VANCOUVER—British Columbia’s bubble zone legislation restricting non-life demonstrations has again been put to the test. Vancouver police December 11 arrested pro-life activist Jim Demers outside Everywoman’s abortion clinic, after more than a week of picketing. Demers had been carrying a sign displaying article -4- of the American Convention on Human Rights. The article reads: “Every person has the right to have his [...]
British Columbia’s pro-life community will appeal a provincial Supreme Court decision upholding the province’s “bubble zone” legislation. Despite growing disenchantment with the legal system, pro-life supporters plan to continue to press for their rights to peaceful public witnessing against abortion. The bubble zone law was ruled unconstitutional by B.C Provincial Court Judge E.J Cronin in January. The decision was immediately appealed by [...]
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 [...]
Pope John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”) proclaims in our day the Catholic Church’s teaching on the sacredness of all human life. The letter is a work of great beauty and power; but to ensure that it will not become a “dead letter,” the pope has called upon all Catholics – particularly those with special responsibilities in [...]
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 [...]
“And all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.” It is over fifty years since I read Pilgrims Progress, but these were the first words I thought of when I heard that Joe Borowski was dead. I was sure that hosts of his Pro-Life friends “on the other side” were there to welcome him home. He was unique, a legend [...]
“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 [...]
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered to Almighty God for Joseph Paul Borowski at St Vital Parish Winnipeg on September 25, 1996. It was concelebrated by 18 priests, with Father Patrick A Morand, parish priest, the chief concelebrant. In attendance were family members, relatives, dignitaries and many friends. The Mass was preceded by rosary prayers. The Scriptural Rosary for Respect for [...]
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 [...]
Joseph Paul Borowski 1932-1996 The following text is taken from a 1981 book, “The Polish Canadians” by Canadian artist William Kurelek Whether people agree or not with his choice of language or his methods of protest, many, myself included, truly admire Joe Borowski for standing up for his principles. When the N.D.P. party swept into power in Manitoba in l969 the new [...]