At their policy convention in Hull (Feb. 20-23, 1992) the Liberals did it again, to the applause of the media.
Back in the years of 1967-1969 Pierre Trudeau “hijacked” the Liberal Party of Canada for his permissive society ideals. Parachuted into the leadership by a party clique, he launched his career by wondering out loud in December 1967 what God could possibly have to do with Canadian politics. After that he made divorce easy and legalized contraceptives, homosexuality and abortion.
Twenty-three years later the people who once formed the backbone of the party – that is, practicing, believing Christians – are told that they are “fake” Liberals, “opportunists,” “one issue” fanatics, attempting to “hijack” the party.
In the name of democracy; the party’s Central ‘Commissariat’ has seized control of local riding associations in order to exclude unwanted pro-life candidates. At $750 a head for the convention, these same despised people had just contributed a quarter of a million in fees to the party’s coffers.
In the name of party policy, Leader Jean Chretien for the umpteenth time gave voice to the lie that “pluralism” condones abortion. Nothing permits the killing of the innocent. Who says this? God does.
Let’s be mindful of several things. First, the Liberals for Life’s “one issue” is the central issue of our civilization, directly affecting every other aspect of life.
Second, the so-called fake Liberals are the ones who have the true welfare of the party and country at heart. Those who attacked them are power-brokers and manipulators.
Third, it is unacceptable to see fellow Christians – and especially Catholics who know better indeed – exert influence in favor of pro-death policies. We are speaking here about collaborators with evil. Among the manipulators in Hull were leader Jean Chretien (Beauséjour); his deputy Sheila Copps (Hamilton East); and MPs Mary Clancy (Halifax), Sergio Marchi (York-West), John Nunziata (York South-Weston) and Brian Tobin (Humber-Ste Barbe-Baie Verte), all Catholics. They should not be re-elected. Those who defend government-approved killing in whatever form automatically disqualify themselves from office, no matter what other qualifications they may have. Members of all religions should act upon this principle.
Fourth, we should stop behaving as if the pro-life cause were a matter of limited importance. Soft-pedaling the issue, and attitude of ‘business as usual,’ only ensures that the rot spreads through our institutions even faster. The whole country is morally adrift. The ever-shifting constitutional debates are one reflection of this.
Liberals for Life should be congratulated. Their work has a double purpose; getting abortion discussed in the public forum – this is a form of education; and building a network for future change. In Hull, they failed on the second count, but succeeded brilliantly on the first.
Yet perhaps the time is ripe to let the older parties self-destruct.
The provincial Family Coalition Party in Ontario and BC, and the Christian Heritage Party on the federal scene have advantages over pro-life work in the old parties: they provide a public alternative; they help safeguard the personal conscience of those who vote for them; they direct funds to a pro-life cause instead of a pro-abortion one; and during elections they can bring up the pro-life issue in every riding.
At this juncture in history their prime aim is to give political witness to truth. Thereby they may well save our political, perhaps even our spiritual integrity.
