Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010
Week of July 14, 2008
Archbishop asks Jean to revoke award to morgentaler
By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Edmonton
Gov. Gen. Michaele Jean should revoke the decision to award the Order of Canada to abortionist Henry Morgentaler, says Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith.
The decision to give Morgentaler one of the country's highest honours "is like a slap in the face" to Catholics and others who realize life begins at conception, Smith told reporters July 2.
The archbishop asked that parishes share his brief statement with parishioners calling on them to write to Jean asking for the award to be revoked.
He also asked parishes to pray for the protection of human life, compassionate outreach for those contemplating abortion, and healing and forgiveness for those who have had abortions.
Smith said the work of Morgentaler and other abortionists "has been at the expense of more than a million of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters."
The Order of Canada "is given to people who have dedicated their lives to improving the well-being of Canadians," he said. Including Morgentaler among them "really shocks me and it really saddens me.
"I myself feel a real sense of shame and sadness that something like this could take place."
The decision to honour Morgentaler with the Order of Canada "seriously devalues" the award itself, the archbishop said.
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