Conference a major boost for family

Fr. Ted Collection

Along with about a thousand other people I attended the Second Pan-American Conference on Family Education. It was held at the Regal Constellation Hotel, Toronto. The title for this Conference was: “Building the Civilization of Love.” I thought that the entire conference was an outstanding success and great credit is due to Paul and Teresa Tomory, who were the principal organizers. Needless to say, they were helped by many others.

The Conference began with an opening Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral at 10:00 a.m. on Monday May 27th. The Principal celebrant and homilist was Archbishop Ambrozic. The opening speech at the hotel was delivered by Professor Janine Langan, of the University of Toronto. The title was “Building the Civilization of Love.” In her eloquent address, Mrs. Langan stressed the fact that “Love” is the foundation of family life.

The Talks

As talks were being delivered during the day in different rooms of the hotel, it was obviously impossible to attend them all. The speakers were almost all university professors with PhDs and experts in their subjects. The talks which I attended were both enlightening and encouraging but some left one with a feeling of concern and need for prayer and action. All of the speakers stressed the fact that the family is the foundation of a civilized society. Here are a few titles which will give some concern and the need for prayer and action. All of the speakers stressed the fact that the family is the foundation of a civilized society. Here are a few titles which will give some idea of the vastness of the areas covered: the Family: Cradle of the Civilization of Love; the Formative Role of the Family; the Irreplaceable Role of the Woman and Mother in Building the Civilization of love; Adolescent Sexuality; The Crisis of Fatherhood; the Family as Ethical Foundation of society, and the school as Genuine Extension of Family and Faith.

These are just a few of the subjects treated in the forty-five addresses. The speeches were delivered in English, French, Italian and Spanish and were translated by “headphone” into various languages as required.

The speaker who interested me most was Dr. Margaret Ogola. The reason being that she is from Nairobi, Kenya, where I spent the first 30 years of my Priesthood. Also, I had the privilege and honor of being moderator of her speech and of introducing her. I arrived in Kenya in 1941.

Dr. Ogola arrived there in 1958. I was delivered by a ship. Dr. Ogola was delivered by her Mother. Dr. Margaret is married to an African doctor and is the mother of six children. She is a pediatrician and has devoted her medical knowledge and her motherly love to the pro-life cause in Kenya. This requires faith and courage in a country which is being forced by Western countries to practice contraception and abortion as a condition for receiving financial aid. In her lecture, delivered in flawless English, she described the difference between adolescence in Africa and in Europe.

Adolescence

In Europe, Adolescence continues into the twenties. In Africa it cease during the teens, when girls become wives and mothers and assume the duties of being parents. One of the tragic consequences of the intrusion of Western “culture” she dwelt on at length is the invasion of the contraception mentality into Kenya. She said that, while it is sometimes very difficult to find aspirins or syringes in the country districts, condoms can be found even in the most remote areas and free of charge. Abortions, which were unknown when I was in Kenya twenty five years ago, are now par for the course. Dr. Margaret has authored two books: 1. Educating in Human Love (co-authored with her husband, Dr. George Ogola), 2. The River and the Source. It is a very interesting novel regarding family life in Kenya.

One of the most interesting talks was that given by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. The Rabbi, who is a dynamic speaker was born in South Africa but now lives in the United States. He is the founder of an organization called “Towards Tradition.” It is a coalition of Christians and Jews, united by a common ethical and political vision. His subject was “The Origin and Destiny of Marriage and the Family.” He kept the large audience on the edge of our seats by the dynamism of his presentation, which was interspersed with humor.

I heard so many languages being spoken during the Conference that I took the trouble to find out from what parts of the world people had come. Here is a list, which may not be complete: – The Philippines, India, Mexico, United States, Italy, Spain, Germany, from all across Canada and thirty people from Uruguay.

Just imagine the organizing expertise which was required to make this conference the success it certainly was!

The students

I would be very remiss if I did not mention the great contribution made during the Conference by the students of Hawthorn and Northmount Schools. These very efficient teenagers – both boys and girls – were always on hand to direct people who had taken the trouble to find out where every place was and the easiest way to get there. In fact, without them the hotel could have become something like Yonge Street during lunch hour.

I have to confess that sometimes do not get a great deal of help from the talks given at these conferences. But what I consider one of their great contributions to our cause is the meeting of so many other people who are truly dedicated to the real good of society and are prepared to travel long distances and a great deal of expense to improve their knowledge and show their support.

One never needs to be introduced to anyone else at these wonderful gatherings.

We are all friends by the mere fact that we are there. I would like again to express our gratitude to all the organizers of the event and hope that it will not be the last.