16 December 2007
Reverend Raymond Gravel
184 Notre-Dame Street,
uite 201Repentigny, QC, J6A 2P9
Dear Father Gravel,
During the debate in the house of Commons on Wednesday 12 December, 2007 re. Bill C-484, you began your presentation with the words "I am a Catholic Priest." As a priest Father, you are aware of the Spiritual works of Mercy that Jesus calls us to practice.
To admonish the sinner, to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the sorrowful, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive injuries, to pray for the living and the dead.
You accused the pro-life group Campaign Life Coalition of lacking in love and compassion. You said "It's through education, through outreach, through helping women who have undesired pregnancies I think that's how to solve the problem of abortion."
Well that Father Gravel is exactly what the pro- life movement is all about; We tell the truth, we educate, we instruct, we counsel, we comfort, we bear wrongs patiently, we forgive and we pray for the living and the dead. And Father these works are done in a spirit of peace, love, sacrifice and above all, compassion, which you say we lack.
Also, You stated that you were "uncomfortable" with the Bill C-484 "because the member putting it forward is part of a fanatical pro-life group." You say that you are pro life but not part of the pro-life movement. How is that possible? Pope John Paul 11 says in the Gospel of life "We are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the "culture of death" and the "culture of life." We find ourselves not only "faced with" but "in the midst of" this conflict. We are all involved and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life." (#28) Father, This is a very clear directive from our previous Pope.
Reverend Raymond Gravel
184 Notre-Dame Street,
uite 201Repentigny, QC, J6A 2P9
Dear Father Gravel,
During the debate in the house of Commons on Wednesday 12 December, 2007 re. Bill C-484, you began your presentation with the words "I am a Catholic Priest." As a priest Father, you are aware of the Spiritual works of Mercy that Jesus calls us to practice.
To admonish the sinner, to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the sorrowful, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive injuries, to pray for the living and the dead.
You accused the pro-life group Campaign Life Coalition of lacking in love and compassion. You said "It's through education, through outreach, through helping women who have undesired pregnancies I think that's how to solve the problem of abortion."
Well that Father Gravel is exactly what the pro- life movement is all about; We tell the truth, we educate, we instruct, we counsel, we comfort, we bear wrongs patiently, we forgive and we pray for the living and the dead. And Father these works are done in a spirit of peace, love, sacrifice and above all, compassion, which you say we lack.
Also, You stated that you were "uncomfortable" with the Bill C-484 "because the member putting it forward is part of a fanatical pro-life group." You say that you are pro life but not part of the pro-life movement. How is that possible? Pope John Paul 11 says in the Gospel of life "We are facing an enormous and dramatic clash between good and evil, death and life, the "culture of death" and the "culture of life." We find ourselves not only "faced with" but "in the midst of" this conflict. We are all involved and we all share in it, with the inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life." (#28) Father, This is a very clear directive from our previous Pope.
The Gospel of Life is at the heart of Jesus’
message.... and yet you do not promote it, and worse, you insult those who do.
I never expected this kind of response from a Catholic priest and of course I
am very disappointed. Personally I would like to thank Mr Epp and all those
involved with the tabling of Bill C-484, for their courage
and perseverance, toil and tears,
in the midst of such hostility. Father
Gravel, I leave you with another quote from Evangelium Vitae "It
is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending
the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals
are founded and from which they develop. The Gospel of Life is for the whole of
human society. To be actively pro-life is to contribute to the renewal of
society through the promotion of the common good. (#101).
Peace and prayers,
Maureen Teresa Ward,
2129 Blue Jay Crescent,
613-745-0619
e-mail mtward@magma.ca
Cc
Archbishop Luigi Ventura,Apostolic Nuncio to Canada:724 Manor AvenueOttawa, ON, KIM OE3
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast,1247 Kilborn Place,Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 6K9.
Most Rev. Gilles Lussier,Diocese of Joliette:2, rue St-Charles-Borromée NordC.P. 470Joliette, QC, J6E 6H6
Mr. Ken Epp141 Seneca Rd.,Sherwood Park, AB, T8A 4G6
Mr. Mauril Belanger,
168 Charlotte St., Suite 504
Ottawa, ON, K1N 8K6
Peace and prayers,
Maureen Teresa Ward,
2129 Blue Jay Crescent,
Ottawa Ontario,
K1J 6A9
613-745-0619
e-mail mtward@magma.ca
Cc
Archbishop Luigi Ventura,Apostolic Nuncio to Canada:724 Manor AvenueOttawa, ON, KIM OE3
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast,1247 Kilborn Place,Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 6K9.
Most Rev. Gilles Lussier,Diocese of Joliette:2, rue St-Charles-Borromée NordC.P. 470Joliette, QC, J6E 6H6
Mr. Ken Epp141 Seneca Rd.,Sherwood Park, AB, T8A 4G6
Mr. Mauril Belanger,
168 Charlotte St., Suite 504
Ottawa, ON, K1N 8K6
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