Across Canada

Record set straight on MAP

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – In a letter to the editor of Medical Post magazine, Dr. H. Robert Pankratz of the Physicians for Life organization has set the record straight on the misinformation surrounding the “morning after pill” and “emergency contraception kits.” Pankratz said it wasn’t his understanding that the MAP prevents or delays ovulation, as stated in an earlier Post article by Dr. Anita Nelson of the University of California at Los Angeles. Instead, the predominant effect of the MAP is the disturbance of the normal development and function of the endometrium so as to make it unsuitable for implantation. “Clearly, the morning after pill then is abortifacient, regardless of claims to the contrary,” he said.

Morgentaler loses manager

FREDERICTON, N.B. – After six years, the manager of the Morgentaler Clinic here is leaving – to pursue a writing career. Alison Brewer, who has been involved with the abortuary since its planning stages, said the day-to-day functions of the abortuary defied description. “It was difficult, but it was so gratifying that the difficulties were easy to overcome,” she said. Brewer, a pro-abortion activist before she became abortuary manager, considers Morgentaler one of Canada’s greatest heroes. “I’ve always been in awe of his commitment and his ability to move things forward in terms of access for women,” she claimed.

Kitchener PP moving

KITCHENER, Ont. – Waterloo’s Region’s Planned Parenthood is moving to a new building where, it is claimed, women will feel “less vulnerable” to “harassment” from anti-abortion demonstrators. It is appealing for $25,000 from supporters to help with the move and extensive renovations to the new site. Executive director Donna Randall claimed her office has seen protesters and hate literature. Two to four protesters apparently picket routinely outside the current building. Randall said PP is “delighted” to find space at the Rotary Community Resoruce Village, a five-storey building that houses offices for charitable groups.

Officer’s appeal rejected

DELTA, B.C. – Three judges of the B.C. Court of Appeal have rejected an application by a Delta police officer to have a disciplinary decision of the B.C. Police Commission against him set aside. Constable Steven Parker had been given a five-day suspension without pay for unauthorized use of a police computer system after he checked licence plates associated with a Vancouver abortuary. Parker said disciplinary hearings began after the statutory time limit set out under the B.C. Police Act, but the judges disagreed. He said he destroyed information associated with the plate numbers, and did not pass it on to anyone else.

Protestants back school religion

MONTREAL – Twenty-seven Protestant denominations in the province of Quebec are standing united against a task force recommendation to take religion out of schools. The Protestant Partnership on Education, which speaks for more than 350,000 Quebec Protestants, wants Parliament to convene a special commission to debate the task force’s recommendations. Religion, said the partnership, is being defined by the task force “in the narrowest possible manner” and excludes belief from public debate. “This thinking is itself an ideology and has the effect of appearing intolerant of diversity,” it said. More than 91,000 Protestants in 331 schools form nine per cent of the total school population.

Pro-life family needs help

VANCOUVER – The adoptive father of abortion survivor Ximena Renaerts, as well as of many special-needs children, has been diagnosed with Gullain-Barre syndrome, which results in paralysis and dependence on a respirator. Bert Renaerts has been in an intensive care unit, and Physicians for Life has issued a nationwide call for prayer for the family. Ximena was born in December 1985 following a failed abortion attempt. Vancouver General Hospital, after putting her through a gruelling legal battle, last year paid Ximena an undisclosed amount as a settlement. The family as a whole was presented with Alliance for Life’s Kurelek Award.

Photos of stillborns spark outcry

QUEBEC CITY – Feelings of disbelief and indignation are reported to have met the news that nurses have photographed stillborn infants with their anguished parents. A recent newspaper reproduction showed a visibly distressed 23-year-old woman lying on a hospital bed holding the stillborn child she had delivered just moments earlier. The woman said she was told the photo would help her deal with the pain of the death.