`Pro-choice' and homosexual activists heading for today's Canadian Pro-Life Conference in Montreal got an unexpected morale boost from surprising quarters. The Catholic priests who agreed--by written contract--to provide the venue for the conference, reneged in the 11th hour.
Even as conference speakers and hundreds of attendees were enroute to Montreal by plane, train and automobile, the religious priests who are in charge of Canada's national Catholic shrine, St. Joseph's Oratory where the conference was to take place pulled the plug.
Threats had been received from pro-choice and homosexual activists. Oddly enough, the priests' decision to renege on the venue was not based on fear of inadequate police protection, according to police officials in charge of providing protection at the conference.
Pro-lifers expect political battles from pro-choice opponents, but they never expect them from the Catholic priests with whom they are in concert in their ongoing fight against abortion.
The conference attracted hundreds of pro-life advocates from near and far. Hotel rooms have already been booked and paid for. Many of the participants of the conference had saved all year to be able to attend.
In a race against time, organizers were scrambling to find an alternate location on an almost impossible short notice.
"Despite the pleas of pro-life leaders to reverse the decision in several meetings yesterday, Father Jean-Pierre aumont, the rector of the Oratory, was unmoveable in his decision." (LifeSiteNews.com).
The news that Catholic priests had shut the door on the conference came as a shock to organizers.
The conference, sponsored by Campaign Life Coalition and Life Canada, is to be hosted by Montreal-based Campagne Quebec Vie (Campaign Life Quebec).
Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition Life Canada told LifeSiteNews.com, "This decision to cancel the contract at this last minute is a great capitulation on the part of the Catholic Church in the face of opposition to its pro-life, pro-family teaching."
Luc Gagnon, President of Campagne Quebec Vie wondered how the already cash-strapped pro-life movement in Canada would be able to sustain the loss of tens of thousands of dollars, which the last-minute cancellation of venue would incur.
While there has been a movement to oppose the pro-life conference by pro-choice and homosexual activists, Montreal police Detective Sergeant Judy Poulin told LifeSiteNews.com that Montreal police did not tell the Oratory to cancel the conference. Detective Poulin noted that the police could offer "adequate protection" but, "it was the decision of the Oratory to cancel the conference."
at press time, it was unknown whether organizers had found another venue.
Meanwhile, conference participants are left to wonder whose side are the priests of Canada's National Shrine really on.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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