Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010
June 6, 2005
WCR Letters to the Editor
Pro-life movement is alive
I attended the eighth annualMarch for Life, defending the culture of life, along with 5,000 Canadians. Many have predicted the death of the pro-life movement, but in 2003, 2,000 Canadians took part in the march, last year at least 3,500 took part and this year even more showed up.
This is bad news for those who would like the culture of death in Canada to continue. Bishop Nicholas De Angelis of Peterborough, Ont., gave a stirring and humourous homily at St. Theresa's Church on May 11, encouraging pro-lifers and Catholics to keep fighting for the rights of the unborn and those threatened by euthanasia.
The Mass was well-attended, followed by a candlelight vigil in windy conditions through the streets of Ottawa to the Monument for Human Rights.
On May 12, on the day of the National March for Life, Archbishop Marcel Gervais of Ottawa led an overflow crowd at St. Patrick's Basilica.
The March for Life marked 36 years since the predominantly Catholic Trudeau Liberal government legalized the murder of unborn Canadians on May 14, 1969, Canada's day of infamy.
Some have said countries that legalize abortion have reached the point of no return. Canada may still have hope because currently we are in a state of lawlessness regarding abortion.
Fifteen to 20 people took part in the Silent No More campaign on Parliament Hill after the march through the streets of Ottawa by the infamous Morgentaler abortion mill.
Ten or 15 MPs from the federal Liberal and Conservative parties - including Stockwell Day, Tom Wappel and Dan McTeague - encouraged participants in the
March for Life with brief speeches.
So may we all continue to pray for the unborn threatened by abortion and their mothers and fathers and for those threatened by euthanasia in Canada. May we pray for the conversion ofHenry Morgentaler and all those involved in the culture of death.
May the culture of life prevail over the culture of death.
Gerard Liston
Edmonton
Christ's message is we all are equal
Much as I admire the strong faith of those who criticized Father Rolheiser in theMay 16 letters, they will be disappointed to learn that they are wrong in insisting that he is out of touch.
Their self-righteousness is precisely what has caused these denominations in Christ's Church. The Eastern Orthodox would totally disagree that we are "the Church."
These Catholics might consider taking courses as I have part-time at Newman Theological College, perhaps one on Church history, which will apparently be taught right at St. Joseph's Basilica this fall.
They would learn, among other things, that the term "Roman Catholic" did not come into existence until centuries after the Last Supper and that more than once since there has been more than one person claiming to be the pope.
They might also become more aware of the "real truth," which our new pope has been emphasizing, and that the real message of Christ, is that all of us are seen as equals, loved unconditionally and that our raison d'etre is to return this love by loving others, including the most lowly, and by fully respecting those we see as somewhat inferior in their faith, such as people of other denominations and world religions.
Rene Benoiton
Edmonton
More on abuse in residential schools
I am deeply upset over Vernon Smith's article about the residential schools (WCR, May 30). The aboriginals did not have the opportunity to go to these schools. They were forced by the governments to be in these schools.
This was the government's way to assimilate aboriginals into the New World. I am not saying that all the nuns and priests abused the aboriginals, but the abused cases were not isolated as Vernon suggests.
There were enormous cases of abuse brought on by the nuns and priests. For example, the aboriginals only knew of their native language and were told not to speak in their language by the nuns and priests otherwise the aboriginals would receive punishment. The nuns and priests idea of training aboriginals to assimilate into society was morally and legally wrong.
I cannot speak for all aboriginals, but have read and watched documentaries of the negative impact the aboriginals had while in residential schools.
The nuns and the priests who were involved in this assimilation process and all who stole the aboriginal people's identities should be stripped of their holy wings.
Kevin Bickerstaff,
Metis social worker student
Edmonton
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