Iacobi.net | Roman Catholic Parish in Wilkie, the edge of the world

iacobi.net

big church on the prairie

Extra

Home · Diocese · Life is messy

|Praised be Jesus Christ|Laudetur Iesus Christus|

Life is messy

Disorder of Canada… few articles picked from the series of a great after the fact debate….

Morgentaler abortion legacy not black and white issue: priest Sask. Tory MPs condemn selection Jason Warick, Saskatchewan News Network Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008

A Saskatoon priest says the controversial appointment of abortion rights crusader Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada is "not a black and white issue."

Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Conservative members of Parliament continued to blast the order's selection committee for bestowing the nation's highest civilian honour on such a divisive person.

Rev. Andre Poilievre, who has worked in Saskatoon's inner city for decades and also received the Order of Canada this week, said the issue of abortion is less clear than the "extremists" on either side of the issue would have people believe.

Based on his many years working with society's most vulnerable people, Poilievre said he has mixed feelings about the Morgentaler legacy, which helped to legalize abortion in Canada.

"This is not a black and white issue," Poilievre said.

"I'm not in either fanatical camp. Life is messy."

On Tuesday, Canadian Archbishop Thomas Collins said the order had been "debased" and called for Morgentaler's honour to be revoked.

Another Saskatoon priest, Rev. Ron Beechinor, said he "wouldn't have voted for (Morgentaler)" because it goes against the teachings of the Catholic church.

Saskatchewan MPs contacted Wednesday all said the honour should not have gone to Morgentaler, saying the Order of Canada should help unite Canadians, not divide them. But they stopped short of advocating politicians getting involved.

"I was disappointed when I heard it," said Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP Carol Skelton.

"If I was a recipient, I would give it back."

Saskatoon-Humboldt MP Brad Trost said Wednesday he'd heard the committee voted by simple majority for Morgentaler, but should have used the traditional method of consensus to avoid "this embarrassment that we have today."

Trost said Tuesday in a news release Morgentaler didn't deserve the honour, adding most Canadians view his "so-called record of accomplishments" as reprehensible.

Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Gerry Ritz compared the Morgentaler appointment to that of David Ahenakew, the Saskatchewan First Nations leader who was stripped of his order following comments he made about Jews.

"It will raise a lot of those same red flags," Ritz said.

Three Sask. residents get Order of Canada By Jason Warick, TheStarPhoenix.com Published: Wednesday, July 02, 2008

A Saskatoon priest who has dedicated his life to helping inner-city youth, inmates and gang members is one of three Saskatchewan residents to receive the Order of Canada.

But Rev. Andre Poilievre, who received the rank of member of the order, said he's not a big fan of such accolades.

"I have mixed feelings, of course. These (honours) don't fit into my category of doing things. I like to be on the street with my guys," said Poilievre, a native of Prud'homme.

Poilievre, 71, is humbled, however, by the work of those who nominated him and will accept. He's also honoured to be mentioned in the company of the other two Saskatchewan recipients, Saskatoon aboriginal author Maria Campbell and Indian Head environmental supporter and former NDP cabinet minister Lorne Scott.

Poilievre said he's enjoyed the challenge of working on the streets and in the prisons.

"You want to know why I do this? It's fun," he said.

"I feel content. I'd do the same thing or more again if I could."

Poilievre's longtime friend, Rev. Ron Beechinor, wrote a letter of recommendation and was "absolutely delighted" to hear the news.

"I couldn't be happier," Beechinor said.

"(Poilievre) has worked with the aboriginal community and helping people leave the gangs. That's risky business, but he has done it with great respect."

Poilievre is training others to assume his many roles in the community, trying to ensure his work will continue when he's gone. He and others have formed a group called STR8 UP to serve as mentors and do presentations on making healthy choices.

While Poilievre received the third-highest honour of member, Campbell was named to the order's second-highest rank of officer "for her contributions to Canadian literature and media as a writer, playwright, filmmaker and educator, as well as for her advocacy of Metis and aboriginal issues."

Scott was named a member of the order "for his longtime contributions to nature conservancy in the province of Saskatchewan."

The three were among 75 new appointments of Canadians to the order, Canada's highest civilian honour.

There have been 186 Saskatchewan-born Order of Canada recipients - 92 living - since the honour was first awarded in 1967, Canada's centennial year.

10.07.2008. 22:50

This article hasn't been commented yet.

Write a comment

* = required field

Prayer For Fine Weather
All-powerful and ever-living God, we find security in your forgiveness. Give us the fine weather we pray for, so that we may rejoice in your gifts of kindness, and use them always for your glory and our good. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. |Letter of St. James|

Contact | Forum | Recommended | Gallery |

| a deum.org host+design product |

:..Made in People's Republic of Canada..:

big church on the prairie

Recommended Readings For The Summer.:

Main:

Categories:

Articles:

Comments:

RSS

Extra

Life is messy

Write a comment