OTTAWA, June 9 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The same day as Vancouver Archbishop Adam Exner released his letter against Catholic support of the March of Women 2000, the office of Archbishop Marcel Gervais of Ottawa released a letter, signed by Bishop Gervais, supporting the March. The Ottawa letter seems to reflect unawareness of evidence that the march supports abortion and that it’s coordinators voted unanimously to forbid a pro-life presence. The Archbishop’s letter states, “It is much better for us to be present, promoting our pro-life message, than for us to stay away and leave the entire stage to our opponents.”
The Ottawa letter notes correctly that “Division is creeping into our Catholic ranks over the March of Women,” but insinuates that the pro-life action would be to support the march. The suggestion contradicts that of other church leaders and most recently the letter of Archbishop Exner, the Chairman of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishop’s pro-life arm, the Canadian Organization for Life and Family.
The contact name on Bishop Gervais’ letter is Sister Mary Ruddy, who conceded that she had a role in the preparation of the Archbishop’s letter. Sr. Ruddy told LifeSite that she was unaware of the letter from the World March Coordinating Committee which denied pro-life participation in the march and was also unaware of the LifeSite page on the march. She stated her information on the march came from Development and Peace. Asked if the Archbishop might consider issuing a retraction to the letter, considering the evidence in the letter to Mrs. Von Dehn proving that the march objectives were pro-abortion, Sr. Ruddy responded that she did not know and said she would forward the letter to the Archbishop.
For Archbishop Gervais’ letter see: https://www.lifesitenews.com/clc/womens_march/gervais2000statement.html
See Archbishop Exner’s letter at: https://www.lifesitenews.com/clc/womens_march/exnerstatement.html For all the World March of Women coverage see: https://www.lifesitenews.com/clc/womens_march/
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