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PRESS RELEASE Ottawa, Wednesday, July 2nd 2008 Archbishop Prendergast Protests the Award of the Order of Canada to Henry MorgentalerThe Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J., Archbishop of Ottawa, made the following statement protesting the awarding of the Order of Canada to Henry Morgentaler: “As a Canadian, I am saddened to learn that Henry Morgentaler has been awarded the Order of Canada. As Catholic Christians, we must affirm and defend the gift of life from the moment of conception to natural death. No one, in any circumstance, can claim the right to destroy an innocent human being. Anyone who devotes their energies to promoting abortion is a source of division on the most fundamental questions of life in society. Awarding the Order of Canada to Henry Morgentaler can only be a matter of disunity, offending many Canadians of conscience. The Catholic Church has always taught that God is the Lord of life. He has entrusted us with a noble mission: that of protecting all forms of human life with the utmost care. The inalienable right to life is a constitutive element of any civil society and should be part of its legislation. The fact that Henry Morgentaler is in the news is a reminder that the absence of Canadian legislation on abortion is an unacceptable situation in our country that needs to be remedied without delay. We Catholic Christians have to affirm life. I invite all Catholics to make this affirmation of life and their objection to this award to Henry Morgentaler known to political leaders at every level.” Source: Rev. Msgr. Kevin Beach 613-738-5025, ext. 247 |