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CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER PROMOTES ABORTION AT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Appearance was Arranged to Support Local Liberal Candidate

BARRIE, Nov 1 (LSN.ca) - Prime Minister Jean Chretien was appealing to the Catholic vote in Ontario last week as he spoke at a Catholic high school in Barrie. Asked a question on abortion by one student Chretien responded by identifying himself as a "Roman Catholic" and then proceeding to defend a pro-abortion position. Speaking at St. Joseph's Catholic High School on Oct 30, Chretien said, "For me, I'm a Roman Catholic. Personally, I don't have to, you know, I'm not at the age anymore to have my wife have abortion, but the reality ... is that it is the choice of not the husband to decide in my judgment, it is the judgment of the woman according to the values that this person have."

LifeSite contacted the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board which was responsible for allowing the pro-abortion politician to speak to the school's students. Dianne Legg, Communications Officer for the board told LifeSite that there was no consideration given to Chretien's stand on abortion when he was allowed to speak at the school. Rather the appearance was welcomed to "provide support to the local Liberal candidate of Barrie."

Legg told LifeSite she was present at Chretien's talk with the students. When asked if the board was concerned that Catholic students were given such bad example since Chretien had called himself Catholic and went on to promote abortion, Legg responded that they not focused on that issue and that it was "a wonderful experience." When asked if there was any remedial action taken by school officials to clarify that Catholics must be pro-life, she responded that no such action was planned and said, "you are focusing only on one part . . . we focused on the whole event . . . it was a positive educational experience for students."

Legg noted that she was not aware of any complaints to the school or school board about the incident.

(with quotes from the Halifax Daily News Oct 31 and the Victoria Times Colonist Nov 1)

To express concerns to the school trustees contact
Maura Bolger
29 Garrett Crescent,
Barrie Ontario
L4M 5K7
(705)728-3304


Paul Tremblay
81 Little Lake Road,
Barrie, Ontario
L4M 4Y8
(705)737-2580


or to contact the school:
Principal Brian Beal
ST. JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL
243 Cundles Road East
BARRIE, Ontario
L4M 6L1
Telephone: (705) 728-3120
Fax: (705) 728-7714

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