earth obedient to it." [5]. Therefore Christ reigns on earth -- not just in heaven.

Only the Catholic Church can give us all the truth about our King Jesus Christ

Moreover, it's not just any "Christ" who's the source of all power on earth. Because we all know how easy it is to make up a "Christ" that lets us do whatever we want! We therefore need an authority to tell us unerringly what is the will of this Jesus Christ whose Kingship we recognize.

But then what is this authority? The popes of all times answer: None other than the Catholic Church, "the pillar and bulwark of the truth" [6]. Therefore, according to this doctrine of the Social Kingship of Jesus Christ, any State, family, association, etc., not only has the duty to recognize the authority of Jesus Christ, but that of the Catholic Church, which has the privilege of infallibly teaching Christ's will.

Such recognition must lead to concrete actions, i.e. by practicing the Commandments of God as taught by the Church. [7] For a State, it means enacting laws against abortion, against euthanasia, in favor of real marriage, in favor of rest on the Lord's Day, etc.

All peoples of the world must recognize Jesus Christ and His Church

We are not just talking here about Christian States, families and associations! In the words of Leo XIII, the kingdom of Christ "comprises also all those who are deprived of the Christian faith, so that the whole human race is most truly under the power of Jesus Christ" [8]. All peoples, all cultures, all persons of different religions, all families, all unions, all political parties, all human societies, all, without exception, have the duty to recognize Jesus Christ as King, and His Catholic Church as queen and teacher in matters of faith and morals.

You'll therefore understand why this doctrine, which was reaffirmed constantly for nearly a century and a half by Popes like Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X and Pius XI, is so important in our fight for a Culture of Life: It shows us that our struggle for human life is part of the broader recognition of the rights of God and his Church. As Leo XIII said, "The world has heard enough of the so-called "rights of man." Let it hear something of the rights of God." [9]

Distinct but complementary roles of State and Church

To better grasp the doctrine of Christ's Kingship, we must understand the relationship between Church and State. The State's immediate goal is the physical and moral welfare of all citizens. But the State must recognize that its citizens each have an ultimate goal in life i.e., eternal Life in God. Therefore the "common good" the State must defend includes all conditions, including the moral and spiritual conditions that help man achieve his ultimate goal, which is heaven. [10]

The Church, for its part, is a society separate from the State, "perfect" in the sense that She has everything in Herself to accomplish Her mission, which is to lead souls to Heaven [11]. She alone is entrusted with the task of providing God's grace through the Sacraments; She alone is entrusted with the task of teaching faith and morals. Since the founding of the Church by Jesus Christ, the State can no longer assume the role of master in matters of faith and morals it was playing before. Now the State must "render to God what is God's" [12] and recognize the Church's authority in this matter, and support Her.

To make a long story short, the State must be subject to the Church in regard to divine and moral things. Although the Church is not generally called to govern things here below, Her divine teachings on matters of faith (e.g. the worship due to God) and morality (including abortion, euthanasia, marriage, etc.) must be listened to and practiced by all peoples and societies.

The State is empowered to recognize the Catholic Church as the one founded by Jesus Christ

Some claim it's impossible for the State to choose a religion and designate it as true, since a State does not have jurisdiction in this matter, lacking the ability to have faith. Pope Leo XIII taught that faith is not necessary to see the Catholic Church is the one true Church; reason by itself can do so:

Now, it cannot be difficult to find out which is the true religion, if only it be sought with an earnest and unbiased mind; for proofs are abundant and striking. We have, for example, the fulfilment of prophecies, miracles in great numbers, the rapid spread of the faith in the midst of enemies and in face of overwhelming obstacles, the witness of the martyrs, and the like. From all these it is evident that the only true religion is the one established by Jesus Christ Himself, and which He committed to His Church to protect and to propagate. [13]

A YES to Jesus' Kingship is a NO to neutrality

The neutrality of the State (under which we are laboring today in Quebec and in Canada) is a sham -- worst, a blasphemy. Indeed, the State cannot take as a model Pontius Pilate, who washed his hands of the fate of Christ. Either the State recognizes Jesus Christ as King, or the State denies His rights -- there is no third way. (The path often taken by our governments, that of giving equal rights to all religions, is not legitimate since in that case Christ is not recognized as King, but as a mere "idea" entitled to float around, which is akin to blasphemy.)

The State can not legitimately be neutral, but must acknowledge the Kingship of Jesus Christ. This recognition must be expressed by a formal recognition of the Catholic Church as the true and only Church and by prudent but diligent support for Her.

A YES to Jesus' Kingship is a NO to secularism ("laïcisme" in French)

Even worse is secularism, which claims that the best form of society is one where religion is completely separated from the State. Pope Pius XI called this secularism "the plague of our time" [14]. Leo XIII teaches that if the separation of body and soul leads to physical death, the separation of Church and State leads to social death [15]. John Paul II could have said that the separation of Church and State leads to a "Culture of Death". This is what we are stuck with today!

To those who persist in saying that, by affirming the Social Kingship of Jesus Christ, we "confuse" religion and politics, we answer: Union there must be between the Church and State, but never confusion, because each has its distinct role. The State ensures peace and tranquility here below, the Church opens the door to eternal life. But the State must be submitted to the Church, otherwise it runs the risk, through bad policies caused by its secularism, of closing the door of salvation that the Church wants to open wide, and thus the State would prevent its citizens from achieving their ultimate objective.

Religious freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience?

Some will ask: Is it not disrespectful to citizens of differing beliefs and religions to assert (even with tact, caution and moderation) the truth of the Catholic religion and denounce as false all other systems of morality and religion? To this question we must answer "No" because a society that asserts the truth does not, by that very fact, impose this truth; this society only proposes it to all as a Way to follow. And although, according to time and circumstances and the informed judgment of the leaders, it is appropriate not only to encourage Catholicism in society, but to suppress error, including religious error, with sanctions, here again the idea is not to force anyone to become a Catholic. The goal of the repression of errors is the safeguarding of faith and morals among simple people [16]. Such is the traditional teaching of the Church on the duties of individuals and societies toward the true religion, a teaching that remains "in force" today, and forever. [17].

The pro-life battle is part of a doctrinal "whole" we must defend

Some will perhaps say: "Frankly, with this Christ the King doctrine, Quebec Life Coalition would go way past its primary mandate which is the defense of the unborn and persons vulnerable to euthanasia ..." To these we will answer: The pro-life movement needs to take a step back, in order to better move forward. Our movement, needless to say, has not been successful in recent years ... And why? I think this is because the underlying reasons for our beliefs have not sufficiently been defended or promoted. Here below you will see, represented schematically, the structure that incorporates our pro-life argument. Note that the Social Kingship of Jesus Christ is like the culmination, the keystone of this doctrinal structure, and our organization currently defends only part of this vision, one that deals with the dignity of human life starting from conception.

But today, we find that we are losing the battle on this small lot of "pro-life" territory. But wasn't this defeat inevitable, once we gave up to the enemy, without much resistance, all the other parts of this overall vision that underlies our convictions and forms a kind of doctrinal "whole"?

Nevertheless, each part of this vision can and must be defended. But to defend all of these parts, we must first know that they exist within the magnificent edifice of the Catholic worldview, and then do battle for each of these strategic areas of confrontation between the visions of Catholic Church and those of the fallen world. Once these battles are won (or at least fought) we can, far more easily and confidently, push our assault into all the political objectives dear to our hearts, especially the defense of unborn children [18].

That is why I had announced earlier this year that one of our main objectives for 2016 was to develop and provide an apologetics course on fundamental issues such as the existence of God, the spiritual soul, free will, etc., in addition to presentations on abortion, euthanasia, etc. [19]. For we can't defend the unborn child without defending the foundations of our morality. And, ultimately, we can't defend our legal rights without affirming Christ the King and His Church.

What I intend to propose to the Quebec Life Coalition Board

Adherence to the doctrine of Jesus Christ's Social Kingship is not made lightly. The discovery of this treasure fills me with both joy and terror: joy of having found the truth, terror in the face of persecutions of all kinds which will inevitably be attracted by the assertion of this truth. Having discovered this treasure, I felt obliged to bury it again and to re-hide it, as told in the Gospel parable, to make sure I had enough money to buy the field -- i.e. enough courage to face the consequences of a commitment to this Way of Christ the King.

But here today I am ready to announce my discovery. What could this change for Quebec Life Coalition?

Changes the assertion of Jesus Christ's Kingship will bring to Quebec Life Coalition

In accordance with the obligations of all societies to recognize the Kingship of Jesus Christ and the rights of His Church, I will propose the following changes to our founding Charter to the Board of Directors of Quebec Life Coalition:

First, I ask that Objective 1 of our organization be worded as follows:

1. Defending and promoting the social reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ and all that goes with it, especially the defense and promotion of the rights of the one true Church of God, the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome and headed by the Pope.

... And that this objective be preceded by the preamble:

As an organization that acknowledges Jesus Christ as King and the Roman Catholic Church headed by the Pope as infallible teacher of the will and teachings of the same King, Quebec Life Coalition will have the following objectives:

As explained above, the key to any well-crafted policy is the recognition of the supreme authority. This supreme authority, we have seen, is not the people, but Jesus Christ. But Jesus Christ has given us a Church so that we may know without a shadow of a doubt His will. So it follows that the key to any policy is the recognition of the Church founded by Jesus Christ, which is the Catholic Church.

As a second objective, and in order to include in our charter the objective to defend not only human life and the family, but the doctrinal body that protects our beliefs on these issues against all errors, I propose the following:

2. To defend and promote the perennial philosophy and theology in the tradition of Saint Thomas Aquinas, which underlies any robust defence of, among others, the role of the Church and State, Natural Law, the protection of life from conception to natural death, marriage, etc.

Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary

So much for the changes to our founding Charter. I will then propose an act of religion, that is to say, a consecration of our movement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This consecration is absolutely not arbitrary, since devotion to the united Hearts of Jesus and Mary is intimately connected to the recognition by individuals and peoples of the Social Kingship of Our Lord.

By dedicating ourselves to the Heart of Jesus, says Leo XIII, "not only do we recognize and accept [the empire of Jesus] openly and with joy, but we really testify that, if what we give actually belonged to us, we would give it with all our hearts ...". Moreover, for legal entities (States, associations, etc.), such a consecration also brings benefits, "for this act of piety may establish or strengthen the ties that naturally unite public affairs to God." Especially, according to this august pope, public consecration helps overcome this pride in us that claims to "chase God Himself out of our land", for the greatest misfortune of the republic. [20]

The Immaculate Heart of Mary?

I explained earlier that good politics means we have to do the will of Jesus Christ, and that to achieve this, it's necessary to recognize and hear the Church. Now here I repeat the same thing, but differently: If we want to submit with joy our people, our families, our associations and even our States to the loving and tender will of the Heart of Jesus Christ, we must entrust our people, our families, etc., to the care of the Mother Christ has given us.

I will furthermore propose that this consecration of our movement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary be renewed every year.

The future of Quebec Life Coalition

Concerning future activities, there will be no significant changes in the short and medium terms. Regular activities will continue: aid to pregnant women in need through our Pregnancy care centre and help-line service, our 40 Days for Life prayer vigils, participation in the annual National March for Life in Ottawa, the maintenance of our news website, etc. To the above will now be added presentations on various topics (God, the soul, the foundations of morality, etc.). In terms of new projects, such as the political party project which I discussed at the beginning of the year, all will be steeped in the doctrines which I have presented to you in this letter.

Basically, the explicit affirmation by Quebec Life Coalition of the rights of God and his Church is just a public assertion of what has always implicitly informed our work. By Quebec Life Coalition's consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I hope to draw spiritual and temporal advantages and exclude many ailments: Far from us the temptation to deny Christ before men! [21]

Finally, this reinstatement of Jesus Christ's Social Kingship to a place of honor is not just a way to invoke the blessings of heaven on our organization, but it especially aims the dissemination, throughout the whole social organism's bloodstream, of the only remedy that can restore its life, and stay the punishment that our individual and collective rejection of Christ the King is bringing down upon us. Because, as Cardinal Pie famously said: "If Christ does not reign by the benefits attached to His presence, then He shall reign by all the evils inseparable from His absence." [22]. And so, that God may keep us from the punishment we deserve, let us ask Him today to rule over ourselves, our organizations, our families and our country!

Long live Christ our King! Long live Mary our Queen!

Georges Buscemi

[1] Leo XIII, Immortale Dei, #3.

[2] Romans 13:1.

[3] Pius XI, Quas Primas, #13.

[4] Matthew 18:18.

[5] Leo XIII, Annum Sacrum.

[6] Timothy 3:15.

[7] John 14:15.

[8] Leo XIII, Annum Sacrum.

[9] Leo XIII, Tametsi futura prospicientibus.

[10] John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, 57-59.

[11] Immortale Dei.

[12] Luke 20:25.

[13] Immortale Dei, #8.

[14] Pius XI, Quas Primas, 18.

[15] Immortale Dei, #8 and Leo XIII, Inter innumeras sollicitudines, 5-7.

[16] See Matthew 18:6, and Saint Thomas Aquinas Scriptum super Sententiis, lib. 4 d. 13 q. 2 a. 3 ad 5: "The Church does not punish heretics so as to force them to believe using violence, but to prevent them from corrupting others, and so that such a great sin does not go unpunished."

[17] Second Vatican Council, Declaration on Religious Freedom -- Dignitatis Humanae, 1. For a thorough treatment of the issue of reconciling Dignitatis Humanae with the Church's traditional teaching on the duties of individuals and States towards the true religion, read Lamont, John, Catholic Teaching on Religion and the State.

[18] I am not suggesting here that our organization alone and by itself must fight all the battles of the great confrontation between the children of light and those of darkness, just that in order to fight effectively, we must be aware of this conflict's big picture and know where we stand on the battlefield, so as to distinguish friend from foe, to identify which battles to prosecute, etc.

[19] There were three other objectives: 1) The development of a political offer for the 2019 Federal elections; 2) The foundation of a center for pregnant women in difficulty in Montreal; and 3) The implementation of a post-abortion healing ministry to leverage the year of Mercy currently underway.

[20] Leo XIII, Annum Sacrum.

[21] Matthew 10:33.

[22] Cardinal Pie, speech at the Freedom Tree Blessing Ceremony, Chartres, April 11, 1858.

By Georges Buscemi, president of Campagne Québec-Vie
(translated from the original French version)

Campagne Québec-Vie was founded in 1989, following two decisions of the Supreme Court of Canada, which invalidated in Canada all laws governing abortion. At that time, Campagne Québec-Vie was to be a non-denominational movement for the re-establishment of sound laws to protect unborn children.

What may seem paradoxical for a movement that was non-denominational is that our publications and activities have always been Christian and Catholic in spirit. In the pages of our quarterly newspaper Vitalité, and in our monthly newsletter, one would regularly read reports on Marian pilgrimages, quotes from catechisms, commentary on the addresses and encyclicals of popes, etc.

Several hypotheses could be put forward to explain this paradox of a supposedly “non-confessional” body whose publications were overflowing with references to Christ and His Church…

A month ago, I wrote to you about my experience leading the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil for the end of abortion in Sherbrooke, Qc.

In that letter, I shared how I had gained a new and greater awareness of the workings of the demonic, citing three instances.

I recently came across a reflection on the same theme though presenting it in a larger context.

Msgr. Charles Pope, a parish priest in the diocese of Washington, D.C., writes and publishes his reflections in a blog entitled Community in Mission: Creating a Culture of Encounter.  His November 15, 2021, article dealt with the universality of evil.

Here is an excerpt from: “Multitudes in the Valley of Decision! A Meditation on the Dramatic Battle in Which We Live":

A grave deficiency of modern times is the loss of the sense that our lives are caught up in a tremendous, epic battle. Yet here we are living in the midst of a great drama – in the greatest story every told.

At this point he introduces our adversary – Satan: “We are on the front lines of a fierce spiritual war, a war that is to blame for most of the casualties you see around you. Yes, fellow Christians, there is a dragon, a roaring lion – Satan – who seeks to devour our souls.”

This last passage describes my experience in Sherbrooke as it does my daily struggles, both inward and outward.

Yet, it isn't just me. Msgr. Pope's words say how you and all mankind are equally involved in this epic battle.

He then turns to our consolation:

Ah! But there is also a Son, a Savior, who is born to us and whom we call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (cf. Is 9:6) He shall reign forever. His hand is outstretched, first on the cross, but now outstretched to you to save you and to draw you up out of the raging waters, to deliver you from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light!

The Washington cleric then asks: “Will you take hold of His hand, or not?”

This is the decision moment alluded to in the title of this reflection piece - “Multitudes in the Valley of Decision! ...”

And so, do we reach out? If not, what are we waiting for?

Returning to Msgr. Pope: “Yes, the battle rages all around us, and we are swept up in it! It’s happening in our world, our culture, our families, and in our hearts. The sequence hymn from Easter says dramatically of it, Mors et vita duello; conflixere Mirando (death and life at battle in a stupendous conflict).”

In this advent period, my prayers for you and your loved ones are that you grab hold firmly of Our Lord’s out-stretched hand, particularly when the battle rages around you.

Merry Christmas,

Brian Jenkins
Outreach Coordinator
Quebec Life Coalition

p.s. We are grateful to the many of you who support us financially. Together we form a coalition that is fostering the culture of life. During this season preparing us to receive the greatest of all gifts, the birth of Our Lord Jesus, we invite you to express your support again during our Advent Fundraising Campaign. Thank you!

This past week I returned from Sherbrooke, Quebec, after having coordinated and participated in the first 40 Days for Life prayer vigil for the end of abortion in Quebec outside Montreal.

Between Wednesday, September 22, and Sunday, October 31, 2021, from 7am to 7pm, a faithful few fought bravely the powers and principalities that govern this world.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. KJV Eph 6:12

And what a blessing this vigil was!

Many of us are familiar with the notion of the “spiritual battle” alluded to in the above citation. In Sherbrooke, I experienced a new and deeper awareness of it. Here are three examples:

On the first day of the vigil, I was heartened to meet and welcome Jean-Luc among the prayer volunteers. In his mid-fifties, a native of Sherbrooke, he impressed me as he defended well the pro-life message to not one, nor two, but three proponents of the culture of death.

The pro-life message:
An unborn child is a human person whose life has value and deserves to be protected by our society.

You can then imagine my disappointment when he phoned the following day to say he would no longer participate in the vigil. In the elapsed time, he had shared with his adult son his experience at the vigil. At this, his son expressed his opposition. Rather than live with a rift in the family, Jean-Luc elected to withdraw from the vigil.

Then there was Jean-Marc. Tattooed from neck to ankle with a series of macabre, sacrilegious depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Church, Jesus Christ, among others, Jean-Marc, father of three aborted children from three separate women, expressed his contempt for the faith and the vigil to several prayer volunteers whom he met.

A third surprise awaited me concerning two persons who had registered to cover a three-hour block twice weekly. As the vigil progressed, Suzanne and Pierre were experiencing increased distress like respiratory trouble and a worrisome cough. They attributed these to their participation in the vigil and elected to withdraw.

These and other incidents permitted me to see more clearly the effects of the spiritual battle.

The same Suzanne explained to me how occult forces impose themselves upon the physical world. She spoke to me about physical maladies and hurtful dispositions in word and/or gesture.

Familiar with the Saint Michael prayer and the Chaplet of the same, I learned from her other prayers to confront these unseen forces including a prayer for forgiveness. The latter I was encouraged to recite as soon as I could after an incident of being spiritually assaulted. Here is a sample:

Forgiveness of another
With your grace, Lord Jesus, I forgive … (name, incident, and outcome on me). I remit him of his debt towards me and I ask You, My Lord, to bless him; to give him the light of his sin, the grace of a true confession, and that he rediscovers the freedom of a child of God. I place his soul and life on the paten of all the masses currently occurring in the world.

In all humility, I encourage you, my reader, to use this prayer whenever you have been spiritually assaulted.

Our Lord conquers nations not with arms but with prayer. Can we not be so humble as to follow in his footsteps?

Yours in Christ Jesus

Brian Jenkins
Outreach Coordinator
www.en.cqv.qc.ca

p.s. We are entirely dependent on your financial support for our projects such as the 40 Days for Life. Please, consider becoming a monthly donor and register here. Thank you.

I have some great news to share.

This past month, I received the following email:

Hi Brian,
Hope this email finds you well :)
I wanted to share joyful news with you this evening.
Nine months ago, I had asked for your prayers concerning a young woman in Lebanon who wanted to have an abortion.
She had an appointment scheduled in an abortion clinic. She went there and while waiting a miracle happened and by the grace of God she walked out of the clinic deciding for life and not for death.
Here's a picture of this baby boy born today!
Praise the Lord and thank you for your prayers 🙏🏻❤️✝️
God bless !

The scrawny little fellow pictured above is the product of our prayers. Can you make out the light of life radiating through those dark eyes? Blessed are you all for your prayers.

We mustn’t neglect to ask one another to pray for each other.

To this end, I have a prayer request for you. Read on.

I'm currently in Sherbrooke, Quebec, coordinating the 40-day prayer vigil for the end of abortion, formally referred to as “40 Days for Life.”

(Click here to view the October Newsletter)

The first week is completed and over this time of prayer, daily from 7 am to 7 pm, a small group of us, roughly between 15 and twenty, are relaying one another in prayer near near one of the local abortion facilities.

Though small, we are not insignificant.

Media outlets, intellectuals, youth, and passers-by have all responded in one way or another to our "small" presence.

French and English media, whether in print, television, or radio, have come to the vigil location to interview prayer volunteers about their motives in doing an outdoor vigil.

Curiosity seekers have come to engage us in conversation. On Sunday, a medical doctor and her husband visited, spending thirty to forty minutes with three prayer volunteers. She expressed different views justifying abortions including the view that abortions contribute to reducing the criminal element in society. On a separate occasion, a professed atheist stopped and exchanged with mother and daughter prayer volunteers for over an hour in matters theological and philosophical.

The prayer vigil has also drawn an enthusiastic response from local young adults who are resolutely opposed to our presence and actively involved at stopping us. Their enthousiam culminated in the holding of march this past Sunday of upwards of 150 people to protest the vigil’s presence.

Small but not unnoticed.

Let us not underestimate the impact of our prayers.

God is working in ways we cannot imagine.

Yours in Christ Jesus

Brian Jenkins
Outreach Coordinator
Quebec Life Coalition

p.s. Can I ask you to pray especially for two young men that I have met during this prayer vigil? One has tremendous leadership skills, yet is directing them not for the glory of God. And the other lacks manly qualities in his couple relationship.

p.p.s. Your financial support for our projects, such as promoting the culture of life in Sherbrooke, Quebec, is important. Please, consider becoming a monthly donor as described here. Thank you.