Aborting Canada's Future

I don’t wish to be the ugly American, so please read my comments understanding that I am fully aware of America’s culpability with respect to abortion. This is only an observation regarding a news story involving our neighbor to the north.

In 1969, when Dr. Henry Morgentaler opened his first abortion clinic in Montreal, Canada, abortion was illegal. In that respect he was violating Canadian law. Or, put another way, Dr. Morgentaler was a law breaker and remained so for the better part of twenty years. It wasn’t until January 28, 1988 when the Supreme Court of Canada voted to legalize abortion that he operated legally.

Rather than use traditional legislative channels to make his pro-abortion case and to change the law, Dr. Morgentaler ignored the law–and made a small fortune in the process. It’s difficult for me to be swept along with the idea that his motives weren’t tainted by the promise of personal financial gain.

Today, Dr. Morgentaler is viewed by some as a “pioneer” and a “champion of women’s rights.” In a highly controversial move,

earlier this month the 85 year-old doctor was granted the coveted Order of Canada award–one of the highest honor offered in that country. This move has understandably outraged pro-life groups as well as those who view abortion as morally wrong. These Canadians cannot fathom why a man who dedicated his life to taking human life should receive such a high honor.

During a press conference about his Order of Canada award, Dr. Morgentaler dismissed his critics, saying, “The negative opinions all come from the usual suspects: the Catholic Church, fundamentalists, and women opposed to women’s rights.” You might want to read that again. Dr. Morgentaler made no attempt to admit that reasonable people might hold a difference of opinion about the fate of an unborn child. Such arrogance is frightening.

Imagine the outcry if, instead of blasting the Catholic church as one of the “usual suspects,” Dr. Morgentaler had aimed his criticism at Muslims or Jews or the homosexual lobby or just about any other group. You can bet that a firestorm of outrage would have blazed across the country. Evidently “fundamentalists” and the Catholic church are fair game for his ridicule.

That said, think about how curious this situation is: Canada has just honored a doctor who kills off the future generation of Canadians. What kind of sense does that make? Let’s set aside the moral issue of taking the life of a baby for a moment. From a purely economic position, every time an abortion is performed Canada loses another wage earner and taxpayer.

Wouldn’t it make more sense for Canada to honor those courageous individuals who defend the lives of all Canadians, whether born or pre-born?