I thought I should have a meeting with an NDP member because I had written so many horrible things about them and possibly I didn’t understand their position on killing off the unborn, the handicapped (like Sue Rodriguez) and any old people who golfed over 120. (Their score not their age).
I was able to obtain a meeting with “Shamus McGroarty,” a first time elected Ontario New Democrat MPP. McGroarty had flunked in a rural riding that was so solidly Conservative the Tories regularly had their election victory party the night before the election.
I brought Father Ted Colleton along with me for moral support. McGroarty’s riding secretary waved us into the office. The MPP stood behind his desk and smiled waxily.
Father Ted introduced me and said that I was a fellow columnist for The Interim. Shamus replied: “Never heard of it and I wouldn’t read that rag anyway.”
“By the way I got your letter. I’m quite angry, Father. How dare you accuse me of not being ‘Catholic?’ Didn’t you see that full sized statue of Our Lady as you came in the door? Now that’s being Catholic – not afraid to show your faith.”
“You mean that big statue out there?” cried Father Ted. “It looks like it belongs in a church.”
“That’s where it came from,” replied McGroarty. “A very progressive pastor wanted to get rid of it. Why are you picking on me? I get to Mass every Sunday. I got married in the church – my kids all go to Catholic schools. I was picked by the pastor to carry the Christ Child statue up the aisle at the last Christmas Eve Mass to put it in the manger. And I just joined the Knights of Columbus. Boy, if I ain’t Catholic – what am I?”
“Don’t ask,” said Father Ted, his eyes glazed. “What’s this about you voting recently in favour of the same sex benefits Bill 167 after Archbishop Ambrozic denounced it in a letter to all the parishes in the archdiocese?”
“I had to vote with the Party.”
“What are you talking about McGroarty?” I interjected. “It was a free vote. Twelve other NDP members didn’t vote for it.”
“Listen!” cried McGroarty, “Did you come here just to badmouth me?”
“Now here on this list you’re shown voting in favour of a sexual orientation bill that would make it possible for homosexuals to adopt children,” said Fr. Ted.
“I had to vote with the Party. You guys never heard of party discipline?”
“Where do you get off, McGroarty, saying that abortion is a health service and not a criminal law issue?” asked Fr. Ted. “And where do you get off bragging about streamlining the process for licensing more abortion clinics? And bragging about providing travel funding for northern Ontario women in order to get an abortion? And trying to make a married couple out of two people living together who happen to be the same sex?”
“And what about you saying that ‘this is just the beginning,” I interjected. “And that ‘you were proud to be part of these exciting changes.”
“Why do you believe these terrible lies?”
“It’s all in this piece of literature that you sent your constituents. Isn’t that your signature?” Father Ted asked.
“McGroarty, haven’t you read the Vatican Declaration on Abortion that came out in 1974?” asked Father Ted.
“No,” said McGroarty.
“May I quote?” asked Father Ted. “’…A person may never obey an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law approving abortion in principle. He may not take part in applying the law nor may he vote for the law.’” Unquote. You’ve got to make up your mind, McGroarty, who you’re going to serve,” said Father Ted, getting up to leave, “Bob Rae or God?”
“God didn’t get me in on election day,” replied McGroarty. “Bob Rae did.”
“Well I’ve got news for you, McGroarty,” said Father Ted. “On Judgment Day – God will be judging you – not Bob Rae.”