Morgentaler award a “slap in the face”
First, the good news: For a two-week period in July, the issue of abortion was front and centre in the national news media.
Commentary and editorials poured forth. Newspapers published letters to the editor on both sides of the abortion issue. Pro-life arguments were treated fairly and credibly.
But the bad news is that it was in the context of Dr. Henry Morgentaler being announced as a recipient of the Order of Canada. This honour is reserved for those who merit the highest award this country has to give. The Governor General grants the award on the advice of a select committee.
Giving this award to Henry Morgentaler brings credibility to abortion and is a slap in the face to the entire pro-life movement.
There are three levels of the Order of Canada. Morgentaler has been declared a "member," which is given to those with a lifetime of distinguished service in a particular field. "The Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada's honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation," says the Governor General's website.
Naturally, the pro-abortion community has strongly supported Morgentaler's appointment. And just as naturally, the pro-life community has strongly denounced it.
While pro-abortion advocates tried to paint this award as a sign that abortion is a settled issue in Canada, the response has shown just the opposite. It is not just pro-life advocates that are opposed to the award. Many in the mushy middle on this issue have also expressed their discomfort and disappointment.
The award just mows over all opposition. There is a committee of seven people who vet the applications and recommend recipients. This committee always has operated on the basis of consensus, but for Morgentaler, the chair, Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin made an exception. The committee recommended Morgentaler despite the opposition of two members.
The rationale for requiring unanimity is that the Order of Canada should not be given to those who would be divisive. It is an award that Canadians should be proud of. Given the outcry, there are few Canadians who would be more divisive than Morgentaler.
Margaret Somerville, a noted ethicist and recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, says she was turned down for an Order of Canada because she is "too controversial." She did not support same-sex marriage on the basis that it denies children a mother and father. So despite her path-breaking work on biotechnology ethics, she is deemed not worthy for the highest honour.
But Morgentaler is. And what has he done? According to the Governor General, the award is: "For his commitment to increased health care options for women, his determined efforts to influence Canadian public policy and his leadership in humanist and civil liberties organizations." Some of us beg to differ.
Throughout the 1970s and 80s, he regularly broke the law by providing illegal abortions. He was convicted. He continued to break the law until he succeeded in having it struck down after the Charter came along. Is that what we mean by a lifetime of achievement?
This award has also brought the Order of Canada into disrepute. At least five past recipients have returned their awards. They do not wish to be associated with someone they see as a murderer.
The awards committee apparently expected a backlash; that is why the announcement was made after the Canada Day celebrations. But they did not expect the outrage. Morgentaler evokes a visceral reaction from the pro-life community in Canada. July 8 and 9 saw back-to-back demonstrations at the Governor General's residence with huge media coverage.
Morgentaler has not actually received his award and there are efforts to get it rescinded. In addition to public demonstrations, some MPs have come out against it. In a highly unusual move, the Prime Minister even made a negative comment. The Governor General has been the target of calls, e-mails and letters. Perhaps she will listen. Then again, perhaps she will mow over opposition as did the committee.
The only good point is that this has reopened the abortion debate; and in a way that has abortion advocates very nervous.
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