The anniversary of Canada’s Roe v. Wade is today. 27 years since the Morgentaler decision. No cheering here, but that means ProWomanProLife is seven.

Mike Schouten of We Need a Law addresses what the decision did and did not say.

Abortion defenders enjoy referencing Justice Bertha Wilson – the first woman appointed to Canada’s Supreme Court. Unfortunately they all too often choose selective quotes that completely misrepresent what Justice Wilson wrote. It should be noted that Justice Wilson’s opinion was not shared with the other six judges – she wrote alone – and the other judges were all more “conservative” in their three written opinions; they contemplated an even more restrictive regime than Wilson.

Justice Wilson stated, “A developmental view of the foetus… supports a permissive approach to abortion in the early stages of pregnancy and a restrictive approach in the later stages…The precise point in the development of the foetus at which the state’s interest in its protection becomes “compelling” I leave to the informed judgment of the legislature… It seems to me, however, that it might fall somewhere in the second trimester.”

Justice Wilson, arguably the most iconic feminist judge in the history of our country, would be labeled an “anti-choice extremist” by the more adamant of today’s pro-choice movement. Justice Wilson was abundantly clear – abortion should not be legal throughout all the stages of fetal development as it is today. In fact, she was comfortably open to a gestational ban between 12 and 18 weeks, similar to most European countries.

I am writing a book about the sexual revolution with my friend Rebecca Walberg. More accurately, I am researching a book right now, so please don’t ask me how writing is going for I will rapidly begin to hyperventilate and it will be awkward for everyone.

I am using this opportunity to catch up on the women’s studies education I never had. And, quite frankly, never wished I had. I’m starting my reading at the very beginning, with a historical defence of the rights of women. Enter one Mary Wollstonecraft.

As a side comment, I’m intrigued by her description of problems she sees around her, which I would hazard to say, in some instances are not all that different today.

So on I read, and enjoying it more than I thought.

Mary Wollstonecraft is long-winded, yes, even more than I. And so in reading today I flipped forward in the pages to see when the chapter would end and what the next chapter might be about.

The next chapter is called: “Chapter III: THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED.”

And there you have it. Who said that a spirited defence of women’s rights had to have creative chapter headings? Not I.

Products for women…from people who care.

This university bathroom ad on top of a tampon machine is either severely outdated or going for a retro look. (I took the photo this morning.) Note the trademark on freedom of choice, too. Reminds how pro-life or pro-choice, we are all selling an idea, a worldview. People who are activist and pro-choice abuse the word “freedom,” kicking it around and making it meaningless. Freedom, free will gives us the right to make good choices, which leads to more freedom. Freedom that sells bad choices enslaves. I believe we are all free to make bad choices, I just think it’s better to label them as such…instead of tying up horse manure in shiny packaging and putting a bow on it. In any event, a thought-provoking trip to the loo, if I do say so myself.

The ancient, organic, and timeless design of man and woman has been revered across all cultures throughout human history. There is a singular wisdom and beauty of this complementarity that “fits” with the universe. The family, founded on marriage, is our first school in what it means to be human, how to love, to seek communion with and be a gift to another person: man for woman, and woman for man. This relationship between man and woman—including their sexual union and its fruits—is the very “grammar” of society.

This is the introduction to a beautiful series on marriage that has been part of a three day, international, inter-religious conference on marriage held at the Vatican.  It touches on all aspects of marriage and is superbly put together.  What I like about it is that it considers marriage from both western and eastern worldviews.

Here is another snippet from one of the videos:

Most all cultures have seen the yin and the yang, masculinity and femininity threaded throughout the cosmos. Men and Women “fit” into this design. Gender theory portrays men and women in conflict with each other, but the reality beyond stereotypes is that men and women actually enrich and complement each other in their differences. Men and women are not the same. We’re different but equal. Culture is always changing but it builds on real differences, and cannot be changed without profound consequences, because complementarity is rooted in a human, social, and even cosmological reality.

Presented with great wisdom drawn from the ages, and from cultures the world over, this beautiful and inspiring series of short videos is a MUST SEE.

[youtube:http://youtu.be/n_lvf337xZw]