Abortionist Henry Morgentaler’s Halifax court appearance was a two-week tour-de-farce in the Theater of the Bizarre.
It opened with Morgentaler huddled outside the courthouse in a baby blue ‘Linus’ type blanket worn over his raincoat. It ended with his day-long pontification and rambling schizophrenic testimony. And in between, he fell sound asleep in court. While others testified, he walked about the courtroom in his socks.
The judge hoped the case might conclude “before the end of the century.” And the Crown said Morgentaler’s comments and charges were “more appropriate for a political forum.”
At times, Morgentaler seemed to be a witness for both the defense and prosecution. He claimed his ‘clinics’ have a safety record ten times better than any hospital in Canada,” but he admitted he locates them [abortuaries] near hospital “in case of major complications.”
He vaingloriously boasted about his 20-year abortion-peddling career and bemoaned the attacks on him by anti-abortion groups. He told how he survived the Nazi Holocaust. He told how he has committed 70,000 abortions. It cost him $100,000 to stop the picketing at his Toronto “clinic.” “It was a terrible ordeal with taunts, jeers and insults,” he said. “Anti-abortion fanatics” even put “crazy glue in the lock.”
Seated beneath the Nova Scotia flag, emblazoned with the Cross of St. Andrew, Morgentaler attacked the “religious dogma” of anti-abortion Christians. His feelings were hurt that the Nova Scotia government had ignored letters he wrote.
“I was insulted. I was rebuffed. Stunned and appalled. Surprised they would stoop so low to increase the pain and suffering and hardship of women,” he ranted.
“My clinics,” he stated, “are the flagships of clinics,” where nurses provide “hand-holding during abortions and “tea and cookies after.” Elaborate tests and work-ups before abortions, he declared, are a waste of money.
He made wild claims, tossed out amazing ad lib numbers and warned of terrible dangers. “The risk of traveling to the Montreal clinic in winter poses a risk ten times greater than the procedure itself.” An abortion “at 16 weeks is five times as dangerous as at eight weeks.” The dangers are increased “20 to 30 per cent each week.” Doctors need “special skills” to perform late-term abortions.
Low profile
Pro-life groups kept a low profile during the trial. “We made sure we didn’t give him the media circus he wanted every day outside the courthouse,” said Cynthia Haughn of Campaign Life Coalition Nova Scotia. “Without the pickets and protesters he was a ringmaster without his circus,” said Mrs. Haughn.
Cancellations
All pro-life groups were “greatly encouraged” by trial testimony that revealed that seven women cancelled abortions at the Halifax clinic because of pro-life protests and picket lines.
“It’s such a comfort to know we have saved even one life,” said Ann Marie Tomlins, executive director of Council for Life Nova Scotia. “If his clinic ever re-opens again, we’ll be there to picket every single day,” she added.
Cynthia Haughn told The Interim, “Picketers aren’t needed at the trial because Morgentaler’s own testimony and defense is the best protest we could ever offer.” And even before this strange defense began, the Halifax trial had a bizarre touch. The judge offered to quit! Judge Joseph Kennedy said he is Roman Catholic. “I didn’t want to get two or three weeks into the trial and have it said I haven’t fully disclosed,” he said. Judge Kennedy stated that although his religious background may cause consternation among some people’ it would not affect his judgment.
