In buoyant mood, over three hundred Canadians from Labrador City to Yellowknife gathered in Ottawa on April 22-23, for a conference on the theme “Equality Revisited.”

Economist Sally Pipes, Associate Director of Vancouver’s prestigious Fraser Institute, traced the ideological changes in the modern feminist movement.

Feminists have been extraordinarily successful in inducing legislative reform, she noted.  But by turning to the state to promote their demands and protect their interests, they have also contributed substantially to an unprecedented level of government intrusion in all areas of our lives.

“Today the destiny of the Western world depends on women freeing themselves from feminism’s crippling illusions,” she said.  Noting that, paradoxically, 83 per cent of young women still say they would welcome more emphasis on traditional family life, Ms. Pipes declared, “The best way to support families is to say no to policies that replace self-reliance with dependency on the state.”

In a talk outlining the anti-family, anti-life aspects of equality, as promoted by Canada’s generously-funded feminist groups and their sympathizers, R.E.A.L. Women’s national Vice-President, Gwendolyn Landolt, referred to the Supreme Court decision regarding the unborn.  She quoted Madame Justice Bertha Wilson’s argument that since pregnancy and childbirth are outside their experience, men cannot truly understand the abortion issue, and should not be involved in decisions about it.  If such an argument were logical, Landolt suggested, then by extension Madame Justice Wilson (who is childless) would be in the same position and would have to disqualify herself from rendering any judgment on that issue.

A subsequent article in the Toronto Star under the heading “Group attacks ‘childless’ judge on abortion ruling,” accused Landolt of saying that Madame Justice Wilson “had no right to participate in the Supreme Court decision because she is childless.”

Dangers of day care

Quiet-spoken psychiatrist, Dr. Elliott Baker, acknowledged expert on psychopathy, described the typical criminal psychopath:  often totally lacking in empathy and sensitivity to others; unable to relate in an intimate way to others; incapable of deep bonding and long term commitment; unable to love or accept love.

The key factor, Dr. Baker had discovered, is that in their crucial first three years, they were invariably deprived of a constant care giver who gave unconditional love.  More and more, he noted, identical characteristics are showing up in their children who have spent their earliest years in full-time day care.

Gays and Lesbians

A group of about 30 gays and lesbians attempted to disrupt Dr. Baker’s talk.  Prevented by the single security guard from entering the convention hall, they had to be satisfied with chanting, shouting, howling, and posing for the TV cameras, before being hustled into the elevators and out of the hotel.

Luncheon speaker, Chantal Devine, mother of five and wife of Saskatchewan Premier Grant Devine, stated her view that the current feminist search for equality through sexual freedom goes against the plan of God and nature and overlooks the importance of traditional values.

A known pro-lifer, she said, “In our country we save whales, timber wolves, bald eagles and gophers.  The time has come to proclaim that in Canada we also save babies.”

She urged women to take a stand on moral issues, to expound the importance and rewards of motherhood and child-raising, to protest what would harm home life, and to encourage governments to implement long-range policies to strengthen the family.

And above all, she urged, put “God first, family second, and work third.”

Pornography

Later, Rev. Hudson Hilsden, of the Interchurch Committee on Pornography and a member of the Pentecostal Assembly, spoke about this insidious social cancer.  “Pornography is not just dirty words and dirty pictures.  It’s an attack on the image of God in His people,” he said.  He was most convincing.

He described pornography as degrading, exploitive, and exaltation of abuse, and often a vehicle for the occult and the satanic.  A progressive, desensitizing addiction, it radically changes relationships between men and women, with destructive effects on marriage, the family and society.  Sadly, the main users today are males in the formative years of 12 to 17.

Rev. Hilsden suggested many ways to alert people to the harm in pornography.  “Make a fuss in any way you can,” he summarized.  “Even if you think it won’t work, try it anyway.  Be persistent.  You’ll be amazed at what God will help you do.”

These and other equally informative and inspirational workshops left those in attendance very  much encouraged and confident that they were better equipped to continue their efforts on behalf of Canadian women and their families.

R.E.A.L. Women grant

The $21,000 government grant to R.E.A.L. Women has been a source of great disturbance to feminists.  NDP MP Dawn Black attacked it in the House of Commons on April 24, when she also charged the R.E.A.L. Women convention of “spreading lies” about homosexuals, lesbians and child care.  She had been preceded by Halifax Liberal feminist Mary Clancy, who a few days earlier had demanded that the grant be rescinded.

Feminist media such as the Toronto Star felt called upon to contribute an editorial attack as well (“Are they for R.E.A.L.?” April 25).

The first-time grant has enraged radical feminists whose own organizations gather $10,000,000 (or more) a year.  Total grants to women’s groups from the Secretary of State’s office alone in the year 1985-86 amounted to $8.36 million.