For the past fifteen years, countless individuals and many groups have expressed their concern for the terrible destruction and callous disregard for human life through abortion. The statistics dealing with the numbers of unborn children killed in our country in this period of time range from 700,000 to over 1,000,000. Despite Herculean efforts to make government officials aware of the fact that this is human life that is being destroyed, the killing goes on. The best scientific evidence, the most cogent arguments and the sheer weight of numbers have not been heeded by our political leaders whether on a Provincial or Federal level, yet millions of Canadians detest and deplore this despicable crime against humanity.

Any reasonable person can clearly perceive that the killing of the unborn is a violation of the most fundamental rights of a human being and a total disregard for the most cherished aspects of social justice.

We are dealing here with a most treasured value of our Judaeo-Christian heritage, the dignity and worth of every human being. Where this is respected a climate of trust and unity is created. Whether one is speaking about social, economic or political philosophy, the fiber of a country is strengthened when basic values and rights are protected. However, in Canada today we are trying to build political unity, economic strength and social coherence on the killing of 70,000 human being a year through abortion. How absurd! We are striving to obtain unity, strength and growth from a moral vacuum or, even worse, moral decadence. Surly political leaders have a responsibility to do better.

“Surely a leader is expected to inspire and to elevate, to work for humanity on behalf of life.”

The individuals seeking public office in the forth-coming election should be truly liberal, progressive and democratic in their thinking and in their political philosophy. That liberal, progressive and democratic thinking is best exemplified when it protects the weak and powerless, the vulnerable and fragile, the defenseless and unwanted so often epitomized in the unborn baby. The true liberal progressive and democratic person will be guided by moral principles.  He will recognize that liberty gives us the freedom to do what we should. To do what we want is a travesty of liberty if what we want is a violation of the rights of others, especially of the weak and the defenseless. Such a travesty of liberty is a mortal blow at humanity, and the deathknell to civilization. The abortion issue the killing of the human fetus, is a humiliation to humanity, and a challenge to all political leaders. If they fail to meet this challenge, a challenge at the very heart of humanity, then what are leaders for? Surly a leader is expected to inspire and to elevate, to work for humanity and on behalf of life, not to degrade humanity and to use his powers as instruments of destruction. The challenge is inescapable. Will your response be worthy of man? Will you say “yes” to life?

Individuals become worthy of leading others not when they are elected but when they are willing to call forth the best in service, comfort, care and support from their constituents when they bring out the best in our humanity.

The ancient Greeks used the word arête to speak about the excellence proper to each being, the respect for the life of that being. Applying this summary word of the Greeks to those seeking public office we can say that they are worthy of our support when they elevate rather than descend to what is base, inhuman, and unworthy of the excellence proper to man. Political leaders are chosen to enact legislation that reminds man of what is noble, what is best and what is most conducive to the realization of his person.

“We are dealing here with a most treasured value of our Judaeo-Christian heritage. The dignity and worth of ever human being.”

The contemporary political scene in Canada does not inspire a great deal of confidence when it comes to the respect that should be given to human life by the various political parties or individual leaders.

The New Democratic Party has lost its credibility in seeking to promote issues pertaining to social justice when at the same time it supports the killing of the unborn on demand. It is a curious form of social justice that denies the most fundamental of all rights and then pretends to speak for the rights of the worker, poor, sick, aged, etc. Social justice and primarily concerned with an attempt to correct those political, economic and social factors that prevent the individual human being from realizing their God-given dignity, not with the killing of the unborn.

The actions and words of various members within the Liberal Party does not augur well for the future of the unborn child. The Prime Minister, Mr. John Turner, was the one who, as Minister of Justice, guided the present abortion law through the House of Commons in 1969. Prime Minister Turner has recently appointed as Justice Minister Donald Johnston, the individual who supported abortion on demand in his recent attempt to succeed former Prime Minister Trudeau. The recent pejorative and condescending remarks of the Liberal Party president Iona Campagnolo in regard to pro-life groups were not only indicative of a lack of sensitivity, class and refinement but underscored her callous disregard for the innate respect that should be given to human beings in general and the unborn child in particular.

“…and then came the inevitable ‘but’ … a totally vacuous statement.”

Conservative leader, Brian Mulroney, has stated that he could live with the present abortion law. That is precisely the problem. 70,000 to 100,000 unborn children each year are unable to live because of the present abortion law. Also, he has been quoted as saying that he is personally opposed to abortion, and then came the inevitable but  . . . a totally vacuous statement.

Any politician of whatever political affiliation who personally opposes abortion and then accepts a policy that permits the killing of the unborn embraces the position that is totally unworthy of support from those who cherish human life and civilized values. To say that I am personally opposed to abortion and then go along with the current law or the policy of a particular party defies credibility and does no justice to reason. It is a ludicrous as saying that I am personally opposed to murder, but it is all right for others to execute this crime.

The recently-installed Archbishop of New York City John J. O’Connor has stated the position well for those who uphold the dignity and worth of human life. “I will give no support by word or action, that could in any way be construed in favour of any politician, or any political party who professes either a pro-abortion position or takes refuge in a so-called pro-choice position. I categorically reject the evasion, I am personally opposed to abortion, but . . .”

In the light of the Archbishop’s statement, the political parties in Canada, either by way of official policy of their national leaders, do not offer much by way of ensuring protection for the unborn child. I would suggest that before a candidate is worthy of your vote in the forthcoming election that he or she state publicly that they will strive to change the present anti-life anti-life attitude by: (1) way of tax dollars and to cease funding organizations that promote this crime against humanity; (2) remove the word health from the present abortion law; (3) by granting full human rights to the unborn child and that law reflect current scientific knowledge in respect for the development of the unborn human life.

Father Bernard A. Macdonald is Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.