LONDON, ON, June 15, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Thousands of pro-life Canadians from across the province are preparing to protest the conferring of an honorary degree on Canada’s most notorious abortionist, Henry Morgantaler, at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) tomorrow. Jim Hughes, the president of Campaign Life Coalition has sent out an automated voice message to pro-life supporters in the area, encouraging their attendance at the event.
Nikki Cooke, spokesperson and organizer of the event, stressed that “this is a peaceful protest, as peaceful as an unborn child. We are the voice of the pre-born, because they have no human rights, and they are going to lose their lives because no one can hear their voices.”
“I believe that it is totally appalling that Dr. Morgentaler is receiving the degree,” said Cooke, “his legacy is the hundreds of thousands of babies that he has killed.”
The decision to confer the degree on Henry Morgentaler has brought the UWO into a maelstrom of controversy. Several large donors have already distanced themselves from the university, and one member of the honorary degrees committee resigned.
Cooke pointed out that “By UWO honoring Mortgentaler they have universally made it look as though they have 100% support from the university, but they fail to recognize the over 12,000 signatures that have been collected against the honoring of Morgentaler.”
Bishop Ronald Fabbro of the Roman Catholic diocese of London will kick off tomorrow’s events with a Mass at 7:30 AM at St. Peter’s Cathedral, which is at the corner of Dufferin and Richmond Streets in downtown London.
All participants are asked to arrive at UWO at 8:30 AM. The protest will take place in front of Alumni Hall. There is free parking at Althouse Teacher’s College, which is a ten minute walk from Alumni Hall.
When protesters arrive they will notice that there will be various stations at different areas in front of the hall. The leaders of those areas will be wearing black and white and a black armband. There will be pro-life signs available in those designated areas.
The protest will continue until 10:00 a.m., which marks the beginning of the convocation ceremonies. Nikki Cooke and other pro-life leaders are asking that protestors leave the premises at 10:00, out of respect for the parents and students who will be graduating, so as not to disrupt or spoil the subsequent celebrations. There will be ample opportunity to present the pro-life message to all who are attending the convocation as they enter the hall, before the ceremonies.
JJ