Henry Morgentaler was named to the Order of Canada this past week. The office of Governor General Ms. Michaelle Jean justified the award based on Morgentaler’s “commitment to increased health care options for women, his determined efforts to influence Canadian public policy and his leadership in humanist and civil liberties organizations.”
What Morgentaler is, is an abortionist. He is credited with single-handedly pushing abortion rights into the national arena by his opening of an abortion clinic in Montreal in 1969. He has spent time in prison, endured legal difficulties, and always maintained active in the abortion rights campaign. He received a vindication of sorts when, in January or 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the anti-abortion provisions in the Criminal Code.
Rhetoric about choice, privacy, bodily rights, or back-alley abortions all do not alter the scientific reality that human life is contained within the womb of the pregnant mother.
I agree with those who have suggested that in this instance the committee (which oversees the process of nominating candidates, and then sends the names on to the Ms. Jean for assent) has exploited the award to validate their own ideological bent rather than promoting a Canadian who is respected and admired by the majority of Canadians, and I would strongly recommend you let Ms. Jean know of your own displeasure.
Kelly Wilson
July 4, 2008 at 8:45 pm
“exploited the award to validate their own ideological bent rather than promoting a Canadian who is respected and admired by the majority of Canadians” is an unjustified assertion on several counts:
where is the evidence that the majority of Canadians do not respect and admire this person?
where is the evidence that the committee have an “ideological bent”?
and “I would strongly recommend you let Ms. Jean know of your own displeasure” is hardly a balanced statement, is it?
July 4, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I would quote National Post’s editorial on the subject “Dr. Morgentaler’s cause doesn’t enjor unanimous approval in our society. It doesn’t even enjoy majority support.” The Winnipeg Free Press: “Recipients should not be people whose views are anathema to half the country. They should not be the kind of Canadians whose conduct alienates and offends some of the best citizens and institutions in the country.” The Montreal Gazette: “We believe that anyone who has become a public symbol of any side of a seriously divisive issue should not be named ot the Order.” From the Calgary Herald: “One could hardly imagine a more divisive gesture than awarding the Order of Canada to Dr. Henry Morgentaler.”
These are hardly bastions of anti-abortion sentiments, in fact none are, but all recognize Morgentaler as a controversial figure, and therefore not one that should be awarded.
The ideological bent would be seen in his appointment despite the very negative reaction that his appointment would cause. And I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that an overarching partisan determination is at place in the selection process, however, Morgentaler’s only legacy is that of abortion rights support so it’s hard to see how the court would be honouring anything but this. Am I missing something?
Finally, you don’t like my statement about letting Ms. Jean know about displeasure. I don’t know how to address the “balanced” claim. This is a comment piece. I try to be fair to those I disagree with, and portray their viewpoints in an accurate manner. When 92% or GlobeandMail poll participants (307, 335 citizens) vote than he should not have been awarded, and recognizing the risks behind trusting polls too dearly, my recommendation does not seem to unreasonable does it?
I note you leave alone my claim about how the scientific reality that human exists in the mother’s womb trumps questions of privacy, bodily rights, choice and back-alley abortions.
Thank you however for your first comment. I look forward to more.
July 4, 2008 at 10:19 pm
[...] and moral level.” I also am in profound agreement with Kelly (read his comments here): “the committee…has exploited the award to validate their own ideological [...]
July 5, 2008 at 9:09 am
My apologies, I had assumed that balance (impartial reporting from a neutral standpoint) was a necessary part of the discussion. I normally tend to avoid blogs because I expect all public reporting to be neutral, and apparently I am right to do so.
I accept that you have sufficient evidence for the first two statements. On topics such as abortion, euthanasia, homosexual relationships and other “morality matters” generally, I dislike emotive and unbalanced reports from wherever they come, whether “pro” or “anti” the topic. My personal opinions are my own, and not to be swayed by any other opinion whatever its source. Thank you for providing the relevant supporting information I asked for.
July 5, 2008 at 9:55 am
Well, impartial reporting is a necessary for discussion. The facts surrounding Morgentaler’s appointment are just those, facts. Because this isn’ a newsite, but a comment one, I offer my own interpretation of what I believe the significance of such a story to be. And that is a discussion part. And as far as neutrality is concerned, the very act of selecting a piece of news deviates from neutrality.
I didn’t realize this piece was emotive or unbalanced (perhaps you aren’t saying it is), in fact I imagine I could find you a lot worse. Your personal opinions may be your own, and mine mine, but so long as my statement about the scientific reality that a pregnant mother’s womb carries human life is true, it would be wrong to suppose that there was any sort of way we could be satisfied with allowing abortion to continue without any limitations.
Thank you again for your comments.
July 5, 2008 at 11:46 pm
As per the blog’s request, I have sent a letter to the Governor General asking her to reject the request to make Morgantaler a member of the Order of Canada. The text of the letter reads as follows:
Excellency,
As a concerned Canadian citizen, I ask that you reject the recommendation that the abortionist and abortion-rights crusader Henry Morgentaler be awarded the Order of Canada. I am only one of many Canadians who believe that human rights should be extended to human life that is in utero, and am one of many who believe that Morgantaler’s work has dramatically violated these lives’ human rights. Dr. Morgantaler divides Canadians not only by his work but also by his disdainful commentary about those who hold contrary views regarding the rights of human beings in utero. This commentary has been insulting, demeaning, marginalizing, and not at all in keeping with the spirit of respect and tolerance which we so often commend in other members of the Order of Canada. Excellency, you are the only person with the authority to prevent this man from receiving the nation’s highest honour over the distress and protest of millions of Canadians, hardly an insubstantial minority to be ignored as in the worst days of intolerance and bigotry in this nation’s history. Please honour these Canadians by not affronting the Order of Canada for millions; reject the request for Dr. Morgantaler to be admitted as a member of the Order of Canada.
Sincerely,
…
July 7, 2008 at 7:22 am
Excellent article, Kelly! I myself was outraged, and had I ever been so honored to receive the Order of Canada, I would now be one of those to return it. If we can give an award to a man who kills children for a living, then in reality, the Order of Canada has come to mean nothing! Therefor, of what use is it? The whole country has been dishonored in this appointment. Lets hope the committe will listen to the majority of people and make this right! Kate
July 7, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Amen to all your article says Kelly!
July 7, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Jesse ( my nephew) recommended your piece. Very well spoken Kelly! As a Canadian I feel shamed! Our Order of Canada now means NOTHING!! So much for pride and nationalism! Shame, shame!
December 10, 2008 at 12:24 pm
[...] the appointment of abortionist Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada (you can read about it here), a dozen or so well known Canadian Catholics, have returned the Award that was previously given [...]