Politics
Wednesday September 3, 2008
Vatican Forces Pro-Abortion, Pro-Homosexual "Marriage" Catholic Priest From Canadian Politics
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By Tim Waggoner
OTTAWA, September 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Controversial Catholic priest and MP, Raymond Gravel, an adamant supporter of abortion and same-sex "marriage", has announced that he will be stepping down as Bloc MP of Repentigny in Quebec after being issued an ultimatum by the Vatican.
"My bishop received instructions from Rome and in effect I had to choose between the priesthood and my role as an MP. There was a threat of laicization and I could have been defrocked," Gravel told Cyberpresse.
He then explained that the Vatican's actions were influenced by several English-Canadians who complained to his superiors about his support for Morgentaler's appointment to the Order of Canada and his opposition to the Unborn Victims of Crime Bill, saying, "They complained about my positions that were avant-garde."
Similarly, in an eight-minute speech in the House of Commons earlier this year, Gravel claimed that he was misrepresented by LifeSiteNews.com, which he said instigated the complaints to his religious superiors. From the Official Hansard: "I get the feeling that comments made by two people, John-Henry Weston (sic) in LifeSiteNews.com and Mr. Jalzevac (sic), incited this taking up of arms." John-Henry Westen and Steve Jalsevac are the editor and managing director of LifeSiteNews.com, respectively.
After Morgentaler's appointment to the Order of Canada, LifeSiteNews.com reported on Gravel's comments supporting the prolific abortionist: "It does not belong to us to judge Dr. Henry Morgentaler by refusing him the distinction of the Order of Canada because of his fight for women who are living through the trauma of an unwanted pregnancy."
LifeSiteNews.com also reported on his opposition to Conservative MP Ken Epps' Bill C-484, which seeks to recognize wanted unborn children as separate crime victims when they are harmed or killed during criminal attacks against their mothers.
Pro-life leaders say that a victory has been won today with the removal of the controversial priest from politics.
"I am thankful that the wayward priest can no longer further anti-life ideals on a parliamentary level and hope that he will in the future align his beliefs with the church that he is supposed to represent," said Campaign Life Coalition president Jim Hughes.
It remains to be seen whether as a priest Fr. Gravel will be forbidden in his ministry to expound the strongly anti-Catholic views he promoted as a Member of Parliament and for which views he still does not appear to have any remorse.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Controversial Catholic Priest/Politician Defends Award to Arch-Abortionist Morgentaler
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08070811.html
Editorial: Canadian Catholic Priest Politician Condemns LifeSiteNews.com Founders in Parliament
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/mar/08030410.html
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