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I’m a pro-life mom with a broken heart

October 29, 2014 by Faye Sonier 9 Comments

You’ll likely notice that the blog has been fairly quiet in the last week. We don’t usually go dark this long.

I’ve been struggling to blog, even with the writing of very short posts.

I was overwhelmed by the terrorist attack in my city, Ottawa.

I’m sick. My husband is sick. My son is sick. We’re all tired.

I just finished writing an essay about abortion for a publication. It required considerable academic research and spending days reading about the conclusive evidence that abortion hurts a significant number of women and their partners. (Informed consent, anyone?) That left me emotionally drained.

And doing pro-life work, even volunteer activities while on mat leave, is harder for me than it was in my pre-motherhood days.

Last week, I came across an article regarding the ethics of killing children who survive abortion procedures. I was nearly sick. And I was nearly sick every time I looked at my precious baby that day. I was gagging. The revulsion was real and it was physical.

In Western society, we apparently need to debate whether, looking into the eyes of a living, breathing, screaming child, we should kill him/her. Because the child survived our initial attempt at killing him/her.

I could swear and scream right now still thinking about that article. I’ve been doing pro-life work for some time. I know this isn’t the first time that issue is raised. But it’s the first time I’ve really had to think about it since giving birth to my son a few months ago. I look at him and think about all the little boys and girls like him who have been killed, who will be killed, and who are being killed right now.

I’m angry. I’m sad. And I feel sick.

Woman

We live in one of the best countries in the world, and I’m proud to be Canadian. But we’re legally killing 100,000 of our little Canadians per year.

[TWEETBLOCK text=”Tweet this”] I’m proud to be Canadian. But we’re legally killing 100,000 of our little Canadians per year. [/TWEETBLOCK]

There are some days that I cannot wrap my head around that stat. Today is one of those days.

Canada is one of the great defenders of human rights. For everyone, except those of their own citizens who happen to be at an early stage of growth and development. They have no recognized human rights.

So here I am tonight, without much to blog about but feeling PWPL really ought to produce something. I’m down and frankly a little depressed.

I’m digging through my email and checking my listservs for something to write about. I follow a few links and then land on the page for National Abortion Federation (NAF). Who are they?

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in North America. We believe that women should be trusted to make private medical decisions in consultation with their health care providers.

For some reason, it never occurred to me that there would be a national association for abortion providers. Pretty dumb eh? And you know what my mind went to? I thought, “My gosh, their conferences and Christmas parties must be so depressing.”

Really. That was my first thought. Why? Because killing children as a career strikes me as a depressing job. So getting together to talk about it would only serve to emphasize the loss and sadness associated with that chosen career.

But their parties probably aren’t all doom and gloom. Because they believe on some or maybe all levels that they are helping women by helping them kill their children. Well-meaning health practitioners and doctors are dismembering and killing babies in the hopes of helping women. They are doing so even if studies from Canada, the United States, and Sweden clearly show that there are negative outcomes for a significant number of women and their male partners following their abortions. And of course all the dead babies whom they did not consider their patients.

All these stories and articles and heck, professional associations, break my heart. My heart breaks for the children lost, but also for the women and the men involved, and even for the professionals who participate. Abortion is a tragedy for all.

I can’t look at my son and not be more convicted about the good, the necessary and the vital work that pro-lifers do every day. I need to find some way to battle the staggering sadness and revulsion. And I need to keep hoping and loving and suggesting that there is a better way forward for our society.

One that is pro-woman, pro-child and pro-life.

Filed Under: All Posts, Charitable, Featured Posts

Reclaiming abortion rights?

October 24, 2014 by Andrea Mrozek 4 Comments

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I was trying to ignore Katha Pollitt’s new book called Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights. But I’ve just been asked to do Tommy Schnurmacher’s show in Montreal on Monday at 10:30 am so I can do so no longer. Sigh.

Just watched this interview with her. It doesn’t strike me that she is saying anything terribly new. We’ve had people come out and indicate that abortion is positive and a “right” in Canada for many years. It rings hollow, given that abortion doesn’t tend to be heralded by women themselves as a positive right. No book, no filmed abortion, no attempt to make it really easy peasy is going to change that.

The best opposition to her idea, however, stems from how she is entirely and completely in favour of abortion as birth control. Not too long ago, even Planned Parenthood campaigned against that. Birth control was to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Abortion, however, everyone  knew, was taking a new life and that was going too far.

It remains plenty controversial to say that abortion is birth control–mostly to the women who have had abortions. So her light and airy tone doesn’t jibe there, either. I could go on but I’ll save it for Monday.

If you have tremendous thoughts that would help me in this interview, please pass them on.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Feminism

Pray: Shooter at War Memorial and on Parliament Hill

October 22, 2014 by Faye Sonier 4 Comments

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For those of you who pray, please pray for everyone impacted.

 

Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Other, Political

WHO, Mayo Clinic Journal and NIH: Pill causes breast cancer

October 22, 2014 by Faye Sonier 4 Comments

Let’s start the morning off with some controversial and depressing news:

Unfortunately for the more than 10 million American women who take oral contraceptives, hardly anyone reported that the World Health Organization also classified the combination Pill as a carcinogen. In fact, the Pill continues to be the most popular method of contraception in this country, particularly for women under the age of 30.  A little over a year after the World Health Organization announced its findings, the prestigious medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings published an article called “Oral Contraceptive Use as a Risk Factor for Premenopausal Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis.” This analysis assessed the results of 34 studies conducted since 1980 to examine the possible association between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer risk in women younger than 50, and came to following conclusion: “Consistent with the recent International Agency for Research on Cancer classification of OCs as group 1 carcinogens, this meta-analysis suggests that OCs are associated with an increase in premenopausal breast cancer risk, especially among women who use OCs before FFTP [first full-term pregnancy].”

Even more recently, a 2009 study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that “a year or more of oral contraceptive use was associated with a 4.2-fold increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer for women 40 and under.

This spring marks the 55th anniversary of the birth control pill. I think it’s a good opportunity to talk about the link between the pill and breast cancer. If we’re truly pro-woman, we need to be pro-informed consent. Being left in the dark about the pill’s very real side effects isn’t empowering or liberating.

Pill

Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Feminism

BC Civil Liberties Association: Pro-choicers afraid of pro-life free speech?

October 21, 2014 by Faye Sonier 4 Comments

I love this quote from John Dixon:

At stake is whether the University of Victoria student society (UVSS) has the right to punish student clubs for pro-life activities and whether the University of Victoria has the right to enforce those punishments.

While the BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) is officially pro-choice, it is supporting YPY because it believes universities have to obey the Charter.

“Are those of us who are pro-choice so frightened of civil, peaceful speech against our conviction, that we must take refuge in quasi-legal antics to harass, frighten, and ultimately punish those who dare to challenge them?” asked BCCLA spokesman John Dixon, when the BCCLA first took the case last year.

Are they?

Smile

Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Other

Justin Trudeau asking questions about abortion in PEI

October 21, 2014 by Faye Sonier 3 Comments

So more news and confusion about abortion and the law in Canada:

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau thinks Prince Edward Islanders should be asking questions to make sure the Canada Health Act is being respected in regards to a recent decision to cut short planning for an abortion clinic on the Island. […]

“I think people are going to be rightly asking questions to make sure the Canada Health Act is being respected, and that Canadians have the opportunity to make choices about their own reproductive health,” said Trudeau.

For the record, the Canada Health Act does NOT require provinces to provide or fund abortions. For details, you can read this short paper on this very topic.

Charlottetown

photo credit: RobertCiavarro via photopin cc

Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Political

Support the Christian Advocacy Society of Greater Vancouver

October 20, 2014 by Andrea Mrozek 3 Comments

Screen Shot 2014-10-20 at 5.12.58 PM

Today, more than ever, Christians are under attack. Christians have always been responsible for doing  good work–creating hospitals, running hospices and homes for the homeless, the abused and those who cannot help themselves. The Christian Advocacy Society of Greater Vancouver is one such group–helping others, including mothers who are unexpectedly pregnant in a manner that is truly compassionate.

You can learn more about their work in this YouTube clip.

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKPJ46xDJuw]

Their executive director Brian Norton and I have been emailing for some years now. He takes time, a lot of time, to compassionately explain to people who misunderstand the work of say, for example, crisis pregnancy centres, what they are all about. What they do–and don’t do. He wrote an entire report debunking some of the myths about crisis pregnancy centres.

So on November 3, if you are in the Vancouver area, come and support them. Do not come because I happen to be speaking, but because they do good work, which I also support. And because in the bigger picture, NOW is the time to show support for those Christians doing good work in a sphere that is public. This group is a worthy one for your valued charitable dollar.

Monday November 3, 2014
7 pm – 9:30 pm
Venue: Bethany Baptist Church
22680 Westminster Hwy, Richmond

Tickets are 20 dollars, and there is dessert and live music too!

Filed Under: All Posts, Charitable, Featured Posts

Left, right and the path toward death

October 17, 2014 by Johanne Brownrigg 3 Comments

Over three decades ago in Ottawa, there was a municipal government push toward accessibility for the disabled. Sidewalks were lowered at intersections to accommodate wheelchairs, elevators were mandated in all public buildings as were ramps. This approach to life came with onerous expenses in some cases, but no matter: Compassion is costly. These were all thought to be progressive and humane approaches to living in a community that cared. They were also approaches to community living that came from the left of the political spectrum.

The Ontario Human Rights Code states that every person in Ontario has the right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of a disability. Every province has a similar statement and of course, this protection exists federally.

Oddly enough, this equality may be the very thing that disabled people end up using to ensure they have access to death on their terms.

The left and the right have taken odd turns in recent years. Those advocating for the disabled and the elderly are now seemingly on the right, standing firm against assisted death even when it’s deceptively cloaked in palliative care. Especially when it’s deceptively cloaked in palliative care.

It is worth asking whether progressives are on the right now.

Compassion is still being meted out, but as always, compassion is costly. There is a personal cost to accompanying and accommodating someone who needs assistance. But true compassion affirms the dignity of every person, regardless of cost.

Of course debates about left and right and compassion are fraught with difficulty–everyone is playing the compassion card. But it used to be that the left said “to heck with the cost,” in order to achieve compassion. Maybe some still do.

As Canada considers legalizing assisted suicide, we ought to be ever reminded that killing is not a compassionate measure, no matter what side of the political spectrum presents the option.

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Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Political

Register for the National 2014 Pro-Life Conference now!

October 16, 2014 by Natalie Sonnen Leave a Comment

National Conference 2014

When you attend this year’s National Pro Life Conference, you will be inspired, engaged and educated through keynote and breakout sessions.

The Conference runs Thursday, October 23rd – Saturday, October 25th in Vancouver, BC at the gorgeous Richmond Delta Hotel.

Our phenomenal lineup of speakers include Destiny Herdon-De La Rose and Jason Jones with entertainment from the talented Matt Day.

You will also have the opportunity to hear from many other influential advocates and leaders including:

Destiny Herdon-De La Rosa | Founder & President – New Wave Feminists
Dr. Stuart Brown | Palliative Care Physician
Mike Schouten | Campaign Director – We Need A Law
Pavel Reid | Director of Office, Life & Family
Natalie Sonnen | Executive Director – LifeCanada
James Borkowski | Executive Director – Signal Hill
JM Boyd | Partner – Glass Canvas Media
Jason Jensen | Partner – Glass Canvas Media
Dan & Joy Loney | Directors of The James Project

For more information and for the registration form go here .

11111people

Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Other

Euthanasia may be coming to a hospital near you

October 16, 2014 by Natalie Sonnen 1 Comment

The frightening prospect of legalized euthanasia seems to be coming at Canadians like a tidal wave.

It has already happened in Quebec this summer when euthanasia was legalized thanks to the efforts of Ms. Hivon.

“The approach we took was one of health care. We should not leave anybody suffering at any stage, so why would it be okay at the end of life” she is quoted as saying in a Globe and Mail article on October 9th. “Our bill is about people who are ill and who are suffering and who need to have their pain alleviated.”

Unfortunately “alleviating suffering” for Ms. Hivon is synonymous with murder.

Yesterday the Supreme Court heard testimonies on why assisted suicide should or should not be a human right.

Government lawyers defending the Criminal Code prohibition of euthanasia were grilled by the Supreme Court Justices. According to one source, Joe Arvay for the Carter side (read pro-assisted suicide/euthanasia) had the court’s ear a bit too much.

In a recent Globe article, Prof. Jocelyn Downie a known, avid pro-euthanasia advocate: “The issue of provincial jurisdiction is squarely in front of the court.”

If the Supreme Court does rule that the Criminal Code prohibition against assisted suicide is unconstitutional, Prof. Downie says that the federal government will then “know what it can and cannot do in drafting the new legislation that will be necessary.” Simply put, the Federal Government won’t have a leg to stand on and euthanasia/assisted suicide will be the order of the day.

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Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Political

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