News

By John-Henry Westen

Fr. Van Hee (right) with Pro-Family Activist John PachecoOTTAWA, March 5, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – For nearly the last twenty years, on almost every day when Parliament was in session, a Catholic priest has stood, prayed and fasted outside Canada’s parliament buildings   That constant prayerful witness has gained him admirers even among those who disagree with his stands for life and the traditional family.

  Last week, a Conservative turned Liberal Member of Parliament who refuses to support the right to life for unborn children and actively fought against the traditional family in backing homosexual ‘marriage’, featured Fr. Tony Van Hee on his website. 

  The website (https://www.garth.ca) features a regular tv post on its main page.  The current video post is a short but open ended interview with Fr. Van Hee.

  In the video, Fr. Van Hee explains that he has been on Parliament Hill since 1989, starting with a campaign focussing exclusively on abortion.  Later, he explains, he added issues of homosexuality, euthanasia and then had to include contraception, which, he says, “I found at the centre of all of it.” 

  Asked, “If there was one piece of legislation you’d like to see changed what would that be?”, Fr. Van Hee responded without hesitation, “Legislation to protect the unborn.”  He explained, “with surgical abortion we’re losing 105,000 children every year, murdering them, slaughtering them, I think that’s fundamental, unless we have the right to life we don’t have anything.”

  The priest who has won the hearts of many a politician during his long vigil said he remains full of hope despite what sometimes seems like a fruitless endeavour.  “I’m always hopeful because really God is in charge,” he said.  “He will bring about a change of hearts and minds when the time is right.”

  Turner’s webpage introduces the video interview of the priest saying, “Conviction – For the past eighteen years he has frozen for his convictions, been showered and pelted for them, been scorched and been ridiculed. But, without giving in or giving up.

“Today he is a fixture on the side of the wide stone walkway which leads from the Centennial flame to the steps up to Centre Block on Parliament Hill. Beside Rev. Tony Van Hee, passersby will usually see gory pictures of aborted fetuses, which may want them to look away but which Tony hopes will drive home his argument that our national abortion laws are, to him, a sin.

“Some call the lone protestor a kook while others view him as heroic. And few too many stop to actually talk to this unique individual. But we did.”

  The website also says: Garth welcomes your feedback, support, criticism or suggestions at any time: [email protected]