Nov 2003   

Begorah, were back from a 10-day tour of Ireland. Actually, my accent could easily be Cajun because my wife and I traveled by motor coach with 22 people from Louisiana and 22 others from elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada. Mornin y’all was as often heard as Top of the morning.

As you are probably aware, at the September dinner marking the birth of CLC 25 years ago (May 25, 1978), the program was interrupted by Jimmy Holmes of Business for Life, who took the microphone from my hands and told me I was finished for the night. He then informed the audience, most of whom were in on the surprise, that Ginny and I were being sent on our first visit to the birthplace of many of our ancestors and were to leave within the week.

The shock and surprise of receiving this gift to mark my 25 years with Campaign Life (October 7, 1978) still hasn’t worn off. We are deeply grateful to everyone who prayed for us and those who donated to the fund.

Part of the reason for planning the surprise was that I hadn’t had a vacation in nearly 18 months and my co-workers were concerned for my health. You all know that I do this work because I believe that it is God’s work and I have been called, as all of you and those who came before us were called and said a resounding yes!

I can name hundreds of pro-life workers and supporters who deserve this recognition much more than I, so all we can say from the bottom of our hearts is thank you. We prayed for all of you at the many churches and shrines we visited throughout Ireland. It almost seemed like a retirement party.

So, I’m humbled by your concern and your generosity. We would like to thank all of those, including politicians, who sent letters of support and to those who traveled a long distance to attend the event especially Paul Formby, Heather Stilwell and Canadian Alliance MP James Lunney who traveled from British Columbia and Cathy Roth from Maryland. Although I am no longer able to work 80 to 100 hours per week, I still have to put in 50 to 60 hours a week for the pro-life cause.

Closer to home, you will read in the accompanying CLC National News, the continuing attacks on life and family. I cannot imagine a time when the family has been under such attacks.

Those who oppose what we do cannot understand where we get the strength to continue the battle when we seem to lose so many skirmishes.

That is why prayerful people make such a difference in this struggle. They refuse to give up. They know that they cannot give up and instead place their trust in God who is ultimately in charge of the winning plan. Just like many of their ancestors - who because of economic or political reasons were forced to leave the land of their birth and emigrate to new and foreign territory, they must have shouldered great burdens and endured many trials and tribulations to raise their families in hostile and cruel environments. They astound those who oppose their efforts.

When you have the opportunity to visit another country, an older culture than our own, you realize the strength and determination which was required for people who left home and family, and journeyed abroad to settle in a new land.

Our special thanks this month to Fr. Ted Colleton who wrote the October appeal letter in my absence. What an inspiration! And, of course, thanks to all of you who responded with your donations.

As you read in the CLC National News, Bill C-13, the government’s fundamentally flawed legislation on cloning and embryonic stem cell research, is stalled in the House. This is, in part, due to our joint efforts informing MPs in all parties about the truth of this bill: it doesn't ban cloning, it allows the destruction of human beings at the embryo stage and has many other serious flaws. Please send your donations so we can redouble our efforts to defeat this legislation.

Over the past few months we have attempted dynamic new strategies including the production of an audio CD packed full of the latest stem cell information for our elected officials. The MPs who have taken our research and for months heroically led efforts to stop the bill deserve the deepest admiration and gratitude from Canadians

Who knows all the strategies we will be called upon to undertake in the critical upcoming months? In addition to current projects, we must encourage life and family advocates associated with the Alliance and PC parties to start preparing NOW to play their democratic role in influencing the leadership and policies of the likely soon to be ratified merger of the two parties. We have already begun preparations for the next federal election – always a massive task, requiring many workers and substantial funds.

Please remember that Campaign Life Coalition is overwhelmingly dependent on donations from individuals to fund its work. It is you, the faithful grassroots people who keep us going with your contributions and your prayers. May Almighty God continue to bless and guide each and every one of us as we joyfully continue to do His work.

Yours for Life,
Jim Hughes

Donate to Campaign Life Coalition

P.S. For those of you who will be in the Toronto area on November 14 Toronto Right to Life will be holding a dinner promoting the television commercials that have been developed by the Caring Foundation. It is certainly a project worth supporting. For more information please contact Toronto Right to Life at 416-483-7869.

The September 26 Globe and Mail reported that the Liberals might resort to a backroom deal with the NDP to get C-13 passed. The federal Liberal government is displeased (to say the least) that it has not been able to strong-arm passage of its fundamentally flawed An Act Respecting Human Reproduction omnibus legislation, which allows human embryos to be created for experimentation, falsely claims to ban cloning and contains numerous other serious flaws.

C-13 is being vigorously fought by a coalition of MPs concerned about human life and scientific integrity - appropriately name the "God Squad" by the media - not to mention grassroots Canadians such as yourselves who have flooded MPs with letters, phone calls, faxes and emails. Without the principled and courageous leadership of these MPs and your activism, the government would have forcibly passed C-13, costing literally tens of thousands of more lives annually as human beings at the embryo stage would be destroyed for "scientific" experiments.

This opposition has caused the government concern that the bill would not pass, and thus, a final vote on C-13 has been repeatedly put off for fear of defeat. However, according to the Globe and Mail, Health Minister Anne McLellan seems to have just recently forged a deal with the NDP. NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who has led her party's opposition to C-13, told the Globe and Mail that she has recommended to her caucus that it "reluctantly support this bill." Apparently all it took to get the NDP to sign on to C-13 is McLellan's assurance that there will be an equal number of men and women appointed to the agency being set up to oversee the new reproductive technology legislation which many have warned will have far too great authority to determine how C-13 should be applied.

In a letter to Wasylycia-Leis, McLellan wrote: "Though I cannot make a binding commitment on future Ministers of Health, I can assure you that I have instructed my department to ensure that consultations with individual women and women's organizations are extensive and that there is a sufficient number of female candidates of the highest quality put forward." Karen Murawsky, Public Affairs Director for Campaign Life Coalition said of the deal: "The Government lost the argument on the legislation, it remains fatally flawed, and now they are resorting to their bag of dirty political tricks to try to pass it."

On October 3, the Liberal government, through its whip Don Boudria, "called the question" and thus ended debate and any possible amendments to C-13.The government also refused a request by Paul Szabo (Lib, Mississauga South) to reprint the bill so that it would reflect the amendments and MPs could know what they are voting for. Szabo said there is a serious need for his colleagues to understand what they are voting for because "numerous and significant changes" have been made over the past year and there is considerable confusion about the exact current wording of C-13.

Garry Breitkreuz's (CA, Yorkton-Melville) private member's motion, M-83, asked the justice committee to examine whether abortions are medically necessary as defined by the Canada Health Act and to compare the health risks of women undergoing abortions compared to women who carry their babies to full term. This simple motion did not re-criminalize abortion; it did not take away "a woman's right to choose" to kill her baby; it would not have defunded abortion. All it would have done is direct the government to study whether abortion is medically necessary.

To buttress his motion, Breitkreuz presented petitions with the signatures of 10,679 Canadians who asked Parliament to support M-83. Although numerous MPs spoke elegently and passionately during the third and final hour of debate on M-83, it ultimately fell to defeat 139-66.

Why did 139 MPs vote against M-83? (And what excuse did the other 78 have in missing the vote, not including those who were "paired"?) Could it be that they know that an honest appraisal of this question will find that there is no evidence that abortion is a medically necessary procedure. Breitkreuz said "The government hides the truth about the full effects of more than 100,000 abortions a year. One of these days, each and every Parliamentarian will have to confront the awful truth of their failure to fully investigate this annual tragedy."

We would like to take a moment and recognize some of those who spoke in favour of M-83.

Ken Epp (CA, Elk Island) said, "The dilemma for Canadians is that we are all required to pay taxes and, through our taxes, to fund abortions in an environment in which medical funding is limited." Paul Szabo (Lib, Mississauga South) said that "in the past year the U.S. secretary of health and human services amended the definition of child for U.S. health services purposes. The definition of child in the United States today is a person under the age of 19, including the period from conception to birth." Szabo also quoted, Dr. Françoise Baylis, the vice-chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research board of governors, who "declares clearly that the human embryo is a member of the human species and that is an uncontested biological fact." Elsie Wayne (PC, Saint John) said that the concern over public funding of abortion was of great concern to New Brunswick where abortionist Henry Morgentaler is attempting to force funding for his private abortuary. "All Dr. Morgentaler cares about is the money he puts in the bank. He does not care about the baby in the womb. He does not care about the person who is having the abortion."

Notice, please, that representatives from three parties spoke in favour Breitkreuz's motion. Abortion is not a partisan issue. A search for truth (should) know no party bounds.

Regardless of the vote, Breitkreuz maintains "that abortion is not medically necessary but a lifestyle choice." He noted that in the past he has asked the federal government and the provinces to offer evidence that abortion is medically necessary. "The Health Minister says that abortions are 'medically necessary' but neither she nor her department can produce a shred of evidence to prove it."

CLC National Organizer Mary Ellen Douglas noted that the motion simply asked for proof that abortions are "medically necessary for the purpose of maintaining health, preventing disease or diagnosing or treating an injury, illness or disability in accordance with the Canada Health Act." She said that MPs voting against this very simple pro-life motion will be considered by many as having identified themselves as strongly pro-abortion - they couldn't even countenance examining whether their rhetoric was true, a sure sign that they did not believe the claim that abortion is medically necessary would stand scrutiny.

Douglas also wondered why the defenders of abortion would oppose another component of M-83, that which directs Parliament to study the health effects of abortion on women. One can ascertain from their actions that they do not care about the health of women as much as they care about the act of abortion itself.

CLC International Affairs Officer Sam Singson spent much of September and October at the United Nations monitoring the goings-on there. Of special concern is the work toward a ban on cloning, which was discussed by the United Nations' Sixth Committee from September 29 through October 10. This session is critical as it will set the parameters of the proposed UN ban.

There are two proposals on the table. The Franco-German initiative seeks to address a ban only on reproductive cloning, while the Costa Rican initiative, which is also being co-sponsored by the Philippines and the United States, proposes a comprehensive ban on cloning. To date, the Costa Rican resolution is being firmly backed by 43 co-sponsors. The Canadian delegation predictably is only supporting the partial ban on human cloning despite the fact that the debate on cloning continues to rage at home.

Once again, Canada is arguing to entrench a position in international convention that is not representative of what is in Canadian law and it does so without parliamentary scrutiny. (That is one reason why it is so important we are there: someone has to watch and call to account the Canadian delegation.)

A partial ban such as that proposed by France and Germany would allow human cloning when the human clones created are to be used for research and killed before birth. This has been aptly described as a clone and kill requirement and it dictates that human life be destroyed once created. As Jeanne Head of National Right to Life said, "Should the Franco-German proposal win, this would be the first UN convention in history that would necessitate the killing of an innocent human life."

CLC is a part of the the pro-life, pro-family coalition at the UN, which is working very hard to help host information sessions and to make appointments with various missions to sit with delegates to explain the science and ethics involved in the cloning debate to ensure this worst case scenario - a partial ban is actually worse than no ban - does not become a reality.

On November 10, there are municipal elections in Ontario. We urge everyone to question local and school board candidates on life issues - health board policies on condoms and the morning-after pill, sex education in schools, city funding of Planned Parenthood, etc... In Toronto, pro-life and pro-family voters have a real friend in John Nunziata, the former Liberal and Independent MP. His principal opponents are former Rogers CEO and Mulroney chief of staff John Tory, former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall, city councillor David Miller and former city councillor Tom Jakobek.

These four each support same-sex marriage and all four support abortion. One of them, Miller, has attacked Nunziata over pro-life legislation he proposed in the 1980s and another, Hall, was a guest at Henry Morgentaler's birthday celebrations several years ago. Torontonians don't want a mayor who supports redefining marriage. The city does not need a mayor who will openly embrace the abortion agenda. We encourage people in all municipalities to support pro-life politicians. In Toronto, that means supporting John Nunziata.

On October 2, Ontarians elected Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty premier by delivering 72 of 103 seats to his party. Interestingly only 52% of the electorate bothered to vote this time and the Liberals got 46% of those votes. Do the math and it comes out that only 24% of Ontario voters actually voted for Ontario's new government. This is a clear sign that voters were unhappy with the options presented to them.

While none of the three main parties distinguished themselves on the life issues - neither the parties nor their leaders took pro-life stands - there are a number of pro-life candidates in both the Liberal and Tory parties that won. We look forward to working with them in the future. At the same time, we are saddened to see a number of pro-life MPPs lose their seats, including Tories Wayne Wettlaufer (Kitchener), Garry Guzzo (Ottawa Rideau) and Bob Wood (London South). Also, pro-life Liberal MPP John Cleary (Cornwall) chose not to run for re-election. The legislature will be worse off without their dedication to the unborn. Grassroots pro-life leaders did a great job in collecting questionnaires and information on the local candidates. This information will be helpful to us in the coming months as we determine our provincial strategies.

During the campaign, the Tory, Liberal and NDP leaders did not address the abortion issue and the media made sure it did not make the headlines. But obviously the issue resonated for more than 35,000 voters who cast ballots for the Family Coalition Party - not to mention those who voted for pro-life candidates in other parties. The FCP ran 51 candidates (out of 103 ridings) and improved its vote total by 45% over its 1999 numbers. We are thankful that FCP candidates brought life and family issues as their first priority to all-candidates debates and allowed voters a pro-life option on election day. Abortion was also an issue at many all-candidates meetings, especially when questions from the audience were allowed. Memo to political leaders: as much as you may want it to disappear, the abortion issue is not going away until there is justice for the unborn.

Progressive Conservative Premier Pat Binns of Prince Edward Island easily won re-election on September 28. The Tories captured 54% of the vote, the Liberals 43% and the NDP 3%, translating into 24 seats for the Tories (a loss of three) and four for the Liberals. What is notable, is that Binns is the only pro-life premier in the country and clearly his opposition to abortion is not an impediment to electoral success; this was Binns's third consecutive majority government.

PEI is the only province in Canada that does not permit abortions, so our congratulations go not only to Premier Binns but the good people of Prince Edward Island. However, Binns has said that this will be his last election, so Tory strategists are already looking around the party for an eventual replacement. We hope that whoever it is follows in Binns's footsteps and continues to protect the lives of unborn babies by resisting the pressure to reverse the fact that it is the only abortion free province.

The Supreme Court of Canada decided it will not hear the appeal of James Roger Demers of a lower court conviction under British Columbia's bubble zone legislation. Demers, a Nelson B.C., carpenter, held a sign at the entrance to the Every Woman's abortion mill in Vancouver. His sign quoted a United Nations human rights treaty, guaranteeing the inherent right to life of every human being. After observing him for four days, police charged him with breaching the bubble zone that prevents any opposition to abortion from being expressed within 50 metres of the abortion facility.

CLC BC President John Hof said "Freedom of speech is the victim in this case and we have grave concerns for that freedom when some future government decides to crush some other 'unpopular' opinion." Hof added,"The Supreme Court has frequently been accused of being 'activist' and making decisions contrary to the wishes of the people of Canada. Today we have a cowardly Supreme Court, afraid to even hear a case that clearly violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and freedoms." Demers is not done fighting. He told the CBC he is going to take his case to the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights.

This summer, Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper said there was a conspiracy among the judicial elite, the federal government (especially within the Prime Minister's Office) and gay activists to allow the homosexual agenda to proceed without a political price to be paid by the governing Liberals.

The mainstream media scoffed; the Toronto Star editorialized that Harper owed the judges an apology. But REAL Women has exposed the social connections of Canada's so-called impartial judges to homosexual activists. According to REAL Women's website, senior judges involved in numerous high-profile court rulings concerning homosexuality have apparently cozy ties to homosexual activists. The group points to the fact that Ontario Superior Court Justice Harry LaForme took part in the Gay Pride Week celebrations in Toronto this past June. LaForme wrote the majority decision in support of same-sex marriage. The homosexualist website www.equalmarriage.ca pictured LaForme at a reception with gay activists Kevin Bourrassa and Joe Varnell (who were "married" in 2001),with their arms around the judge.

There were also pictures of other judges participating in the celebration, including Heather Smith, Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court (who presided at the lower court level hearing on same-sex marriage) and Justice MacPherson of the Ontario Court of Appeal who ruled in the same-sex "marriage" case in June. Not surprisingly, the website took down the pictures immediately after REAL Women exposed the link.

On September 21, it became all but official: former finance minister Paul Martin will become the next leader of the Liberal Party and thus Prime Minister of Canada. Over the second-last weekend in September, the Liberal Party selected delegates for its November convention and Martin garnered more than 90% of the party's committed delegates, handily defeating Heritage Minister Sheila Copps.

While both are pro-abortion, Martin had given early indications of democratizing the House, which may benefit pro-life MPs who could vote their consciences and make it easier to get private members' bills and motions to the floor of the House. But new concerns arose earlier this year when it was revealed that one-worlder and environmental zealot Maurice Strong would become a key advisor to Martin in the new year. Strong is closely associated with people and organizations that are working to limit family sizes and support China's brutal one-child policy as part of a radical world de-population agenda.

Every day, the abortion pill RU-486 claims hundreds, if not thousands of victims - the tiny, helpless babies inside the mothers' womb. But In September, yet another woman died using this deadly drug.

Holly Marie Patterson, an 18-year-old from the San Francisco suburb of Livermore, was handed the deadly RU-486 abortion drug concoction by a Planned Parenthood abortuary and died four days after taking the pills. The Associated Press reported "a massive infection caused by fragments of the fetus left inside her uterus" caused "bleeding and cramps so severe that she was unable to walk" leading to her death by septic shock.

Concerned Women for America and the Family Research Council renewed their calls for the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw its approval of the abortion pill RU-486. Since its approval in the US three years ago, Danco, the distributor of the drug, has reported 400 complications to the FDA, including one woman who died from an ectopic pregnancy, another who suffered a heart attack, and two 15-year olds who contracted life-threatening infections. In 2001, a Canadian died from a bacterial infection. It should not need repeating that those who promote abortion in the name of women's health are either incredibly ignorant or dangerously deceptive.

On October 5, in a joint endeavour between CLC Youth, Toronto Right to Life, and National Campus Life Network, a group consisting of mostly young women distributed 1500 pamphlets explaining the link between abortion and breast cancer at the CIBC Run for the Cure.

Because the major cancer research institutes and the abortion industry suppress information about this connection, pro-lifers must take every opportunity to share this information with women. Kamloops Pro-Life and students from the University College of the Cariboo pamphleted the Run for the Cure in their area. CLC and the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer in the States (who produce the pamphlet) have already received feedback from people who received the pamphlet at their event.

Sister Lucille Durocher, founder and head of St. Joseph's Workers for Life & Family, passed away September 22. A teacher after joining the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1948 until 1984, Sr. Lucille founded Human Life International Canada Inc. After nine years as foundress and president of HLIC she left HLIC and in 1993 founded St. Joseph's Workers for Life & Family at an age when lesser mortals begin thinking of retirement. Countless Canadian pro-life families will fondly recall Sr. Lucille's monthly newsletter packed with the current important news and faithful Catholic teaching, especially on life, family and moral issues. Sr. Lucille was especially known for speaking the truth on controversial issues, regardless of opposition or belittling from weaker leaders from within the Catholic community. She also enjoyed the company of good friends such as Toronto's Burnie sisters and the humorous stories of Fr. Ted Colleton. May she rest in peace.

The 2003 National Pro-Life Conference with its timely theme Silent No More is almost upon us. Please plan to join us November 6-8 at The Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton at the world famous West Edmonton Mall.

Hosted by the Alberta Pro-Life Alliance Association and sponsored by Campaign Life Coalition, the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and Life Canada, the conference features speakers such as Scott Klusendorf of Stand to Reason; Ted Byfield, founder of Alberta Report; Richard Doerflinger of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Heather Stilwell, a trustee with the Surrey Public School Board; Bryan Kemper of Rock for Life and banquet speaker David Reardon of the Elliot Institute. Dr. Reardon is an expert on the health effects of abortion - the physical and psychological damage it does to women who have had them and the risks it poses to their subsequent children. You won't want to miss this incredible conference, as there's a something for everyone.

The full conference is $150 for adults, $75 for youth 25 & under); to attend on Saturday, its $95 or $50 for youth; and the banquet is $45 per person. To register, call us at (416) 204-9749 or toll free at 1-800-730-5358.

With the return of crisp autumn weather you know that winter can't be far behind. Cold and snow and blistery winds? Yes, but also Christmas! What could be nicer than a slice of our delicious fruitcake doused with your favourite concotion to help you get through those winter storms and to spread cheer? Just phone in your order and we will send the cake out to you. Same price and the same superb taste. Regular bar cake ($15) and the deluxe cake in decorative tin only ($22). Call Dan or Nadia (1-800-730-5358).

In 2002, the Fr. Ted Scholarship was established to get young people thinking about pro-life issues. Since then, more than $3,000 has been distributed to graduating high school students entering universities. If you or someone you know - a grandchild or neighbour perhaps - someone who is graduating next year from high school (including homeschoolers), please let them know about this opportunity. Who wouldn't want a scholarship to help defray the growing cost of attending post-secondary education? For more information about how to submit an essay on the theme "The Challenge and Reward of Being Pro-life in a Secular Society," contact Dan DiRocco at 1-800-730-5358 or (416) 204-9749 or email dirocco@lifesite.net. Entries must be submitted by December 22 and the awards are $1,000, $300 and $200; the winning entry will be published in The Interim.

The Business for Life annual dinner will be held November 4 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Highway 9 between Walkerton and Mildmay, Ont., Eminent microbiologist Dr. Clem Persaud will talk about stem cell research. In June, Dr. Persaud wowed people at the provincial conference with his power-point presentation that was very informative.