"Revoke the award and change Governor General's Order of Canada advisory council," say protestors
OTTAWA, July 9 2008 - "Revoke the award, absolutely no question - but it is not enough," said spokesperson Angelina Steenstra.
Today, in front of the Governor General's residence, hundreds of people gathered to protest the Order of Canada award to Henry Morgentaler, and the conflictive interest with the revocation process.
Steenstra, speaking on behalf of Campaign Life Coalition, and as co-founder of "Silent No More", a post-abortion outreach, stated that, "... the very advisory council that recommended Henry Morgentaler receive the award, also evaluates requests for its revocation. That is unacceptable; this obvious conflict of interest must change," said Steenstra.
She added that giving the highest Canadian award to an individual who, for 40 years, has earned his living - not by saving babies, but by aborting them - causes national division. "Henry Morgentaler has not consoled the thousands of Canadian mothers and fathers who are still suffering... and he is unrepentant."
She insisted that if the Governor General does not appoint an independent council to handle the revocation process, then the Prime Minister and members of parliament must ensure that a change take place. Steenstra argued, "Without this change, the same division could arise again next year."
"Abortion is always divisive, it tears the mother and father from the child and, it tears the fabric of our nation," said Steenstra.
For further information: Campaign Life Coalition - Toronto: (416) 204-9749; Campaign Life Coalition - Ottawa: (613) 729-0379