PRO-ABORTION FORMER PRIME MINISTER TO ADDRESS TORONTO CATHOLIC LAWYERS GUILD

TORONTO, July 18, 2002 (LSN.ca) - LifeSite has learned that Progressive Conservative Party Leader Joe Clark is to give the keynote address at the annual St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers' Guild Red Mass dinner in Toronto, September 19. LifeSite confirmed with Clark's office that he has been invited and has "likely confirmed" his acceptance.

Several prominent Catholic lawyers in Toronto were very disappointed with the selection and will not be attending the event. Clark is not only pro-abortion, but even claims to be 'Catholic' and pro-abortion, a theologically impossible contradiction. On CBC radio in 2000, Clark was asked if his "pro-choice" position and Roman Catholic religion were contradictory. He responded: "I am a Roman Catholic, I am pro-choice. ... Anyone who knows anything about the Roman Catholic Church knows that [abortion] has been an issue of division for quite sometime." ( http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2000/nov/00112002.html ) Also, this past June 10 Clark was marshal for the "gay pride" parade in Calgary, Alberta. With these views so boldly stated Clark likely rejects other basic Christian principles that do not suit his personal tastes.

Clark's selection came as a shock to many Catholics especially since he has been publicly censured by his own bishop. Calgary Bishop Fred Henry, who presides over Clark's diocese, openly criticized Clark on television noting the inappropriateness of his calling himself Catholic while being pro-abortion. ( http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2001/mar/01030702.html ) The Federal PC leader has been totally unapologetic.

The Red Mass to be celebrated by Toronto's Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic at St. Michael's Cathedral at 5pm and the dinner afterwards will not be the first high profile Canadian Catholic event to be headlined by a pro-abortion speaker.

Last year, another pro-abortion 'Catholic' former Prime Minister, John Turner, headlined the Cardinal's Ambrozic's fundraising dinner and another Catholic fundraiser shortly after. ( http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2001/oct/011005b.html ) Also last year former, morally corrupt, militantly pro-abortion and pro-gay U.S. President Bill Clinton was paid $100,000 to speak at a fundraiser for a prominent Catholic hospital in Hamilton. ( http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2001/may/01050402.html ) And for the past two years, the Catholic Health Association of Canada (CHAC) has featured pro-abortion activists at their annual conferences. Last year's CHAC keynote speaker was former UNICEF ambassador and pro-abortion activist and Catholic Church despiser Stephen Lewis and the year before, the CHAC conference was keynoted by anti-population environmentalist radical David Suzuki - who had weeks before the CHAC event appeared nude on the cover of TV Guide magazine to promote his show on the penis. ( http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2001/mar/01032801.html and http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/1999/dec/99120702.html )

Clark's invitation adds to the scandal list and discredits the noble tradition of the "Red Mass" which dates back to the Thirteenth Century. The Mass for government officials, lawyers and judges was to signify the fire of the Holy Spirit's guidance to all who pursue justice in their daily lives. ( http://www.redmass.com/AboutRM.htm ) The selection of the keynote speaker at the event is usually up to the President of the St. Thomas More Lawyers' Guild who this year is Toronto lawyer Todd McCarthy.

In all the previous above scandals many complains were registered with church leaders well before the events, but no strong actions were taken by any bishops to force invitations to be withdrawn and have the speakers replaced. Many faithfull Canadian Cathoics are becoming increasingly disturbed by the heirarchy's unwillingness to exercise authority on these and other scandals such as homosexual priests, harmful sex-ed programs in the schools and widespread dissent from Catholic moral and spitirual teachings in Canadian Catholic institutions.

FORMER PRIME MINISTER LEADS GAY PRIDE PARADE
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2001/jun/01061104.html

To contact Cardinal Ambrozic with your concerns:
Catholic Pastoral Centre
1155 Yonge street, Suite 502
Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1W2
Telephone: (416) 934-0606, ext. 609; FAX: (416) 934-3452