E-Update below for 23 October, is courtesy of
Alberta Pro-Life Association.
LaRee Pickup, Provincial Director
Email: apl@albertaprolife.com
Tel: (780) 929-9230

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E-Update - October 23, 2008

Pro-lifer will appeal his decision on withholding taxes over abortion

PEI resident David Little will be in court on October 24 to appeal an earlier ruling by the Court of Queen’s Bench in New Brunswick. Mr. Little, who used to live in New Brunswick, has not filed income tax since 1999 as a protest against tax-funded abortion which he argues violates his religious freedom as a Roman Catholic. Earlier this week he told the Globe and Mail: "When I finally took the decision to embrace courage and fight the federal government, it was because I could no longer look myself in the mirror and ask the question: Who am I to pray for life and pay for death?" Mr. Little says he will appeal his case to the Supreme Court of Canada if necessary and he is confident that he will win his constitutional challenge. Lawyer and left-wing activist Clayton Ruby told the newspaper that there is little hope for this case. As reported in the Globe and Mail, he said, “the freedom-of-religion defence cannot be based on one person's ‘idiosyncratic interpretation’ of a church's teaching, noting the difference between that and the more broad-based Sikh requirement to wear a turban, or the Hutterite opposition to photographs. ‘The church must have this as a stricture that must be followed,’ he said. ‘The Catholic Church does not.’” That would be news to Pope Benedict XVI and to most faithful Catholics throughout the world.

UBC Okanagan campus pro-life club loses in Supreme Court of BC

John Hof, Campaign Life Coalition BC, sends this report: “In a decision that could act as a green light for student unions to censor other pro-life clubs in BC and perhaps the rest of Canada, Justice Wong of the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled against a petition brought on behalf of two pro-life students at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus. The students were seeking to overturn a BC Human Rights Commission decision to dismiss the students' complaint that the student union acted in a discriminatory fashion in refusing to ratify a pro-life club on campus. The matter was deferred to a special general meeting at which members of the student body voted to deny the group club status. Justice Wong determined that the Tribunal's decision to dismiss the complaint brought against UBCSUO was not inappropriate, arbitrary, or based on irrelevant facts. He cited the use of offensive material - namely a film and pamphlet originating from the Centre for Bioethical Reform's 'Genocide Awareness Project - on the part of Students for Life as appropriate justification for the refusal of club status. In even more damaging language, Justice Wong declared that the boundaries of the right to religious expression needed to be clearly established in order to prevent the situation in which secular students are forced to fund activities that they may find offensive. He gave no consideration to the argument that pro-life students are currently forced to pay student union fees, many of which go to fund activities and ideals that they find offensive. To make matters even worse, the defendants in the case, the student union, now have the option of holding the plaintiffs, two young nursing students, financially responsible for some of the legal costs incurred. It remains to be seen if the well-funded student union will exercise that option and force the two young students to pay out of pocket.”

Parents accompany their son to Swiss suicide clinic

A British couple disclosed last week that they accompanied their 23-year-old son to a Swiss suicide clinic where he died. Mark and Julie James said their son Dan, a rugby player who was paralyzed in March 2007 during a game, found his life “unbearable” and had tried to kill himself three times. They said he was not prepared to live what he described as a “second-class existence.” His mother criticized the person who reported their actions to police. "Our son could not have been more loved and had he felt he could live his life this way he would have been loved just the same but this was his right as a human being, nobody but nobody should judge him or anyone else,'' she told the The Daily Telegraph. The newspaper said the family was being investigated by the police. They could be charged with aiding and abetting a suicide although no one has ever been convicted before. At least 100 Britons have travelled to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to die.

Let’s get 100,000 signatures on this UN petition

Three weeks ago, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, C-FAM, launched its Petition for the Unborn Child to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, Human Rights Day around the world. As C-FAM president Austin Ruse explained then, “This will be a very big deal at UN headquarters in New York. The opponents of the unborn child will be out in force. We expect they will present petitions to the General Assembly asking for an explicit right to abortion. Those agitating for this are the largest, richest and deadliest abortion groups in the world: International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International.” As of Monday, October 20, 46,417 people have signed the petition and Austin Ruse is now hoping to hit 100,000. Download the petition from C-FAM and get it signed by friends, neighbours, church communities, youth groups and anyone else you can think of and encourage others to do the same. Go to http://www.cfam.org/publications/id.95/default.asp.

Last chance to apply for sponsorships for Medical Students’ forum

Tomorrow is the last day to submit an application for sponsorship to the Medical Students’ for Life forum on November 22 - 23, 2008 at Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster, Ontario. This is a terrific event hosted by Canadian Physicians for Life. Pro-life medical students and residents who are interested in deepening their understanding of the life issues and who want to acquire the knowledge, the skills, and the courage to defend the pro-life ethic in the medical profession are invited to apply for sponsorship to attend this event. You can get more information on the forum, the sponsorships and download an application form at www.physiciansforlife.ca. Completed applications must be received in the office by October 24, 2008. You can also contact: KC McLean, Communications and Events Coordinator, 613-728- LIFE (5433) or at info@physiciansforlife.ca. Pass this message on to medical students you know who might be interested in attending.

Don’t get tricked by UNICEF Halloween candy

If you are buying Halloween candy this week, please read the packages carefully. UNICEF has stopped using the trick or treat boxes for children but many candy manufacturers are supporting UNICEF through their sales. UNICEF does much good work in developing countries but unfortunately, it also supports the pro-abortion agenda of many United Nations organizations and International Planned Parenthood. Go to http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.604/pub_detail.asp to read about their most recent involvement promoting abortion. Many of the bags of chocolate bars and other treats available now in stores for Halloween have a small UNICEF logo on the package. See the September issue of The Rose for a sample of the logo. (It is online at www.albertaprolife.com. See story on page 9.) Please avoid these treats. You might also want to write the manufacturer to explain why you did not buy their product. Also, many schools will be doing UNICEF projects for Halloween so keep tabs your school’s Halloween projects.

Ice Cream Sundaes

Come and celebrate National Child Day of Canada on Thursday, November 20th, with make-your-own sundaes for the whole family! The Back Porch, an Edmonton-based ministry across from the Morgentaler Clinic, is hosting this fundraiser to support their work helping women who are reconsidering their decision to abort. Join us in the Holy Family Parish hall at 75 Poirier Ave, St. Albert. The fun will begin at 6:30 p.m., with face painting for the kids, a presentation for parents, and ice cream for all. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. For more information call 780-421-99

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