In the November 3, 1990 editorial of the Catholic Register, a weekly publication owned by the Toronto Archdiocese, Father Carl Matthews, S.J. criticized Bill C-43, describing it as a bill which offered the preborn child as much protection as does a screen door on a submarine.

The editorial went on to state most emphatically that the choice of facing Canadian Senators was clear.  Either save the bill and kill the baby, or save the baby and kill the bill.

Father Matthews condemned Bill C-43, describing it as thoughtless and misleading, while giving a seal of approval to killing preborn children.

However, the mot scathing criticism was reserved for Bishop Robert Lebel of Valleyfield, Quebec, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops – a church bureaucracy with no teaching authority.

In the editorial, Father Matthews described as incomprehensible the perceived waffling by the Bishop, citing a statement made by the latter on April 5, in which he said, “If the bill remains as is, it cannot have our approval.”  This was followed by a May 29th statement to MPs in which he said, “Bill C-43 is better than the legislative vacuum which existed for the past two years.”

Arguing that Bishop Lebel cannot have it both ways, Father Matthews called for a clearly definitive statement by the Bishop.  Continuing, he said Canada badly needs bishops who are men of steel, men of vision.

While the editorial was warmly received by pro-lifers, enthusiasm was not forthcoming from the Archdiocese officials.

Spokesman Des Burge stated that not only did the Archdiocese not endorse the editorial, but it fully supported Bishop Lebel on the stand it perceived he took on Bill C-43.

Later the Bishop rejected charges that he and other bishops supported the bill, saying they rejected it, but added that while it was bad, it would be better than nothing.

This statement was perceived by many pro-lifers to be just as contradictory as the earlier statements by Bishop Lebel.

In the absence of a firm statement, two questions remain constant:

Firstly, when will the Bishops take a clear stand? Secondly, will it coincide with the official position and teaching of the Catholic Church?

One fact remains constant.  We can never accept a law which allows the killing of just one baby.  We cannot accept that which is intrinsically evil.