In addressing the abortion issue, Benediction Blog quotes Thomas J. Reese, the editor of America magazine, who was ousted for his dissident Catholic views:
Many canon lawyers and moralists believe that a politician could be against abortions and still oppose criminalizing it for prudential reasons, for example, because he believes such laws would be unenforceable, divisive and politically unrealistic. He may believe that a more realistic approach is to enact programs (healthcare, childcare, welfare, employment) that will reduce the number of abortions by giving women a real choice, by empowering them to say yes to life.
Many canon lawyers and moralitys can think that, but they would be wrong. The Magisterium of the Church has consistently expected that the faithful stand up for fetal rights-- not just against the sin of abortion.
So far, the vast majority of the U.S. Catholic bishops oppose denying Communion to pro-choice Catholic politicians and voters. During the 2004 presidential election, only about 10 to 12 bishops of the approximately 190 diocesan bishops spoke out in favor of denying Communion.
True, but Canon Law says otherwise.
I note that Thomas J. Reese was forced by the Vatican to resign as editor of America magazine for allowing similar sentiments to appear in the magazine.
Abortion is low on the list of Canadian citizens priorities: “In a Gallup Canada poll taken April 2005, 52% of respondents say they would like to see Canadian abortion laws “remain the same,” 20% say they would like the laws to be “less strict,” while 24% say they would like the laws to be “more strict.”
That's a misleading poll, because many Canadians don't know what the laws are on abortion. Many Canadians are shocked to learn that Canada has no abortion law. They are shocked to learn that late-term abortions are performed in Canada.
1926 to 1947: 4,000 to 6,000 Canadian women die as a result of bungled illegal abortions.
The source is not cited. And why stop at 1947? Perhaps because the invention of anti-biotics largely stemmed those deaths?
But the flipside is that since 1969, three million unborn children have been killed. Women have the choice not to kill themselves through abortion.
1967: A federal committee considers amendments to the Criminal Code on abortion. The committee hears from many groups and individuals on both sides of the issue, including Dr. Henry Morgentaler, who urges repeal of the abortion law and freedom of choice on abortion. Around this time, an estimated 35,000 to 120,000 illegal abortions are taking place every year.
I emphasize the word *ESTIMATED*. Bernard Nathanson "estimated" that 50 000 women died from illegal abortion in the US, every year. And he lied.
You have to be ridiculously naive to believe that 120 000 abortions took place in Canada in 1967. That's more than there is now, and we have twice the population!
1988: On January 28, the Supreme Court of Canada strikes down Canada’s abortion law as unconstitutional. The law is found to violate section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it infringes upon a woman’s right to life, liberty, and security of the person.
I would also like to add that the Court has said that protecting fetal life in the later stages of pregnancy is compatible with the Charter.
If Canadians see elected and ruling Conservative MP’s on stage, and the Canadian logo front and centre, it’s reasonable they will assume this march is funded by the federal government.
That is, if the media makes a point of reporting on the March which, by and large, they don't.
After all, how did this story break? Because they saw the logo on my video (and it's also on another video).
It's a bit disingenuous to say the Canadian public is going to think the government supported the March, when they by and large are not aware it took place.
I mean really, why would pro-lifers take government money or want government approval when they're protesting the government in the first place! Lefties don't take money from Wal-mart to protest against Wal-mart.
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