Poll: Majority of Canadians Back Award for Abortion Practitioner Morgentaler
RSS Newsfeed 
Email article
Printer friendly
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 9, 2008
Ottawa, Canada (LifeNews.com) — A new poll reveals a strong majority of Canadians support infamous abortion practitioner Henry Morgentaler receiving the Order of Canada award. The results aren’t surprising given the greater tolerance Canadians have for unlimited abortions compared with their Americans counterparts.
On the heels of the controversial appointment of Morgentaler to the Order of Canada, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted for the CanWest News Service finds two-thirds of Canadians are supportive.
About 65 percent of those polled favor Morgentaler receiving the prestigious medal, which pro-life advocates have been returning saying it is now tainted.
Some 27 percent say they strongly support the honor while another 37 percent somewhat support it.
Despite Prime Minister Harper’s personal dissatisfaction with this decision and his subsequent comment that the Order of Canada should unite Canadians, only 35 percent of Canadians back his position, the poll revealed.
About 19 percent of Canadians strongly opposed the honor while 16 percent somewhat oppose Morgentaler getting the medal.
Women (68 percent) were more likely than men (61%) to support Morgentaler getting the Order of Canada.
Quebecers (72%) are most likely to support this appointment, followed by those living in Ontario (69%), British Columbia (61%), Alberta (54%), Atlantic Canada (52%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (51%).
Younger Canadians (70%), aged 18 to 34, are more likely than middle-aged Canadians (65%), 35 to 54, or older Canadians (59%) , 55 and older, to support this decision.
Yesterday, officials with the Madonna House returned the medal that Catherine Doherty, founder of the charity and who is under study for sainthood in the Catholic Church, received.
Doherty founded the Ontario charity in 1947, received the order in 1976 and died in 1985.
Fr. David May, a Madonna House director, said in a press release that "She exemplified what the Order of Canada should be about: an individual committed to strengthening the nation by her contribution to the vulnerable and the marginalized."
"It is only after much prayer and consultation with our community, as well as with heavy hearts, that we are undertaking this action," he added.
Also, LifeNews.com reported on a women’s group that said many women who had abortions at Morgentaler’s abortion centers were upset by the decision because of the pain and agony he caused them.
The Governor General’s web site states that Morgentaler was made a member of the Order of Canada for "his commitment to increased health care options for women, his determined efforts to influence Canadian public policy and his leadership in humanist and civil liberties organizations."
Morgentaler founded the first abortion center in Montreal in 1968. He currently operates six abortion facilities in Canada and has fought to make Canadians pay for abortions with their tax dollars.
The governor general’s web site said Morgentaler will be named at a later date as a member of the Order of Canada because of his so-called work on behalf of health care and humanitarian causes.
Despite an overwhelming objection to the award from the pro-life community, Morgentaler says he deserves it.
"The work I’ve done over the years and the sacrifices and the sentence of imprisonment that I have suffered, I think that finally now the government has recognized my contribution to Canadian women and I am very proud of it," the eighty-five year old Morgentaler told a news conference in Toronto.
Immediately following the news, a slew of statements and comments from pro-life advocates came to LifeNews.com condemning the award.
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
