Newfoundland government may pander to pro-abortion activists in attempt to stifle the freedom of speech of pro-lifers
St. John's, June 24, 2016 – In a quarter century of peaceful protest in Newfoundland, there has never been a need to arrest pro-life demonstrators. Recently, pro-lifers in St. John’s are drawing fire from pro-abortion activists for their peaceful picketing outside the Athena Health Centre, a facility that does abortions. Under pressure from the abortion industry, Justice Minister Andrew Parsons is considering making it illegal to protest outside an abortion facility. Evidently, he thinks it’s permissible to violate free speech rights of pro-lifers and corral them away from offering women an alternative choice, a choice to choose life for their pre-born children.
“For 25 years, pro-life Newfoundlanders have been holding peaceful prayer vigils outside this abortuary. Now our government is yielding to the abortion industry in accusing them of harassment,” said Margie Hynes, president of CLC Newfoundland (CLCN). “What has our province come to, that our politicians view photos of cute babies and statements like “choose life” or “love them both” as forms of harassment, but the killing of babies is perfectly fine?”
“Inside the Athena Health Centre and in other facilities across Canada, defenseless babies are being torn to pieces in their mother’s womb, and yet peaceful pro-lifers holding signs are the villains and wrong doers?” said Mary Ellen Douglas, national organizer for Campaign Life Coalition. “This is an attack on the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression of those who speak out against this atrocity. The abortion industry only complains because every woman that walks away and decides to choose life is money lost.”
CLC Newfoundland believes that the right to life, and freedom of speech and expression are keystones of our civil rights in Canada. CLC calls on members of the House of Assembly to respect the freedom of speech of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and to legally protect every human life from the time of conception until natural death.
About Campaign Life Coalition Newfoundland (CLCN)
Campaign Life Coalition Newfoundland is the provincial arm of Campaign Life Coalition, a national, pro-life organization working at all levels of government to secure full legal protection for all human beings from the time of conception (fertilization) to natural death. It is non-partisan. For more information visit www.campaignlifecoalition.com.
Media Contacts:
Margie Hynes, President, Campaign Life Coalition Newfoundland, 709-279-3580
Mary Ellen Douglas, National Organizer, Campaign Life Coalition 613-389-4472
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