Interim staff Toronto’s pro-life community lost one of its most dedicated supporters with the October 3 death of Thomas McMorrow of Scarborough. Mr. McMorrow, 83, died of cancer after a long illness. Born November 4, 1912 in Dublin, Ireland, Mr. McMorrow came to Canada in 1931 and shortly thereafter began a small grocery store business in the Highland Creek area of Scarborough. [...]
Interim staff Pro-life prisoner of conscience Linda Gibbons was found guilty of obstructing a peace officer and breaking probation at her latest court appearance October 2. In keeping with previous court appearance to express her personal solidarity with the innocent, unborn children killed each day at Toronto abortion clinics. Her latest arrest occurred August 26, just three days after being released from [...]
The name Robert Munoz first cropped up in local pro-life circles as the man who would bail activist Bill Whatcott out of jail following one of the latter’s frequent arrests. The Munoz name came up again with word of a play based on the life of activist/political prisoner Linda Gibbons. Later it was learned this same Munoz is pastor of Trinity Evangelical [...]
Priests for Life (PFL), an organization working to promote the respect for life message among priests and deacons, has a new head man in Canada. Father James Whalen, pastor of St. Margaret Mary parish in Cumberland, near Ottawa, was appointed national director in September. A priest of Ottawa archdiocese since 1972, Father Whalen comes to Priests for Life with an impressive background [...]
The founder and chairman of Human Life International believes a “massive religious revival” is needed to turn Western society away from the abortion-contraception mentality. Father Paul Marx, 76, made the comments September 27 during a three-day visit to Toronto. He came to the city to preach at two churches September 29 and to attend a tribute for pro-life Senator Stanley Haidasz, who [...]
Interim special On a small, grassy hill just inside the Catholic cemetery in Gananoque, stands a granite memorial unlike any of its kind in this final resting spot for hundreds. It is not the burial spot for some well-known member of this resort community on the St. Lawrence River. It isn’t a memorial for Canada’s war dead. It is mute testimony to [...]
Interim staff Alliance for Life Ontario is welcoming Chatham resident Mary Ann Miller to her second term as president of the provincial pro-life organization. Miller, a 15 year veteran of pro-life volunteer work, officially assumes the president’s position at the Alliance for Life all-Ontario conference November 1-2 in North Bay. She will work with Alliance for Life Executive Director Jakki Jeffs and [...]
I remember the time a few years ago when Jim Hughes called and asked me if I would go out to Pearson Airport, which is just on the outskirts of Toronto, the following afternoon, and pick up Joe Borowski who was flying in from Winnipeg. Joe was supposed to arrive at Terminal III for a pro-life conference and I was to drive [...]
“God give us men. A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands. Men whom the lust for office cannot kill. Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy. Men of honour. Men who will not lie. Men who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without blinking. Tall men; sun crowned, who stand [...]
On September 24, 1996 Father Ted Colleton and I flew to Manitoba to attend the funeral of Joe Borowski. It felt strange to be there in Winnipeg and not to visit Joe in the health food store which the Borowski family has owned and operated for the past 17 years. On frequent trips over the years we had discussed issues and shared [...]
Interim staff Canadian pro-life workers increasingly rely on religious faith to overcome feelings of loneliness, isolation, persecution and lack of support, according to a recently released attitude survey. Entitled “Compassion Fatigue in the Pro-Life Movement,” the survey was prepared by Mary-Lynn McPherson, national co-ordinator of Canadian Nurses for Life. It indicates that despite a lack of support from their own churches and [...]
I find myself taken aback by the September, 1996 article in The Interim pertaining to stress and “burn-out” with the struggle to defend preborn children. The one in question concerns a survey examining compassion fatigue. “Burn-out,” according to popular usage, means fatigue, discouragement and dismay. But in more literal definition, “burn-out” actually means a heightened form of mental fatigue and distress just [...]
Organizers of the 1996 Life Chain in the Toronto area are pleased with turnout despite decreased numbers from the previous year. The sixth annual Life Chain attracted more than 2,600 participants to 37 major intersections in the greater Toronto area. Last year’s effort saw a turnout of 3,000 people. Participants held up signs reading Abortion Kills Children, Abortion Hurts women, And Adoption: [...]
Interim special The head of Priests for Life in the United States has offered new insights into preaching about abortion for school-age children. In an article published in the Homiletic and Pastoral Review, Father Frank Pavone of New York said it is key to stress the equality message when telling young people about abortion. He said children are especially receptive to issues [...]
The British Columbia Supreme Court has reinstituted Bill 48, the provincial legislation severely restricting pro-life activity near abortion clinics and hospitals. In an October 8 decision, Justice Mary Saunders overturned an earlier court ruling that found restrictions on pro-life activity violated freedom of speech and religion guarantees. Justice Saunders ruled that a January 23 decision by Provincial Court Judge E.J. Cronin is [...]