In January,1992 Lianne Laurence, The Interim’s western correspondent who has come to national prominence over her efforts to prevent abortions at Henry Morgentaler’s Edmonton abortuary, made a guest appearance on Ron Collister’s Talkback program on CJCA Radio in Edmonton. What follows is a transcription of the interview.
On February 28, 1992, Miss Laurence, 32, and three other pro-life prisoners of conscience-her parents David and Christine, both 59, and John Kirkm 64 – were sentenced to 60 days and 30 days respectively, sentences which have now been served.
Collister: Do you think eventually the courts will just stop punishing you?
Laurence: Well, it’s really hard to say. Of course, ideally, I would want the courts to protect unborn children. At the heart of what I do there is a solidarity with the victims of abortion, both the children and their mothers. The children aren’t recognized. When people like myself who are born and who supposedly have projection under the law stand up and say, “ We refuse to cooperate with the killing of children and the violation of women,” we’re giving witness to those children who are the silent victims of this holocaust.
C: A lot of people know you by name now; you’re very familiar. We don’t know who you are. Who is Lianne Laurence: Tell us about yourself. Why are you suddenly into this issue? What do you do to make a living, and that sort of thing?
L: Right now, I’m employed on a casual basis with the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and I work there as a cook and dishwasher when I have a few days off in a month, I do a shift or two which is really nice; before that; I had a degree in Journalism, so I worked..
C: (interrupting) Another journalist looking for a job! (Both laughing) There are million out there, Lianne. You got a degree in journalism?
L: I got a degree in journalism from the University of Regina and I worked for about two years altogether for the Catholic paper here in Edmonton. I’m a Roman Catholic. I’m from a family of eleven children and we’ve always believed that abortion is wrong. My family has been very, very supportive during all of this. As a matter of fact, a couple of members of my family arrested just before Chirstmas,1991 and they’ll be facing a hearing on the 23rd of January,1992.
C: Now the Edmonton [which] had a big spread on you recently, says, “protester or Pest?” which do you think you are?
L: I would say I’m neither. I’m not a protester. I would refer to myself as a rescuer because I’m not down there to protest; my main objective is to try and protect those women and children who are in peril o that particular day at the abortion mill. Now, I suppose I could be viewed as a pest, but I would also say that I think society views the unborn children as pests, and so we want to break down the barrier between the born and the unborn, as I say, so when they’re viewed as pests they get killed; their lives are actually ended whereas I’m still here and I’m at liberty most of the time, anyway…
C: (Interrupting) Most of the time! ( laughing) Not all the time! You’ve been in jail eight times! (Still laughing)
L: Actually, I have to correct you. I told you the wrong thing! I was counting in my mind but it’s only been six times so…
C: Only six times! (Amused) I know you want to know what our listeners feel about this, we’ll take them in strict order, so nothing arranged at all, here. Let’s ask our listeners what they feel about Lianne Laurence. Is she a Protester or pest? Do you support what she does or would you throw away the key?
