TORONTO, October 4, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Across North America yesterday, in over a thousand towns and cities, Respect Life Sunday was observed via the annual peaceful witness called Life Chain.
Early estimates by organizers show attendance was up this year. Toronto organizers said, “The turnout was fabulous!” Early estimates from around the province of Ontario suggest as much as an 85% percent average increase in attendance.
Gillian Long, Research Director of Campaign Life Coalition, said that she has attended Life Chain for ten years and sees a clear improvement in both numbers and response from the public. “The digital divide is tending towards the thumbs-up,” as opposed to the discourteous middle finger from some passing motorists.
Despite widespread coverage of the event in the US, the Canadian news media continues to ignore Life Chain. One Toronto priest said that he called the Toronto Star and asked why, if they cover the Gay Pride parade, there is absolutely no coverage of Life Chain. The priest said the Star spokesman told him they cover events like the Gay Pride parade to let people know which roadways in the city will be closed. When asked why coverage continued after the event the Star spokesman said the newspaper reports on the numbers of people who attended and added “It is a matter of opinion about what’s important.”
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