WCR Letters to the Editor

Informed consent not given for new abortion clinic

Last March, at least two landowners within the 60-metre radius of the proposed development phoned the number that was given on their letter of notification, during the 14-day notice period, to find out what kind of health service was being developed in their area.

However, they were each told that Development and Planning did not know what kind of health service was being developed.

A few weeks ago, when I did some research on the issue, I was told by a senior technical advisor at the Development Compliance Branch that their office has to know, at least verbally, the exact nature of a health service so that it can be properly classified.

This was confirmed by the fact that the abortion clinic was given a Class C permit for discretionary uses.

Normally, health services as classified under permitted uses for this zone (CB1). As well, another senior advisor in the same office assured me that any person receiving a letter of notification, who phoned their office during the 14-day notice period, would be told to come down to their office to find out the exact nature of the development in question.

However, this did not happen in the case of the two landowners already mentioned. It would seem that the president of the Westmount Community League, who also received a letter of notification, had the same problem getting information, since most people whom I talked to in the area were unaware of the abortion clinic's development in their neighbourhood.

It is an injustice when people are not given information that they are entitled to have, especially when the information is critical to their taking action on an issue.

By not being told that the health service development at 124th Street and 109A Avenue was going to be an abortion clinic, landowners and concerned neighbours in the area were prevented from exercising their right to file an appeal. This was unjust.

What is our new city council going to do to right the wrong that has been done?

Mary-Ellen Robinson
Edmonton

Love needed, not ownership

God cannot be encompassed nor limited by mere man.

In many souls thirsting for perfection there still exists too great a spirit of ownership. Because of this, and despite their efforts, they cannot reach the point of inciting in themselves the sparks of love which would transform them into an ardent centre of charity.

It is this same sense of ownership which, in preventing men from understanding and loving one another, provokes wars and all manner of catastrophes.

If pure and generous love were substituted for this deplorable state of affairs, the world would become by anticipation a paradise in which justice and peace would reign.

But alas, can those people be made to listen to reason who deliberately choose to remain unreasonable?

D.A.J. Verreau
Edmonton

Reviewer attempts to relate his views with author's

I have a problem with the thought process used by Mr. Holst to compare authentic dissent with utter change in fundamental moral beliefs in the Church. McClory states in his book, "To dissent from legitimate authority is to stand apart and to place oneself in opposition to established norms, regulations, and decrees."

Holst uses this as a reference when he writes, "Is it possible that a long-accepted tradition or an interpretation of Sacred Scripture may be erroneously expressing God's design, or does the Church's stamp of approval guarantee the truth? Does the obligation of legitimate Church authority always take precedence over innovative response?"

After this revealing quote, it is quite plain that Holst is questioning the Church's interpretations of Scripture and the Church's teachings.

Holst is making a bold attempt to relate his ideas with McClory's, but McClory does not mention refuting basic morals of the Church while Holst unheedingly makes this leap to question such fundamental morals.

Alex Nay
Leduc

The visit of Thérèse's relics

Your relics came to Edmonton
for three days and a multitude
of people came to pray, to touch
and venerate you.
In such a humble way.

Oh, St. Therese I ask of you
to guide my feet, my hands,
my eyes, my will, my spirit to
Your Son Jesus that you loved
so much.

Teach me to love him, to serve
him and to act justly and kindly
Teach me "my little rose"
To live life in simplicity
To love and give more of myself
To the Lord.

Teach me the way, the littl way
of life by your example
Let me be a little light for the
world to see.

Teach me also to go to communion
and receive my "King, my Lord and my all"
Teach me to love my neighbours, my family
more and more.

Yvon Levesque
Edmonton

Relics c'tee grateful for WCR coverage

Your articles contributed to making the visit of the Major Reliquary of St. Theresa of Lisieux the great success that it was, including helping to build up our large list of volunteers from all over the Archdiocese of Edmonton. Many of the visitors that I spoke with mentioned that they read the information in the WCR.

I must especially commend Glen Argan for his series of six articles on this great saint. It was obvious that a lot of time and research was devoted to putting this very pertinent information into well-assembled packages.

Rick Strauss
Edmonton

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