Politics
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Thursday February 4, 1999
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PrintTRIAL OF ONTARIO PRO-LIFERS DELAYED
TODAY'S HEADLINES
Outcome unknown as grandmother remains locked up
TORONTO, Feb 4 (LSN) - Linda Gibbons, Ken Campbell and Anneliese Steden were arraigned in court on February 2, on charges of obstructing a peace officer. Outside the courthouse a pro-life picket was held with supporters witnessing for the preborn and praying for the success of the pro-life defendants. The three defendants pleaded not guilty.
Blaise McLean, the pro-life lawyer defending Linda, objected to the charge of obstruction. By refusing to charge the pro-lifers with the more serious charge of breaking the injunction, the Crown surreptitiously deprives Linda and the other pro-life defendants from challenging the constitutionality of the injunction. The pro-lifers, confident of success with a constitutional challenge, are taking on this injustice.
While Mrs. Steden and Rev. Campbell are out on bail, Linda remains in prison since she refuses to sign a bail condition promising not to return to the abortuary to protest on the day of release. The trial has been remanded until March 1st.
LifeSite has learned that the judge in the case, Gordon Hackburn is the same judge who made the controversial 1993 ruling which legalized lap dancing in Toronto strip clubs until his ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1997. Pro-lifers hope that his anti-family reputation will not negatively influence his decision in the case against the pro-lifers.
For more on Linda Gibbons see the LifeSite page:
http://www.lifesite.net/gibbons/index.html
Back to TopORIGINAL LATIMER PROSECUTOR FIRED
REGINA, Feb 4 (LSN) - Randy Kirkham, the Saskatchewan Crown prosecutor who dealt with Robert Latimer's original 1994 trial has been "terminated" from his job by the Saskatchewan Justice Department. Kirkham was charged in June 1996 for allegedly instructing police to ask prospective jurors about their views on mercy killing, abortion and religion. The questioning resulted in a mistrial. (A re-trial again found Latimer guilty of second-degree murder in the gassing death of his disabled 12-year-old daughter Tracy.)
In June 1998 Kirkham was found not guilty of obstructing justice in the first Latimer trial, and according to the Canadian Press his salary was reinstated at that time. The current termination of Kirkham has raised speculation that his anti-euthanasia views are disliked by his superiors. During the trial, he called Latimer's murder "cold and calculated," noting that Latimer had "sat there and timed and watched his daughter's death."
"MIRACULOUS" PRO-LIFE VICTORY IN EL SALVADOR
SAN SALVADOR, Feb 4 (LSN) - Yesterday, El Salvador completed the reform of its constitution, now recognizing the "human person as a human being from the instant of conception." Over a year ago the Legislative Assembly reformed the criminal code removing all exceptions to the criminalization of abortion. At that time the process to amend the constitution to protect life was begun.
In order for that constitutional change to go into effect, that amendment had to be approved in the next legislature by a margin of 2/3 -- a seemingly insurmountable challenge. However, after much prayer and hard work, Salvadoran pro-lifers were delighted to find a vote of 72-84, well above the required 56 votes to pass the measure. Pro-lifer sources in the country informed LifeSite that many legislators used Pope John Paul II's Mexican message to argue in favor of ratification of the constitution. The reform becomes official 8 days after it is published.
VENEZUELA'S NEW PRESIDENT CLAIMS TO BE PRO-LIFE
CARACAS, Feb 4 (LSN) - At his inaugural ceremonies Tuesday, Hugo Chavez the new President of Venezuela called himself pro-life. After a Mass celebrated for the event, President Chavez told the celebrant Archbishop Velasco that he had expressed before Pope John Paul II his "conviction that human life and human dignity must be defended and protected from the moment of conception." According to Catholic World News, Chavez, in a speech given while taking office referred to God as "the true Commander in Chief."
PARENTS OF SLAIN GAY YOUTH ASK ACTIVISTS NOT TO USE HIS DEATH
WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (LSN) - Following the murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old homosexual Wyoming student, gay activists immediately used the tragedy to push forward their agenda. US Attorney General Janet Reno jumped on the gay activist bandwagon using Shepard's death as an impetus to push for federal hate crime legislation. Pro-family leaders criticized the homosexualist lobby for exploiting Shepard's death for their own political objectives.
It appears that Shepard's parents share the same sentiment. The Associated Press reported today that Matthew Shepard's parents "say they don't want his death used by activists to further any political agenda." An interview with the parents is scheduled to air Friday on Dateline NBC.
BROTHELS LEGALIZED IN HOLLAND
AMSTERDAM, Feb 4 (LSN) - On Tuesday, Dutch political leaders voted to legalize brothels. The ruling socialist party has claimed that sanctioning the houses of ill repute will lead to less exploitation of women. Two thousand brothels will receive licenses, register their prostitutes, and pay taxes on their businesses in the year 2000, reported Catholic World News. Final approval from the upper house is expected.
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