By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

OTTAWA, January 12, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Governor General Michaëlle Jean has accepted the resignations of Father Lucien Larré and Mr. Renato Giuseppe from the Order of Canada, according to information published in the Canada Gazette on January 9.

Father Larré, a Catholic priest in British Columbia, returned his Order of Canada medal to the GG in July, 2008 as a protest against the appointment of abortionist Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the Order, saying that Morgentaler’s investiture into the highly prestigious Order was “a terrible mistake.”

Fr. Larré said at the time he did not want to “condemn” Dr. Morgentaler, but felt “compelled in conscience to return my Order of Canada.” He added, “I believe in my heart that he is horribly wrong and the advisory committee made a terrible mistake.”

Founder of the Bosco Centers in Saskatchewan in the 1970s and ’80s, Fr. Larré was awarded his Order of Canada in 1983 for his tireless work with emotionally disturbed and addicted adolescents.

The Governor General has also accepted the resignation of Mr. Renato Giuseppe Bosisio, an engineering professor at the University of Montreal.

Mr. Bosisio did not publicize the return of his medal, but a spokesman from the Governor General’s office confirmed yesterday that both resignations were in response to Morgentaler’s investiture into the Order.

Morgentaler’s appointment to the Order of Canada resulted in widespread protest across the country from thousands of Canadians who believe the honor of receiving the medal has been diminished by its being given to Canada’s most prominent abortionist.

Barbara Kay wrote in the National Post on July 2, 2008 that, at the very least, awarding the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor, to Dr. Morgentaler was “unwise.”

Kay said that although most Canadians fall “somewhere in between” the pro-life and pro-abortion opinions, “a significant number of Canadians were offended – and many were more than offended: They were ashamed and morally anguished at his invitation into the Order.”

Nine Order of Canada medals have been publicly returned to the Governor General in protest over Morgentaler’s appointment, including those of former New Brunswick lieutenant-governor Gilbert Finn, Roman Catholic Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte and Madonna House Foundress Catherine Doherty.

Others, such as Mr. Bosisio, have returned their medals privately.

Read previous LSN coverage:

Order of Canada Members Return their Awards Over Morgentaler Decision
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08070307.html

8th Canadian to Return Order of Canada Because of Morgentaler Award
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08071118.html

9th Order of Canada to be Returned over Award to Abortionist
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jul/08072106.html

Henry Morgentaler Receives Order of Canada Medal
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08101002.html