Tony Gosgnach
The Interim
Between them, they’ve quietly filled almost every role a faith-filled, pro-life, pro-family person could play over the course of the past several decades – REAL Women of Canada’s first president, active Physicians for Life member, picketer for over 20 years at a hospital that commits abortions, candidate for, and deputy leader of, Ontario’s Family Coalition Party, public relations director for the Catholic apostolate Witness, supporter of Birthright and the Fellowship for Catholic Scholars, president of Campaign Life Coalition (Hamilton), activist within the Reform and Alliance political parties, member of a sexual health steering committee for the city of Hamilton, an official within the International Order of Alhambra … and more.
Through it all, Dr. Carmelo and Lynn Scime have managed to raise seven children and maintain professional careers in the medical and social work fields. They’ve also become well known for their generosity to anyone in a time of need. (In fact, when this Interim writer called the Scime residence in Hamilton late one evening to get a few more biographical details of their lives, they were busy at work making meals for the family of a person who had recently died.)
On Feb. 26 at the Canadiana Banquet Hall in Toronto, the Catholic, pro-life and pro-family communities had an opportunity to say “thanks” to the couple, as the Witness apostolate gave its sixth annual Witness to Faith Award to the Scimes. The award recognizes individuals who have particularly stood out as beacons for the orthodox Catholic faith.
Witness president Jim Duffy said the award was very deserved, because the Scimes are “an electrifying team” on the pro-life scene and, at a time when the institution of marriage is under severe attack, they epitomize what a good marriage should be.
“Lynn just gives and gives and gives,” he said, adding that Carm “is a tremendous guy” who came to his aid when he suffered a stroke several years ago.
At the award banquet, tributes flowed from the many people who went to the podium and offered their recollections of how the Scimes have contributed to various worthy causes.
Their daughter Erica noted her parents have been involved in one cause or another for as long as she can remember. “They’re the best multi-taskers I have known,” she quipped, adding that her parents always believed that no matter how busy someone was, “if you believe strongly enough in something, you’ll make time for it.”
By way of understatement, their son Don said his parents “are certainly not the type of people to sit back and watch things go by.” He added that a dinner at the Scime residence “is always a lively event” and he commended his parents for having principles, as well as the conviction to stand behind those principles.
He observed that although his father is on the shy side, “Once my dad puts his mind to something, he has no fear of shedding that shyness.”
Dr. David Dooley, professor emeritus of English at St. Michael’s College and associate editor of Catholic Insight magazine, said that although Canadian society has been faced “with a tremendous amount of ignorance,” the Scimes have been very devoted to the pro-life cause and “certainly deserve this award.”
Don Pennell, former leader of the Family Coalition Party, said the Scimes have always battled issues head on and have shown that opinion never outweighs truth. “Carm and Lynn are entirely fearless when it comes to promoting life,” he said.
On the lighter side, Pennell pointed out that the Scimes have the distinction of operating the most popular unlisted hotel in the Hamilton area – meaning that whenever a visitor to the area is in need of a place to lay his head, he knows where to go. Carm also can boast of being the number one Ontario seller of fundraising fruitcakes for Campaign Life Coalition and a family doctor who has remained faithful to the classic Hippocratic Oath.
“He is one of the province’s most dedicated physicians,” Pennell said. “Carm is Dr. Pro-Life. That, and his Catholic faith, are the principles of his life. He is one of the few who still make house calls, even during evening and weekend hours.”
Lynn, meanwhile, can be credited for leading REAL Women of Canada to a prominent profile on the Canadian scene. More recently, she has crisscrossed Ontario to help organize town hall meetings as part of the fierce battle to defend the traditional definition of marriage against those who would change it.
“Carm and Lynn exemplify the Catholic family,” Pennell concluded.
Speaking on behalf of Campaign Life Coalition president Jim Hughes, who was on assignment out of the country, his assistant, Rhonda Wood, said it is well known at CLC that “if you ever need anything, you can call” the Scimes.
“They’re always giving,” Wood said. “Generosity, compassion, commitment – they’re words that best describe Carm and Lynn.”
The unofficial chaplain of the Canadian pro-life movement, nonagenarian Father Ted Colleton, then regaled the assembly with some of his patented jokes – including a couple of new ones.
In their usually humble style, the Scimes said little in their acceptance speech, except to note that they were honoured by the recognition of their co-workers in the pro-life, pro-family struggle.
Duffy told The Interim previous recipients of the Witness to Faith award include Monsignor Vincent Foy, the late Eunice Morgan, Dr. David Dooley, Dr. John Shea and Jim Hughes. He added his organization hopes to present its next award, the seventh, this coming November.
