By Tim Waggoner
OTTAWA, July 2, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Bruce J. Clemenger, President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada wasted little time in vocalizing the Evangelical community’s opposition to Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s appointment to the Order of Canada. In a statement released yesterday, he allied the Evangelical community with the many prominent Canadians who are condemning the decision and pointed to what he called the “shameful” absence of laws in Canada protecting the unborn.
“In awarding Dr. Henry Morgentaler the Order of Canada, an honour has been bestowed upon someone who participates in, promotes and, for many, symbolizes the moral tragedy of abortion. It is a reminder of the shameful reality that Canada is one of the few countries in the world without laws protecting the most vulnerable among us – unborn children. This vacuum is not the result of consensus. This is not about health care but a lack of political leadership to reasonably address the full breadth of the issue,” said Clemenger.
“For the millions of Canadians who celebrate the gift of life and the dignity of the human person at all stages of life, this is a very sad day,” he added.
Like many MPs and other Canadian leaders, Clemenger spoke out on the divisiveness of the decision and said that the Order of Canada has been debased because of it: “By giving this award, the narrow interests of some and the misguided judgment of others have diminished Canada’s highest civilian honour. Knowing the controversial nature of this act, the process and the timing have discredited the institution. Rather than a day of celebration of what we share as Canadians, Canada Day 2008 has become a day of great sorrow for many that Canada would honour one rather than lament the loss of hundreds of thousands taken in the womb.”
Clemenger concluded by invoking all Canadians to stand up for the lives of the unborn, saying, “May this tragic decision serve to reinvigorate people of good will and cause us all to renew our commitment to champion the protection of all human life, to plead for the voiceless, and to care for the vulnerable amongst us.”