Why the "March for Life"?

by Tim Scatliff

Why do we bother to rally at the Legislature every year and parade down Portage Ave.? Haven’t we lost the two most important battles already? Isn't abortion a woman's choice - isn't that settled? Abortion has been a health care option in Canada for 51 years. Euthanasia and assisted suicide (MAiD) - have been health care options since mid-2016.  Hasn't that already been settled as well? So what’s the point of the March of Life?

We march because over 4 million preborn babies have been killed by abortion in those 51 years and approximately 7 thousand Canadians euthanized over the past three and a half years. Those are big losses.

We march because we are Christians, we understand that "a preborn is not a choice - it's a baby". It's a baby created for eternal life - knit in the mother's womb by God Himself. We march because even the secular world should accept the scientific evidence that the preborn is human - living and growing from the moment of conception. Don't all humans, no matter how small, have a right to life? The right to life should never be a considered a choice.

We march because we recognize many historical events in our history - good and bad. It's important for our perspective - what we have learned from our history - especially when it comes to human rights and terrible injustices. Just because it's legal, does not make it right.

The United States March for Life is held in January to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade & Doe v. Bolton, which invalidated laws restricting abortion in all 50 states. In Canada, the March for Life is held in May to mark the anniversary of the decriminalization of abortion in our nation. This year's month of May is the 51st anniversary of the passing of Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s omnibus bill.

"We march because we envision a future world where the beauty and dignity of every human life are valued and protected...we promote the beauty and dignity of every human life by working to end abortion (and assisted suicide) —uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square...together we stand for the preborn and the suffering"[1].

We march because there is still a lot of room to change hearts on these issues. Respectful, educated, and articulate dialogue is essential - and a lot of prayer!

Are Canadians happy about where we are in our legal system on these issues? No - not according to the polls.

We march because on the issue abortion: "6 in 10 Canadians say human life should be legally protected some time prior to birth. Almost 1 in 4 say it should be protected from conception on"; "Polls show that a strong majority, 72%, want to see some protection for unborn human life."; "92% of Canadians think that sex-selection abortion should not be legal.". Canada remains the only nation in the Western world that has no protection for preborn children up to and including delivery - for any reason.

LifeCanada reports that in a 2016 National Poll on "Assisted Dying": 54% say ensuring palliative care access is more important than access to assisted dying, vs. 22% who say access to assisted dying is more important; 50% say protecting the vulnerable against undue pressure is more important than access to assisted dying, vs. 31% who say access to assisted dying is more important; surprisingly, while Quebec has more experience with doctor-assisted dying than the rest of Canada, Quebecers are more in favor than other Canadians of restricting it to “grievous and irremediable circumstances, with strict limits” (58% vs. 47%); 70% of Canadians "want to restrict doctor assisted suicide to only the terminally ill"; 54% say ensuring palliative care access is more important than access to assisted dying";

The Canadian government is now likely to propose this year to extend euthanasia and assisted suicide to the mentally ill; to mature minors, and allowing advanced directives. The letter to Prime Minster Trudeau from Archbishop Richard Gagnon, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, is a must read! Here is the link. We march because the Government of Canada needs to see that we care.

It has been said that we must focus on changing the hearts of Canadians - that laws themselves are a reflection of our combined hearts.

ARPA’s Mike Schouten, speaking to the crowd at last year's March for Life in Toronto, believes strongly that we march because along with proper education, the March for Life will equip all of us to lead many more Canadians to care deeply and to care loudly, working prudently, effectively and strategically to mobilize millions of Canadians for the purpose of passing laws to protect our preborn neighbours.

We march because it is our obligation to speak for the voiceless. It inspires us and gives us strength when we young and old come together. We show our solidarity to the public in proclaiming the power of being present for those who need our help to live not die. Not to extend life at all costs, but to respect and comfort life from conception to natural death.  To show the value of all human life and their individual rights.

I’m not sure where I read it, probably on social media, but someone was asking if you ever wondered what you would have done if you were a citizen in a country that began to treat selected members of its population as subhuman? The answer is: whatever you would have done then - you’re doing it now.

What side of history do we want to be on?

We march because we are making a difference!

Be part of the change!

[1] From the website of the National March for Life in Washington, DC