TORONTO, May 31, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Toronto abortion referral service has named the Toronto District Catholic School Board (TDCSB) and Holy Name of Mary Catholic Secondary School as supporters. Jessie’s Centre for Teenagers, an organization funded by the United way, bills itself on its website as a “comprehensive resource centre for pregnant teenagers,” which includes referrals to abortion facilities as part of its “services”. In the section of the website “I’m Pregnant” the centre boasts of being a “pro-choice” agency, “That means we believe you have the right to be fully informed about all of your options when making a decision about your pregnancy,” and promises to “set up all necessary appointments and referrals,” for pregant teenage girls.
Jessie’s Centre provides a wide variety of services which include finding homes for pregnant mothers and aiding them in their educational goals, however, their pro-abortion position puts them squarely at odds with the Catholic Church. In the past, Catholic organizations such as the Catholic Women’s League have supported pro-abortion and anti-Catholic initiatives such as the March for Women on the grounds that a portion of the goals were agreed with Catholic moral teaching. This justification was used repeatedly when CWL members across the country protested the support of the pro-abortion, anti-family feminist event.
Holy Name of Mary Secondary School was thanked in the centre’s annual report for 2002 for their participation in gathering toys for children of the teenage mothers. The Toronto District Catholic School Board was acknowledged for the participation of “all the wonderful co-op students who, with enthusiasm and dedication gave so much to Jessie’s this year.” LifeSiteNews.com contacted both Holy Name of Mary Secondary and the Toronto District Catholic School Board but neither returned calls by press time.
Jessie’s Centre for Teenagers website: https://www.jessiescentre.org/whats_new/ To contribute to a 100% pro-life pregnancy help organization in Toronto call Aid to Women 300 Gerrard St. E. Toronto, ON. M5A 2G7
416-921-6016 To express your concerns to Holy Name of Mary Secondary School: 2241 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5H 2K8 (905) 274-2401, (905) 274-0978 (Fax)