Monday June 6, 2005
London, Ontario Catholic School Students' Pro-Life Demonstration Powerful, But Riles Some
LONDON, June 6, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The University of Western Ontario's controversial decision to give Canadian abortionist Henry Morgentaler an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at its June 16th convocation, continues to cause a stir. Among the growing opposition to this decision, student athletes of the London Catholic School board protested at a track and field meet at the UWO campus by wearing black wristbands.
"It sort of stands for all the (unborn) babies that have been killed in the moms' stomach," said 12 year-old Henry Peters, a long-distance runner.
The very powerful demonstration by the Catholic students has, however, raised the ire of some. Henry Svec, a psychologist who claims to be Catholic and runs a consultation service for educators and professionals, appeared Thursday on the CBC radio show, Ontario Morning, claiming that the London Catholic School board was using children for a private political agenda. "To me it's about . . . using children, adults and an organization using children to push their agenda," said Svec. That 'agenda' as Svec called it was the pro-life agenda which is supposed to be held by all Catholics.
Svec tried to present the issue as beyond the grasp of, and perhaps even injurious to the children participating in the track meet. "To suggest children have choice and can understand this whole issue of abortion . . . To suggest that children should be brought into this is absolutely ridiculous."
Svec also launched a personal attack on the professional judgement of Joe Rapai, the Catholic school board's education director. "I'm surprised that the director of education would have such a fundamental lack of knowledge about what children really need," said Svec.
Beyond that, Svec implied that Rapai was not telling the truth. The CBC interviewer noted that Mr. Rapai said parents approved of the demonstration. Svec retorted, "Well I think of course he's going to say that, but I think that obviously we need to talk to the parents as well."
Given Svec's venomous attacks listeners wondered about his motivation in railing against the wristband Morgentaler protest. However, after indicating his anti-Catholic bias, Svec's interest in the story became clearer. "Well it's no surprise that the Catholic school doesn't respect the rights of children, nor women, and I think that's another total issue," he said.
When allowed to speak for themselves, however, the students were more than capable of expressing the convictions that Dr. Svec insisted they were incapable of having. Nathan Vandersanden, who was running in the 1,500 metres yesterday, said, "This is just to say that abortions are wrong," he said of the wristbands. "All the parents decided to do this and I thought it was a pretty good idea."
Contact Dr. Svec:
London (519) 850-0464,
Chatham (519) 351-5518,
Sarnia (519) 337-7222
By email:
jhw/hw
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