Marion Powell, one of Canada's leading advocates of abortion, contraception and other anti-life practices, died of heart failure Dec. 23 at age 74. Described by some as the mother of birth control in Canada, Dr. Powell made a career of promoting abortion and contraceptive services. She was a major figure in the establishment of the country's first publicly funded birth control centre [...]
Donald Fraser McPhee, a man whose musical ability, spirit and dedication were welcome additions to the Canadian pro-life community, died November 24 at age 48. Don was executive director of Coalition for Life from 1980 to 1982. He was introduced to several of today's Campaign Life Coalition activists through Ruth Hoy, a well known pro-life worker in Ottawa. Ruth, who is also [...]
The sudden death of Supreme Court Justice John Sopinka is a blow to the pro-life cause. While not a pro-life advocate, Sopinka, 64, wrote some judgments that were clearly sympathetic to the pro-life and pro-family movement. In October, Sopinka declared that given modern medical advances, the "born alive" rule to determine legal personhood was outdated. In a 7-2 ruling the Supreme Court [...]
Sister Therese Bonneville, the former director of Rosalie Hall in Scarborough, died suddenly November 5 at age 68. The one-time Superior General of the Misericordia Sisters, Sister Bonneville died from heart complications in Montreal. Rosalie Hall, a residence of young women in crisis pregnancies, was a major part of Sister Bonneville's life for 18 years. She showed her strong leadership skills as [...]
Tracy Lynn Latimer (1981-1993) had a life beyond her immediate family. She had friends at school and in a group home. Tracy, 12, loved music, could smile laugh and move her hands. She related to other children. Tracy lived with cerebral palsy which is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain at birth. The Globe and Mail's court reporter David [...]
The Canadian pro-life family has lost two of its strong supporters. The early weeks of October saw the passing of Rory Alexander Kennedy of Toronto, and Rosemary Nielson of British Columbia. Both were involved in the pro-life community and will be missed. Rory Kennedy was a bright 25 year-old, and was tragically taken by an accident. The son of Frank and Ileen [...]
In life, Jerome Lejeune may have found little peace as a pro-life scientist and geneticist. But one thing is certain - he is finding little peace in death. Incredible press stories out of France during Pope John Paul II’s visit to that country this summer described Lejeune as “an anti-abortion militant credited with being the driving force behind violent protests in France.” [...]
A man of tremendous courage is how most people in the pro-life community will remember Joseph Bennett of Toronto. Although Mr. Bennett died in June, his strong faith and his support of pro-life objective continue to inspire those who knew him. He was 73 years old. Mr. Bennett developed skin cancer over 30 years ago, and despite years of hardship, discomfort and [...]
I have been asked to offer some reflections on my experience as a volunteer in Calcutta, India with Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity. Despite intense psychological preparation for my trip to Calcutta, I was in no way prepared for what I encountered on my arrival there. The dirt, the heat, the smell, was so overwhelming that I contemplated going home [...]
The one time I met Maurice Lewis, I recall thinking: "This is the guy?" Lewis was one of the meekest, least intimidating fellows you'd ever care to meet. Reporters who interviewed him came away startled at his mild manner. Not the sort of person you'd peg as the government's Public Enemy No. 1. Yet that's what Lewis was, as the government in [...]
WINNIPEG - St. Vital Roman Catholic Church in Winnipeg was the site of a two-pronged celebration September 23, marking the first anniversary of the death of Joe Borowski, one of Canada's leading defenders of unborn children. The day began with Mass led by St. Vital pastor Father Pat Morand and 10 concelebrants. In his homily, Father Morand stressed the need to offer [...]
The following are direct quotations from some of Mother Teresa's speeches the world over. On abortion: "We are precious to Him ... Every single child that he has created, every unborn child in the womb." " ... Abortion has become the greatest destroyer of love, of peace. Millions of little children are being killed." "... And to make it easy for us [...]
There is very little a humble editorial writer could say that would do real justice to the life and work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. To suggest that this champion of the poor and unwanted influenced so many people in a positive way would only scratch the surface of her remarkable achievement. Her death on September 5 has taken from this world [...]
Canada's pro-life community was shocked with news of the death of activist Maurice Lewis of British Columbia. Lewis's body was discovered September 5 in the cab of his tractor trailer. The rig was stopped at a rest area on Highway 17 about 32 kilometers north of Wawa, Ontario. It was Lewis's arrest at a Vancouver abortion clinic that led to the NDP [...]
In an issue dominated with passings, we must give some tribute to pro-life activist Maurice Lewis, who died September 5, the same day as his greatest inspiration Mother Teresa. It would probably embarrass Lewis to be mentioned in the same breath as the great champion of the poor, but circumstances, and a strong commitment to the unborn, have created such a link. [...]