In this morning’s Assorted Links, we noted:
The Toronto Star reports that a manger display on city property provided by Gethsemane Ministries and paid for by “the Catholic wing” of Campaign Life Coalition had to taken down signage that acknowledged CLC’s support and that it was donated “in honour of Pro Life hero Fr. Ted Colleton.”
Doug Macdonald, a 35-year-old Torontonian, did not have a problem with the religious display but complained to the city that the sponsorship by Campaign Life Coalition and the recognition of Fr. Ted Colleton (a former Interim columnist). The municipal permit for the display did not allow for the inclusion of this messaging, but as Gethsemane Ministries founder Suresh Dominic said it is typical to acknowledge donors who make such displays possible. I agree with Dominic that this was not a political message (even if CLC is involved in politics) and it is disturbing that someone had a problem with the message.
Not that Dominic is quoted saying it, but there is no more pro-life message than Christmas — see our December editorials in 1989 or or 2006 or 2008. Furthermore, while abortion is sometimes a political issue, it is not merely a political issue. Just like anti-poverty messaging can be political (increase welfare payments now!) or awareness raising (help out your fellow man), not every mention of abortion is necessarily political.
