Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

Abortion issue will rise again

There is now officially no major political party in Canada that will stand up to support the rights of unborn children.

The decision of the Conservative Party "not to support any legislation to regulate abortion" destroyed even the faint hope that, if elected, the Conservatives would do something, anything, to reduce the more than 105,000 abortions a year in Canada.

The National Post labelled the Conservatives' decision as driven by "the thirst for power;" CBC Radio said the Tories were rebuking an "extreme right-wing" policy alternative.

It is tragic indeed to see our country travel so far that a supposedly objective, publicly-funded media outlet would label the effort to save the lives of unborn children as "extreme right wing." In recent memory, there have been extreme right wing governments in Chile, which tortured and killed thousands of political dissidents, and in El Salvador, which let death squads run rampant for years terrorizing and murdering every free voice and bystanders.

But it is surely not extreme to say that an unborn child should have a chance to live.

Our country has travelled so far that every voice speaking out in defence of that child must be silenced or, at least, denigrated. That is a state of affairs which itself is surely extreme.

Mother Teresa often said, "Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want."

For those who oppose such violence, the simple act of voting in an election is fraught with issues of conscience. "Should I try to find a pro-life candidate who may try, as an individual, to have the voice of the unborn heard? Or, should I work with other like-minded people to begin a new political party that is unequivocally committed to weaning Canada from its dependence on such violence?"

Canadians have never had the option of voting for a political party determined to end the violence against the unborn. Yet public opinion polls consistently show a clear majority of Canadians wants at least some restrictions on abortion. There is also evidence that candidates of major parties who speak out against abortion receive strong support at the polls.

It is hard to avoid the conclusion that while media, government and other elites want abortion swept under the carpet as one of Canada's dirty little secrets, the people are decidedly uncomfortable with the ongoing bloodbath.

Mother Teresa's statement would stir the rancour of these elites. But she is right on in her insistence on love as the basis of society. Without love - the willingness to put aside one's desires and wants in order to sustain the good of others - a social order cannot be sustained. Without love, there is only the determined effort to have my desires fulfilled, no matter what the cost to others. Ultimately, there is only violence, anarchy and the supremacy of the powerful and blood-thirsty.

Mother Teresa's statement is also a reminder that the halls of politics are one of the last places that love will reign supreme. There is, fortunately, much more to a society than the edicts of its government. Conscience can survive(although many consciences will surely be compromised) under an evil government.

This is why many people will opt not to have abortions even if they are coerced to have one. It is also why abortion will not go away as a political issue until the rights of unborn children are fully respected. Political bullies will try to bury this issue, but it will arise again and again until it is resolved with justice.

Do not think that the Conservative Party convention is the last word on the unspeakable violence of our time. It is a setback. But the day will come, it must come, when love will have its say and unborn children will at last be granted the dignity they deserve.

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