By Maria L. Jones
Some 23,000 pro-lifers gathered together this month, coming from various parts of Canada to Parliament Hill for the 17th pro-life national march.
The number of marchers has been steadily increasing over the years, and they sent yet another message to Parliament telling the elected officials that the abortion question in Canada is not a closed issue.
Jim Hughes, president of Campaign Life Coalition, the organizer of the annual March For Life, noted that, “More than 100,000 pre-born human beings are killed every year in this country, adding to the millions of innocent victims since the 1969 infamous Omnibus Bill.”
This year’s march focused specifically on the abortive drug RU-486.
Hughes said, “Health Canada is considering more bloodshed in the form of RU-486, a deadly chemical abortion drug that kills developing human beings at 5-9 weeks gestation and has a track record of killing their mothers as well by causing severe bleeding, infections and other life-threatening complications.”
Cardinal Thomas Collins of the archdiocese of Toronto and Cardinal Gerald Lacroix of Quebec were present at the march, along with Catholic and Anglican bishops, including Bishop Paul Durocher, president of Canada’s Catholic bishops, priests and sisters. The cardinals and bishops presided at morning Mass in various Ottawa churches and there were services for those of other Christian denominations in their respective churches.
The speakers and marchers sent a message to the House of Commons that the pro-life movement is growing and the abortion-issue must be re-opened.
The 20 pro-life Members of Parliament and Senators in their comments stated unequivocally their position for life, saying they are committed to a law for the unborn. They encouraged all Canadians to take part in the movement for life. As one politician said, “Parliament belongs to you, we are just the landlords.”
Cardinal Lacroix, primate of Canada, told the jubilant crowd that Pope Francis had sent a surprise to them when he was made aware of the Canadian March for Life. The cardinal then read the Pope’s message, signed by the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin: ‘He, [the Pope] prays that this event fosters greater respect for the inviolable right to life of each person from conception to natural death and support the efforts of all who labour to ensure that this fundamental human right receives adequate legal protection. To the organizers and participants, and in particular to those who aid women in crisis pregnancies and their children, the Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in the risen Lord.”
A talk was given at the annual Rose Dinner that evening by pro-life advocate Carol Everett, who once operated four abortion clinics in Texas from 1977-1983. She said her goal in running the clinics was to become “very rich.”
She explained that it was a Christian business consultant who helped her to turn her life around. Everett recounted that her abortion clinics were a “cash cow” and that she earned commission for every abortion performed, plus she was given a share of the clinic’s fees. In her talk she also spoke of “state-funded sex education programs,” explaining that information provided to the very young was responsible for breaking down the natural modesty of children and damaging parental bonds, leading to lack of trust and openness.
