TORONTO, Aug 13, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Faithful Catholics in Canada, still reeling from having former US President Bill Clinton give the keynote address at a fundraiser for a Catholic hospital, are very troubled again as former Prime Minister John Turner is set to chair the annual Toronto Cardinal’s Dinner. Turner, while Justice Minister in 1969 under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, passed the notorious Omnibus bill, which included the legalization of abortion and homosexuality. LifeSite has obtained a letter by Turner sent to all Catholic priests in the Toronto diocese asking for support for the dinner, listing himself as “2001 Dinner Chairman.”
In 1969 there were 542 abortions in hospitals, but after the Omnibus bill, abortions skyrocketed to 11,152 in 1970; 30,923 in 1971; and rising steadily thereafter to over 100,000 per year in the 1990’s. Nevertheless, in 1984 during his election campaign, Turner proudly reminded his listeners, “I am one of the architects of the abortion amendment.” Again in 1989 as abortion was discussed in the House of Commons, Turner is recorded in the official Hansard as saying, “I believe our duty is not to impose our own beliefs rigidly on the view of others who may strongly disagree.”
Turner has never publicly apologized or even admitted to making an error in 1969. In 1995, he did not respond to a pro-life appeal to acknowledge his mistake and help restore legal protection to the unborn. The appeal asked, “We appeal to Mr. Turner to join with us to repair the damage he has done and help restore legal protection for the unborn child.”
The $175 a plate affair hopes to have over 2000 attendees, with monies going to the Cardinal’s personal charities. It is to take place at 6pm, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Concerns may be expressed to Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic: Catholic Pastoral Centre 1155 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4T 1W2 Tel: (416)934-0606 Fax: (416) 934-3433 E-mail: [email protected]