When Henry Morgentaler was officially added to the nomination list for the Order of Canada in July, the abortion doctor and his supporters expected a flood of protest and returned medallions. The short list of people who have renounced the decoration got a high-profile addition yesterday when a top leader of the Canadian Catholic Church renounced his membership.
Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte says he cannot remain in the same prestigious club as the man who fought for abortion rights in Canada.
"My initial reaction was that they are cheapening the Order of Canada by giving it to someone so questionable," Cardinal Turcotte said in an interview. "The other problem I faced was that the positions of Dr. Morgentaler go against my very deep convictions as a Catholic."
Cardinal Turcotte said he was on vacation when news of the nomination came out in July, so he decided to wait for an opportune time to reveal his decision. He said he chose a conference of Quebec bishops taking place in Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, where the sanctity of life was sure to be on the agenda.
"I won't hide that I was hoping the protests might lead the people running the Order of Canada to review their position. That didn't happen," Cardinal Turcotte said.
The cardinal - one of three from Canada who voted in the 2005 conclave to select the Pope - said he is not disappointed by the rather muted response. The stigma that accompanies any opposition to abortion rights is too much for some, he said.
Carolyn Egan, one of the organizers of the push for Dr. Morgentaler's recognition, said the muted response has more to do with public support for abortion.
She pointed to a poll by Ipsos Reid around the time of Dr. Morgentaler's nomination that showed 65 per cent of Canadians supported the appointment.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: G&M.com)