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| Patrick Hanlon of Pro-Life NL |
A recent statement from a pro-life group in our province is
worthy of further distribution. Many good points were made and it did serve as
a reference
point for some media
reporting on the recent controversy over Frank
Coleman.
Pro-Life NL statement on Frank
Coleman
Dear Editor: It was refreshing to hear of Frank Coleman's intentions to
seek the leadership of the Province. Being aware of his involvement in the
faith community and the pro-life movement, we were delighted that someone
principled was stepping forward.
However, his latest comments regarding not imposing his pro-life views
are a little puzzling.
While respecting diversity of practices and opinions is a noble thing,
the primary role of government is to ensure that certain standards are met and
reasonable limits are not exceeded. However, there is a gaping void in relation
to abortion, caused by Parliament's failure to take the 1988 Supreme Court's
invitation to draft a law restricting abortion which said it would be a
"perfectly valid legislative objective." Thus, Canada is in the
company of the human rights travesties of China and North Korea, the only other
nations without any restrictions on abortion.
This void has left our nation at the perils of the abortion industry
imposing itself upon its victims. Abortion is often imposed upon women who want
to give birth by unsupportive partners and others who bully and violently
coerce them to act against their own will. Abortion is imposed upon women by
the abortion industry, complete with private-for-profit clinics, that fails to
provide information about the risks and alternatives. Abortion is imposed on
those not legally old enough to consent to many actions, but can have one
without the knowledge of their guardians. Abortion is always imposed upon the
most vulnerable, up to nine months in gestation. The abortion mentality is
often imposed upon individuals who fear being lambasted by anti-lifers for
being a vocal representative of the silent majority.
The pro-life movement stands for human rights, especially the most
basic one of life. It seeks to help people make free and informed decisions.
These pro-life aims are virtually universally accepted as positive government
responsibilities, not negative impositions as some claim.
As Premier, Mr. Coleman has a role to play. A well formed conscience
does not allow for one view privately and another publicly. We have only one
soul that it with us in both realms. To whom much is given, much is expected.
We hope that Mr. Coleman's conscience will guide him in accepting the
responsibility and using the great influence he has been given. Ideally, we
would like him to abolish abortion completely in Newfoundland and Labrador as
it is in PEI. However, we know this may not be instantaneously achievable as
not every politician is principled.
We agree with Saint John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae 73 that says
"...when it is not possible to overturn or completely abrogate a
pro-abortion law, an elected official, whose absolute personal opposition to
procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at
limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences
at the level of general opinion and public morality." Mr. Coleman can be
assured of our continued prayers.
Patrick Hanlon, spokesperson,
Pro-Life NL
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