Brian Jenkins

Dear Friends of Life,

The motto of the Quebec Life Coalition is:

PROMOTING RESPECT FOR THE HUMAN PERSON – BODY AND SOUL,

FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH

In my work, I have been privileged to realize this goal for all stages of human development. This past August, 2014, I visited Yolande and her family to celebrate the one year anniversary of her daughter. I joined her, her husband Sajeeb, their three other children along with a neighbour and her two little boys for this celebration.

Yolande came to our attention last summer. Having heard of her two abortions, a few of us worried of a similar fate awaited the child she was carrying. Befriending her and supporting her as best we could, she delivered her little girl and on this day we celebrated her right choice.

Paula is yet another mother I am privileged to accompany in her pregnancy. Two of us met her during our spring 40 Days for Life campaign. Having seen our vigil across the street from the Morgentaler abortuary, she cancelled her appointment there and came over to speak with us. Since then four of us have been supporting her and are looking forward to October 20, her due date.

I am also privileged to know Jennifer. For some time now, I have accompanied her in her grieving the death of her parents, both of which show traits of euthanasia. (Though illegal, euthanasia is clandestinely practiced in Quebec.)

Cause enough for mourning, these deaths are not the only sorrows she has to bear due to the Quebec health care system. Jennifer tells me that an aunt, 3 friends, and others that she has met through her volunteer projects, were all denied normal, natural comfort care – basic rights that our federal laws guarantee.

A case in point came to my attention the last week of August. The Journal de Montreal ran a story of an alzheimer patient who had incurred second degree burns because her attendants at the long-term health facility where she lived failed to change her diaper over a ten-day period!

This lack of care is not an isolated incident. Again the Journal de Montreal at the outset of the summer wrote about how Quebec nurses are under duress by physicians to euthanize patients.

Despite her condition, an Alzheimer patient is still capable of feeling pain. Nurses, however professionally trained, will feel distraught for taking the life of those whom they are responsible to care for.

And what are our elected officials doing to redress our ailing health care system? They allot $26 million annually to fund abortions! They pass legislation permitting euthanasia!

Returning to Jennifer, this past month she introduced me to Alicia who shared her experience of mistreatment in our health care system. I heard her describe how an admitting physician whispered in her hear that she was a reject. I heard her relate that because of her three serious life-threatening illnesses she was abandonned, denied food and water for three days. I listened to how she turned her faith tradition to find comfort and help. Finally tears came to me on hearing about the miracles she experienced thereby regaining some measure of healing.

Our time together ended with prayer, turning our ourselves over to the ultimate healer, Our Lord.

God is calling each of us to participate in one way or another to build his kingdom of love. It all begins and ends with prayer. At the Quebec Life Coalition, I am privileged to hear these stories.

Thank you for supporting us both financially and through prayer in this endeavour.

For Life !

Brian Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator, Quebec Life Coalition