TORONTO, July 22, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Fr. Sebastien Groleau President of Catholic Missions In Canada (CMIC), an organ of the Catholic Church and chaired by Toronto Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, has responded to concerns over his appointment of a former Ontario cabinet minister listed as ‘pro-abortion’ by a pro-life group to a high-profile post within the Catholic organization. Following a LifeSiteNews.com story which exposed former cabinet minister Tina Molinari’s controversial background, several pro-lifers and past donors to CMIC expressed their concerns to the organization. Rev. Groleau side-stepped the concerns expressed by pro-lifers over the appointment of Molinari, merely stating that CMIC does “not support any pro-abortion groups.” Groleau notes that he himself selected Molinari for the post and is very satisfied with his selection. “I chose Tina Molinari as our National Director of Development because I see in her the potential to help us grow as an organization supporting the missionary activity of the Catholic Church in the poor and remote areas of Canada. My position has not changed and Tina Molinari has my full support as she settles in her new position,” he wrote. Rev. Groleau insinuated in his letter that the pro-lifers who wrote him out of concern were themselves to blame for contravening the will of God - by being angry. Groleau quoted the Gospel of Matthew when Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill: and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment,” adding, “I trust you do not fall in the latter category.” Cyril Bagin contacted Fr. Groleau as a concerned Catholic who has in the past been involved in several fundraising drives for CMIC. After receiving the response from the CMIC President, Bagin told LifeSiteNews.com “When I first heard of the posting I was saddened that a Catholic organization that I supported would make such an inconsiderate decision. Now I am shocked to have the finger pointed back at me adding insult to injury.”
Bagin said he was not angry at anyone nor condemning anyone, if anything his sadness over the matter has only increased since Fr. Groleau’s letter. “It was sad enough that Miss Molinari could not understand that being personally opposed to abortion but refusing to act against it was not enough. Now, Rev. Groleau has indicated he can’t comprehend the scandal caused when a prominent public official who was known to be in support of abortion is given a highly placed position within a Catholic organization.” Bagin concluded, “I bet a former politician who was even tacitly in support of child abuse would not get promoted to a high profile post within CMIC. Why the discrimination against the unborn?” See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Catholic Missions in Canada Appoints “Pro-Abortion” Former Cabinet Minister to Leadership http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04071901.html Catholic Missions in Canada Employee Says Calling Her “Pro-Abortion” is Unfair http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04072001.html To express concerns to Cardinal Ambrozic: His Eminence Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic Archbishop of Toronto Catholic Pastoral Centre 1155 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M4T 1W2 Phone: (416) 934-0606 Fax: (416) 934-3452 spiritual@archtoronto.org jhw