Tale of Two Bishops

.

                                 (Archbishop Predergast leading his flock.)

.
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast has reaffirmed his support for the National March For Life, despite the probable use of graphic images by some attendees. This comes on the heels of a statement by Archbishop Richard Smith announcing the Alberta bishops boycott of the provincial March For Life, as a protest against the use of graphic images of abortion.

Who is being a true shepherd? Can both be right?

I think if we read the balanced approach of Archbishop Prendergast we recognize that he not only supports lay people and the fight against abortion but also freedom of expression and an openminded approach to advocacy for the unborn. Contrasted with Archbishop Smith's ultimately damaging approach, Ottawa would seem to have a more trusting and trust worthy shepherd.

The Alberta bishops are particularly unhelpful and disappointing. The prolife youth in Alberta have recently been in legal difficulties at the Univ. of Calgary for using graphic images in their advocacy. The Alberta bishops are behaving as if they are too delicate to be able to understand an approach they find personally upsetting. They admit that the organizers of the Alberta MFL have not refused to guarantee no graphic images will be used, but simply cannot guarantee it. Still they boycott. They make a pretense of having serious philosophical problems with the display of graphic images, such that they cannot bear to be associated with them - that it would be WRONG to do so. This is confusing, since they say they are not interfering with the attendance of the March by their flock . Is it wrong or not?

Compared to Archbishop Prendergast's approach, the Alberta bishops look suspiciously like they are being only politically correct. Not wanting to judge the bishops, I admit there's a possibility they are merely being naive. Perhaps they are not aware that their boycott gives power to advocates FOR abortion and will be used against the ecumenical lay efforts of their community. (Can they be so naive?)

Who knows why dioceses of Canada that need particular help with faithfulness, have bishops who bring mixed messages at best.

Let us hope and pray that Canada receives the help of more and more bishops like Archbishop Terrence Prendergast (Ottawa) and Archbishop Thomas Collins (Toronto) - because Canada could surely use an upgrade in Catholic teaching and practice.

.

March For Life 2010 Ottawa : BE THERE!

(h/t SoCon )

Love In Action - Ottawa

Desspite 30 + years of the media and politicians telling us that the subject is closed, folks continue to discuss abortion. People of faith continue to pray for babies , mothers and fathers killed and damaged by abortion.

Deborah Gyapong has the latest from Ottawa:

...What a joy of course to see Ottawa's Roman Catholic Archbishop Terrence Prendergast standing in front of the Civic with an "Abortion hurts women" sign, he was praying silently as were the others who lined both sides of the street.

My Anglican Catholic Bishop for Ontario and Quebec was standing on the median with an "Abortion kills children" sign. Lots of folks from our mightly little Annunciation parish were out in force...

(h/t big blue wave)

2nd Baby Saved on Bank St.

40 Days For Life - Ottawa, has saved their 2nd baby in just two weeks!






From Sue:

This morning I decided to go down to the vigil from 11am to 12pm. When I arrived, there were several people praying and a few women holding signs. As I stood and prayed, around 11:30 or so I noticed a young girl of about fifteen sitting on the bench outside 65 Bank St. She was all alone, and looked across the streets at the signs, looking at them one at a time. At one point, our eyes met and she kept looking at me. I smiled, but all I could think was, "Dear Lord, please don't let her go in there." I thought that I would give her some literature - something I have never done before, but suddenly felt compelled to do. As I was looking through the materials in the baby cradle at the vigil site, a man approached and asked what we were doing and what church we were from. After I explained to him the purpose of the vigil and we ended our conversation, I looked up to see the young girl going into 65 Bank St. with a woman who had a child of about four years of age in tow. My heart sank. I prayed that the Lord would move in her heart to convince her to not go through with this, and that the guardian angels of her and her unborn baby would intervene.

I left to go to Mass at St. Patrick's and the gospel was "Ask and it will be given to you...." I prayed, "Lord, here I am - I'm asking that you would spare the life of this child." I chatted with a couple of friends after Mass, one of whom I hadn't seen in three years. She offered to drive me home, but I told her I was happy to take the bus, at the same time feeling that before I went home I had to stop by the vigil site again.

I arrived shortly before 1pm, and I ran into my husband who was returning from lunch. As we chatted briefly, about ten metres from the vigil site, this same young girl walked out of the clinic and right past us with the woman and preschooler. I told my husband that I had seen her go in the clinic earlier, and given the time that had passed, I assumed that she had had an abortion. My husband and I both silently prayed a Hail Mary, then talked for a few more minutes. Then I noticed that the girl and her companions had walked back down the street, had stopped to talk to the ladies who were praying at the vigil site, and then walked away. I said good-bye to my husband and walked over to the ladies to ask what she had said. They told me that the girl had said that she changed her mind, and that she was going to keep her baby. It turns out that the woman was her mother, and that she has five children, but that she would help her daughter with this baby. They were quite happy when they talked to the women at the vigil.

Needless to say, we were all in tears. Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers! What a wonderful privilege to see our prayers answered.

Please keep praying! All those prayers, and the silent witness of standing at the vigil, are making a difference. Please pray for this young girl - God knows who she is - and for all others who have the courage to carry on with pregnancies in less than ideal circumstances.

There will be a MIDPOINT RALLY on site (65 Bank St, corner of Bank and Sparks) on October 19th from 2pm-3pm. Mark it on your calendars! There will be some speakers and refreshments provided! Please spread the word! The details of the Closing Rally will be announced soon for November 2nd!



Now, Stephen Harper, saving babies is something to be proud and excited about!

500 Kick-Off '40 Days For Life' in Ottawa

from Marcel Arsenault, Halifax:

(LifeSiteNews)

"..The 40 Days for Life campaign in Ottawa has received the support of Ottawa Archbishop Terrance Prendergast. Anyone in other cities can join in the Ottawa-based campaign by committing to prayer and fasting for the next 40 days (September 24th to November 2).

It is hoped that the 40 Days for Life effort will also inspire people to renew their enthusiasm to stand up for life at next year's March for Life on May 14, 2009 in Ottawa. The theme for next year's March is Exodus 2009 and marks the 40th year since the law was changed in Canada to permit abortion. Exodus will include a pilgrimage to Ottawa leading up to the March for Life and prominent guests in recognition of the significance of the 40 years of abortion in Canada.

Last night's Ottawa rally was attended by numerous priests and religious as well as lay people who were inspired to come to start the prayer campaign. For the next 40 days there will be a constant prayer presence outside of the Morgentaler Ottawa abortuary. There is hope that the prayer will be able to be maintained every hour of every day outside of the abortuary. The signup sheet is filling rapidly, with many people calling the Campaign Life Coalition office in Ottawa (613-729-0379) to ask when they can go and what hours need to be filled..."

40 Days For Life