LANGLEY, BC Sept. 30, 2008 (CHPNews) – The Christian Heritage Party today blasted Prime Minister Harper and his cabinet for “cowardly silence” on abortion.
Yesterday Mr. Harper, in response to questions from Quebec journalists, made it very clear that he has no interest in re-opening the abortion debate.
“I have not done that in my entire political career,” the Prime Minister said. “[I] don’t intend to start now.”
“What Mr. Harper is saying is that it’s OK for 110,000 babies to be killed every year,” said CHP leader Ron Gray. “That’s outrageous!
“Nearly three million Canadians have died in this ’silent holocaust’,” Gray continued.
“In 1988 the Supreme Court said pre-born children deserve to be protected, and it’s Parliament’s job to define that protection. But timid politicians like Mr. Harper lack the courage to take up the challenge.
“He’s willing to ‘whip’ his cabinet to make sure none of them will take up the task, either. Their silence is the price he demands for the extra pay and ‘perks’ of being on the front benches.
“I have a word for Mr. Harper: ‘Cowardly silence is not leadership!’ ”
In his statements Monday, Mr. Harper said he intends instead to focus on the economy.
“Giving priority to the economy when 450 Canadians die every day sends a very clear message about the Tories,” said Gray. “The message is that in the Conservative Party, their god is their belly.
“In the 18th century, people of African ancestry were not legally ‘persons’; that was wrong, and we changed it,” Gray said. “In 1927, the Supreme Court of Canada said that women were not ‘persons’; that was wrong, and we changed it.
“Today in Canada, pre-born children are not legally ‘persons’; that’s just as wrong, and we must change it.”
Gray said the CHP is challenging candidates from all other parties to abandon partisan politics on this important issue, and make a pledge that whoever is elected will campaign in Parliament to promote adoption as a better alternative that abortion.
“Our Party-all 59 candidates-has made a commitment to work for the protection of innocent human life,” Gray said. “That includes the pre-born, the aged and the infirm. When a woman faces an unanticipated pregnancy, we should surround her with comfort, counsel, information and material aid. We should help her understand that there are non-lethal solutions.
“We should not remain silent, like the Tory cabinet, while the baby is killed for the ‘crime’ of being conceived at an inconvenient time!”
Gray also criticized the Harper government for breaking its promise to defend the traditional definition of marriage; for refusing to defend Parliament’s exclusive right to make Canada’s laws; and for refusing to defend Canadians’ right to free speech from the predations of the Human Rights Commissions.
“It’s exactly as Senator Anne Cools said in 1998,” Gray quoted: ” ‘The problem is not just judicial activism; it is also cowardice in the House of Commons.’
“That’s not the kind of leadership Canada needs today. That’s not leadership at all.”
Source: http://www.chp.ca/en/news/news_2008-09-30.html
Category: National CHP News
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