One RC theologian in the U.S. continues to do his best to establish that human life does not begin at conception. Peter Steinfels of the New York Times, in a news story which appeared in the Globe and Mail (January 14), outlined arguments by Rev. Richard McCormick that new life does not exhibit the stable and determinate character necessary for considering it [...]
Professor William E. May, moral theologian at the Catholic University of America has written a lucid and important article on the controversial subject of withdrawing or withholding medical treatment (Linacre, August 1990). Moralists Professor May takes strong issue with two highly influential Catholic moralists, Richard McCormick, S.J. (see below) and Kevin O’Rourke, O.P. He regards their position on the withdrawal or withholding [...]
“Prospects called grim for groups fighting abortion,” bannered a Globe and Mail headline following the defeat of Bill-43. “They gave it the good fight, and they lost,” said Jack London, a Manitoba law professor. Fade away Professor Bernard Dickens of Toronto agreed, saying that the abortion controversy will gradually fade away. He predicted a series of harassments of doctors performing abortions, and [...]
Ontario Premier Bob Rae has responded to a letter from the Ontario Bishops (November 1990) and from the Knights of Columbus (December 1990), both of which objected to the underwriting of free-standing abortion ‘clinics’ in Ontario. Both are reaffirmations of the NDP government’s aggressive pro-abortion policy. Two months It took almost two months for Premier Bob Rae to reply to bishop John [...]
Everywoman’s Abortion ‘Clinic’ has a new neighbour! And what a good neighbour it is, too. Who could not like a neighbour who prays for you every day? A neighbour who welcomes your visitors into her home and provides for their every need? A neighbour who keeps a watchful eye on your place day and night? Whimper Without so much as a whimper [...]
On January 31, 1991, just over three years since the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the 1969 Trudeau law, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s attempt to re-legalize abortion on demand went down to a bizarre defeat in the Senate. In many ways the tied vote 43 for, 43 against – was victory of pro-life Senator Stanley Haidasz who waged a one-man pro-life [...]
Dr. Craig Seaton has always had a strong interest in the relationship between belief, especially religious belief, and behaviour. When he read an article in Christian Info (a Lower B.C. Mainland newspaper) featuring interviews with several of the people arrested for blockading the Vancouver abortuary, he was intrigued. What makes these people tick? What kind of person engages in civil disobedience? Why [...]
During the past year or so I had heard about Bishop Austin Vaughan, the Auxiliary Bishop of New York, and his dramatic stand in defence of the unborn babies of America. He had taken part in rescues, been arrested, then tried and imprisoned. I had admired him from a distance but I didn't expect to meet him, hear him speak, celebrate Mass [...]
In our September 1990 issue, The Interim briefly reported on a change for the better in the U.S. media's abortion -reporting language. In the following article, Dr. Donald DeMarco expands on the U.S. media's shift toward greater objectivity. Between the Lines, a biweekly publication out of Los Angeles reports that the Los Angeles Times ' has banned the use of the term [...]
The Interim has tried to keep abreast of the growing strength of the ‘Dying with Dignity’ movement (See, for example, the articles “Doctors hear euthanasia warning” and “Dying with Dignity recommends that right to kill,” in our June 1989 issue). For November 1989 till March 1990, The Interim published four lengthy articles by Charles Eckman on the threat of active euthanasia and [...]
“It is nothing less than blatant discrimination that denied North Halton Pro-Life the right to participate in this year’s Acton Christmas Parade,” said that organization’s president Grace Steenhof, in early December. Bill Spielvogel, a volunteer fire-fighter of 33 years and chairman of the Parade Committee, said they were “simply following the steps of Georgetown in not allowing political groups to participate.” “But [...]
German unification took on a new meaning when pro-lifers from both (former) East and (former) West Berlin marched November 21, 1990 through the centre of the city. At one o’clock in the afternoon, four to five thousand people assembled outside St. Hedwig’s Cathedral in what was once East Berlin. Speakers included the Bishop of Berlin and pro-life leaders. A special guest was [...]
What is meant by ‘organic farming’? L.W., Toronto This is a development which some scientists see as a part of the ‘Brave New World.’ It is suggested that human beings could be developed for their ‘spare parts’. Women would be paid to have babies which would be aborted in order that they be cannibalized when doctors ‘harvested’ their organs—heart, liver, pancreas, etc. [...]
As all book reviewers know, sometimes the biggest chore is preserving to read the book through to the end. Because I’m asked to review many ‘lifestyle’ books—about families, divorce, children, grief, etc.—a lot of trite and ‘junk-food’ genre publications come across my desk. So it’s with great delight I draw The Interim readers’ attention to a new publication Nazareth, a Catholic Family [...]
The following letter, dated November 28, was addressed to Mr. John Carroll of Thunder Bay, Ontario who is the Chairman of families and Friends of the Handicapped. Mr. Carroll is pro-life. In 1990 he appeared before the House of Commons Committee on Bill C-43 objecting to the proposed legislation. Recently he wrote the editor of Scarboro Missions, a monthly magazine ostensibly devoted [...]