Canada’s political spotlight focused on abortion

Bishop laments lack of pro-life parties

"We seem to have such immense difficulty to find a public voice to speak cogently, eloquently and coherently about matters of ultimate value." - Bishop James Wingle

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa

Abortion remains a hot topic despite the attempts of Conservative Justice Minister Rob Nicholson to keep it out of the federal election.

Widespread opposition to awarding the Order of Canada to Henry Morgentaler and support for Edmonton area MP Ken Epp's Unborn Victims of Crime Bill have placed abortion back in the political spotlight.

As well, the justice minister's bishop said he is disappointed by Nicholson's recent undermining of Epp's bill.

"The bill as it was formulated would have achieved that small recognition that what is heinous about attacking a pregnant woman is that there are two separate victims who are victims of the violence," said St. Catharines, Ont., Bishop James Wingle.

Wingle noted Epp's private member's bill "did handstands backwards" to make sure it would not recriminalize abortion.

Despite that weakness, Wingle said it had merit. "It would have in fact at least achieved some form of recognition that an unborn child is worthy of concern and protection."

The bishop was dismayed Canadians appear to have no pro-life political option.

"The Canadian public does not have any viable political option to advance its grave and serious concern to promote and protect human life in the womb," he said.

"We seem to have such immense difficulty to find a public voice to speak cogently, eloquently and coherently about matters of ultimate value."

It is "a very sad state of affairs" that political parties believe that they undermine their electoral hopes by reopening the abortion issue, he said.

Though Wingle would not comment on Nicholson, who is a Catholic from his diocese, he outlined the responsibility that Catholics and "all right thinking people" have in defending human life.

He pointed to new technology such as ultrasound that reveal the growing child in the womb. "We know we're not talking about lumps of tissue," he said.

On Aug. 25, Nicholson reiterated the Conservative promise that it would not reopen the abortion debate.

He said his government would bring in legislation to make pregnancy an aggravating factor in sentencing to replace Epp's bill because the medical community feared it might instill fetal rights.

Father Alphonse de Valk, editor of Catholic Insight, warned the Tories risk alienating their social conservative base.

Rob Nicholson

"When considered in tandem with past actions, such as squandering the parliamentary vote on so-called same-sex marriage, failing to rein in human rights commissions run amok and not taking steps to overturn the naming of Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada, it is clear that the Harper government's initiative to squelch C-484 means it may well lose the support of social conservatives in Canada," de Valk said in a statement.

De Valk pointed out Nicholson had moved beyond the Conservative Party's previous refusal to take a position on abortion by undermining Epp's bill.

Eight Conservative MPs said publicly they would continue to support Epp's bill if it reaches third reading.

The Morgentaler Order of Canada also continues to keep the abortion issue alive.

On Aug. 28, Campaign Life Coalition revealed the names of 105 MPs who publicly oppose the abortionist's receiving Canada's highest honour, including 80 Tories, 23 Liberals and two Bloc Quebecois, but no New Democrats.

It also revealed the names of 35 MPs who support it, and 34, including Nicholson, who refused to comment.

Campaign Life also noted Prime Minister Harper had distanced himself from the award and called it "divisive."

Majority oppose award

The pro-life organization also commissioned a massive scientific survey in July that showed 56 per cent of Canadians opposed the Morgentaler award.

As well, an Environics poll commissioned by LifeCanada a year ago showed two thirds of Canadians and three out of four women would support legislation to protect unborn crime victims.

Nicholson's Catholic faith and its clash with his public policy may also provide grist for the abortion debate, as it does for Catholic politicians in the United States.

At an Aug. 25 news conference, CJAD Bureau Chief Brian Lilley brought up the problems pro-choice Catholics like Democratic vice presidential nominee Joseph Biden face in the United States.

"I want to ask how, as a justice minister and as a Roman Catholic, you feel coming here and saying 'My government will not move forward on giving fetal rights' because it's something that would go against the rules of your Church?"

"I'm proud to be a part of this government and I realize that this is an issue that divides Canadians but we have been very clear as a government that we are not reopening this debate," Nicholson responded.

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