Chain reaction

My intrepid young reporter friend Brandon Walker solved the mystery of all those simultaneous anti-choice protests on Sunday.

Here's his report from The Timmins Daily Press yesterday:

Campaign Life Coalition Timmins, a pro-life group formed more than 20 years ago, was taking part in a worldwide anti-abortion rally called the International Life Chain.

Local members said their message was simple: Protect the sanctity of life.

Gerry McNulty was one of more than 15 participants in the silent rally.

"I'm here because there are a lot of young children taken from the womb due to abortion," he said, holding a sign while standing in the rain.

"I find it totally, totally wrong. We have a life, why can't they have one? They are alive in the womb. Abortion kills them."

<SNIP>

The protest is observed by people who believe all human life is sacred, from conception to fertilization to natural death, the demonstrators said.

"We're praying for doctors, (and) nurses (who perform abortions) and moms who are contemplating abortion and for all pro-life groups," said Eileen Meunier, president of the local coalition.

<SNIP>

When asked what advice she would give to a young woman contemplating an abortion, Meunier said she would sympathize because she has been there.

"I was pregnant out of wedlock," she said. "I know the fear and I understand what it's like to have no support from the family or the dad. I've been there and I'm not here to judge.

"I would talk to her about fetal development and I would just listen compassionately."

The local coalition would support the woman in any way it could, Meunier said, "especially with prayers."

Yeah, well, ''especially with prayers'' doesn't pay the diaper bill, nor does it help with childcare, education, food, clothing, safe shelter ...

Nor does it do anything, as I have already pointed out, to make contraception freely available, or less of a ''sin'' against the Church.

Anyway, thanks to Brandon's reportage, I was able to find this, from the usual suspects.

Suresh Domenic, past Canadian co-ordinator for Life Chain at the national headquarters of Campaign Life Coalition in Toronto said Life Chain "is for anyone who cares about the sanctity of life, of whatever faith or no faith."

"It's also to increase public awareness of the abortion issue and to support, through our prayers, women who have undergone abortions and their babies. We are a voice for the victims and we pray for the conversion of those who promote abortion and that those who have been hurt by it will be consoled," Domenic noted.

<SNIP>

Endorsers of this year's Life Chain in Canada include: Most Reverend Thomas C. Collins - Archbishop of Toronto, Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast - Archbishop of Ottawa, Most Reverend Brendan Michael O'Brien - Archbishop of Kingston, Most Reverend Nicola De Angelis, CFIC, DD Bishop of Peterborough Diocese, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios - Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, Most Reverend Michael Mulhall - Bishop of Pembroke Diocese, Most Reverend James M. Wingle D.D. - Bishop of St. Catharines Diocese, Bruce Clemenger - Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Rabbi Jack Farber - Congregation Melech Yisrael, Habeeb AlIi - Secretary Islamic Council of Imams Canada, Equipping Christians for the Public Square, National Campus Life Network, Niagara Region Right to Life, Teachers for Life, Toronto Right To Life, and Salt & Light TV.

That's a whole bunch of patriarchal sponsors, no? Men who are in a position also to endorse the use and distribution of condoms and other forms of contraception.

But do they?

Don't make me laugh.

Or cry.

Credit for the photo goes, again, to my Tweep @MichalHay.

Comments

[Jim M]

It is disappointing to see many Archbishops on the list of Life Chain Endorsers shown above. Apparently, Catholic Church laity who would like to see Holy See change on the abortion issue have their work cut out for them.

[Reality Bites]

I was surprised to see a rabbi getting in bed with Campaign Life, so I googled the name of his congregation. They're so-called "Messianic" Jews, or in other words, evangelical Christians who were born Jewish and lack the honesty to admit they've converted to Christianity.