Many wonder whether common sense has left all senior officials in Quebec.

Fortunately, the head of a OB\gyn group has shown that some sense has not left Quebec.

We are preparing for our tenth (twice per year) 40 Days for Life prayer vigil for the end of abortion. This year it is set to begin September 25. For 40 consecutive days we will pray peacefully across the street from the Morgentaler abortuary on Saint Joseph Blvd, East.

In today's emails, I received a letter from Steve Lopez (pictured below) of Spiritus Films on the topic of praying outside abortion mills. I reproduce it here below as a run up for our vigil.

Hi folks,

It's interesting that it often takes a tragedy for God's people to begin praying. For example, I recently found out that my mother had been diagnosed with stage III breast cancer and the first thing I did was pray for God's spirit to comfort her and for His will to be done in her life -- and hopefully that includes healing the cancer so that she can complete her mission to serve Him.

I know that prayer works from my own lack of faith in it.

And I'm sharing this true story in the hopes that it will motivate you to become a prayer warrior outside of your local abortuary. Your prayers are heard and they change the lives of mothers and fathers... and sometimes they change the hearts of an entire city.

God shouldn't have to appear to all of us in a dream and admonish us to pray. He should only have to do it once so that the world can learn from that one shining example. Please share the attached story far and wide. And make sure your pastors read it and share it with their congregations. And encourage them to join the fall 40 Days for Life prayer vigil: www.40daysforlife.com

Please consider posting it to your Facebook page and twitter account. And encourage your friends to do the same. This one prayer warrior was spared so that we could see the light!

Here is the url to post it on your social media pages: http://www.scribd.com/doc/163818593/The-Power-of-Prayer

I look forward to hearing how your prayers were answered!

-Steve

www.spiritusfilms.com

 

 

For additional information, call (514) 344-2686 or (438) 930-8643.

Dear friends of life,

What a wonderful weekend!

Eight Crossroads walkers hiked into town this past Friday, bringing their faith and joy for life along with them, and shared many great moments with them.

On Friday, the five young ladies and three men arrived to attend the monthly pro-life prayer group at Saint-Sylvain parish in Duvernay, Laval. After adoration and mass, we got to know each other in the rectory over pizza and fruit.

The next day was filled with activities. I met the group after an early morning mass at Saint-Joseph oratory and we proceded from there to walk to the Morgentaler mill via the Mont-Royal Cross.

The walk lasted about 90 minutes - following Côte-des-Neiges to Remembrance road and then the trail that runs atop the mountain until we arrived at the cross. After a little break, we continued along a series of trails in the woods on the east side of the park. In short time we arrived at the mill on Saint-Joseph Blvd. East and for about an hour the group prayed.

In time, pro-life supporters arrived and joined in. Afterwards a picnic was set up and games played and conversation shared.

On Saturday evening and Sunday morning, the eight visited parish in both Montreal and Laval. Five parishes had agreed to invite them to share their experience about walking across Canada for the cause of the unborn. At Holy Name of Jesus parish in Laval, pastor Peter Sabbath welcomed Lucy and Mariana. After the mass, they presented a message about the importance of prayer as well as supporting and participating in pro-life activities such the bi-annual 40 Days for Life prayer vigils for the end of abortion.

Finally, their stay here ended with a festive evening at their host families. Three homes welcomed the eight walkers - 2 in Laval and 1 in N.D.G. In the photo below, we see the three men and on this evening Lucy and Mariana at the home of the Cacchiones, hosts for the men. Seen below with Mariana and Lucy are walkers Daniel, Kelly, and Ian (from left to right) along with Michel and his wife Lise.

Crossroads walks have been organized in five countries worldwide. In addition to Canada and the United States, there have been walks in Ireland, Spain, and Australia. Clic here for more information.

 Little over a week ago, Catholic Ireland passed legislation permitting abortions.

What happenned?

In "Conscience, a last bulwark against totalitarianism", Vincent Twomey argues that failure within the clergy educational system lead many within the priestly class to remain silent or acquiesce to this shift in values.

The kind of fundamental moral theology taught in seminaries in recent decades is one that, contrary to church teaching, denies there are any moral actions, even abortion, that are intrinsically wrong. The moral evaluation of an action depends rather on motive and circumstance. Such a theology also distinguishes between the moral and legal/political spheres, allowing Catholic politicians to put politics above their “private” moral convictions. This theology, though widespread, is radically at variance with church teaching.

For a background article about these events in Ireland, click here.

Does it ever seem to you that animals enjoy more protection than the unborn child?

As I go through the daily email offerings and surf the world wide web, I get this impression quite regularly.

The same seems to be the case for a Finnish medical doctor turned politician who raised the question in a public forum resulting in much turmoil.

Paivi Rasanen, Finish Interior Minister and leader of the nordic country's Christian Democratic Party, made some audacious comments, including referring to abortion as "butchery."

Also, she stated that "animals may not be slaughtered in a painful manner, but it’s not permitted to even discuss the painfulness of abortion." 

A full story may be read here.

The following ad was considered too conversial for the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles times, and USA Today, and so they refused to allow it in their publication.

Yet, several other american papers thought otherwise and ran it. These include The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Austin Statesman, Dallas Morning News, and Houston Chronicle.

The Chicago Tribune did run an ad that they taught less controversial. Here it is:

Full story here.

Opinion

The following letter appeared in the Monday, June 3, 2013 print edition of the French daily LaPresse.(p. A14). I translated it with the help of Google translator.

Feminist and Pro-Life

Can you be a feminist and against abortion? I am in favour of the equality of the sexes. But can we talk about equality when a father has no say about the birth of his child? Yes, I am for the free choice of women to study, marry, have children - or not, including having recourse to contraception - but for abortion, no.

Over the past centuries many women made great strides in acquiring rights for us, women. Yet, I firmly believe that "choice" must be exercised prior to conceiving the child. The woman’s "choice" should not trump the right to life of the child (or the cluster of cells).

For some, this may seem a paradox to be pro-life and a feminist at the same time. However, I was brought to earth by the LaPresse reporting in on female gendercide and sex-selective abortion practices in some countries. There seemed to be a consensus that we should ban abortion based on the sex of the child. I totally agree. I wonder whether there is a real difference between two women who have abortions of female fetuses, one because she knows the sex of the child, and she insists on having a boy, and the other, because she prefers to focus on her career and not have children yet.

Ultimately, the result is the same: abortion. What are the legitimate reasons for doing so? Can we judge that one woman is right because she prefers to save the honor of the family and the other not? And above all, if abortion is such a boon for women, why do they feel so guilty afterwards?

While condemning selective abortions, we praise Dr. Henry Morgentaler who, I admit, has changed the face of Canada. Of course, he was a brave man and full of conviction, but has he made a difference for the better? Why such a refusal on behalf of the media and politicians to reopen the abortion question, to assess, in hindsight, whether it has been beneficial for Quebec society?

Dr. Morgentaler stated that he carried the fight so each child would be desired by their parents at birth. I do not agree. I do not think a child needs to be desired in order to exist. I think of this Indian woman in the story of Isabelle Hachey who took in forty girls abandoned at birth. All these had been rejected, and yet we see that they are happy and they want one thing, to live.

Maude St-Laurent (student in political science)

Calgary CTV News polled its web audience yesterday with the following question:

How Would Characterize Henry Morgentaler's Impact on Canada?

Over 4500 persons responded with one of either of the two choices - positive or negative.

At day's end 62% voted negative. Bravo Canada!