LONDON, May 19, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Catholic activist who was previously involved in the fight to save the life of Terri Schiavo, has written to key decision makers regarding the University of Western Ontario’s decision to award abortion crusader Henry Morgentaler with an honorary degree. Maureen Chill, of the group Catholics for Life, wrote to Dr. Gerald Killan, Principal of King’s College at the University of Western Ontario, asking him reconsider the award.
Chill points out the moral conflict between honoring a man whom the Catholic Church regards as a mass murderer and the president of Notre Dame University in Illinois, who is also scheduled to be honored at the same convocation. Chill offers what she terms an ‘Alternative Catholic Solution’ for the difficulty in which Notre Dame’s outgoing President, Rev Edward A Malloy now finds himself. She recommends that the university invite London Bishop Fabbro to speak on the subject of the Culture of Life and that the university undertake a catechesis type of programme involving a series of media releases on Catholic teaching on the sanctity of human life.
University president Paul Davenport, however, is determined to go forward and invokes the liberal doctrines of pluralism and tolerance to justify awarding an honorary degree to a man who has personally killed thousands of unborn children. “Dr. Morgentaler is being honoured for his committed campaign in support of a Woman’s Right to Choose,” writes Davenport. “This was a right confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1988.”
“There has been a strong negative response from many who oppose abortion because of their religious beliefs or on other moral grounds. I understand those views and respect them. . . At the same time, it should be understood that there has also been an outpouring of support from those who favour freedom of choice.”
Chill criticizes the moral relativism of the ‘pluralism’ defence saying that “it sends a post-modernist message to those watching this situation that human persons may be honoured legitimately for careers which diverge widely in moral example. As thinking Catholics we are obliged to challenge that pluralism. Continuing to encourage Rev Malloy to accept his Doctor of Laws under the current circumstances— as you have chosen to do— does not survive scrutiny.”
University spokesman David Estok said that the Morgentaler award has increased demand for seating at the convocation and that arrangements are being made to telecast the ceremony at another building to handle audience overflow. Of the 400 students contacted, says Estok, only one has asked to graduate at an alternate ceremony.
Read Maureen Chill’s letter.