Canada Day Dis-Order
gabrielle July 1st, 2008
Normally when I use the tag “Canadian” on a post, it is with a sense of joy and a feeling of pride. Sadly, this is not the case today, on our country’s 141st birthday.
Today, to our eternal shame, the Order of Canada, the highest honour Canada awards to anyone, was presented to Henry Morgentaler (I refuse to use the misnomer “doctor” in front of his name), Canada’s abortionist/abortion-rights crusader par excellence and the dead-man-walking epitome of the culture of death.
The Order of Canada “is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country. The Order of Canada’s motto is DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM (They desire a better country).” Well, apparently not anymore.
The Order of Canada was awarded to Henry Morgentaler (despite a huge outcry from a cross-section of Canadians several months ago and also over the last forty-eight hours) by Governor General Michaelle Jean (who herself just a few short days ago attended the 49th International Eucharistic Congress). Is there a stronger word for shame? It just doesn’t seem to cut it.
So much dishonour. Dishonour to the voice of the people. Dishonour to Saint Joseph, our patron saint. Dishonour to the millions of murdered babies. Dishonour to thousands of other worthy recipients of the Order of Canada for promoting a culture of life through their efforts in all walks of life, including the sciences, the arts, and heroic efforts to save the lives of complete strangers.
Where shall the word be found, where will
the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough
silence
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain
land,
For those who walk in darkness
Both in the day time and in the night time
The right time and the right place are not
here
No place of grace for those who avoid the
face
No time to rejoice for those who walk among
noise and deny the voice.”
[An excerpt from T. S. Eliot's Ash Wednesday]
I apologize for not having been available to respond to comments on other posts the last couple of days, but it was primarily due to fielding a flood of incoming emails and instructions regarding this matter from various Cdn. Catholic/Christian organizations.
For the first time in Canadian history, the Order of Canada was awarded to someone without the unanimous consent of the awards committee, and they say it is also the first time it has been awarded to such a controversial figure.
Similar abominations happen in Ireland, too (and of course, here in America; we have commencement speakers at Catholic colleges who would turn God’s own hair white). If the saints weren’t in Heaven, surely they’d be puking. But the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Rock. The prince of this world is feeling his Wheaties, but he (as always) hasn’t banked on there being faithful among the crowds. I’m sorry, G, for your sense of national shame in awarding a veritable minion Canada’s highest honor. I’d forgotten by now, in so many ways, how that sort of thing affects people
It’s so frustrating though. There was an opinion poll in a major newspaper about this several months ago; 92% of respondents voted not to give him the Order of Canada, but a handful of people on a committee, with a non-unanimous vote are able to override the Canadian peoples’ wishes.
And although Canada is officially a democracy, in reality it is nothing of the sort. Every major ethical/religious/moral decision in this country ultimately ends up at the Supreme Court, where a few non-elected-by-the-people judges decide the fate of the country.
Your entire last paragraph above, G, sounds like you could just replace the word “Canada” with “America.” We go through many farces of voting. It’s only a wonder that we, too, don’t bear photo-op purple thumbs of democracy.
The honour is frustrating, yes. As you say, many thousands of others qualified for truly noble reasons.. I recall a few years back dreading reading the other nominees for the Nobel Peace prize; I wondered who else would be put into the same category with JP II. The Lord said two things about the world’s honours: 1) If we settle for that, that’s what we’ll get, and 2) “but fear not; I have overcome the world.”
Oh, I know, and the scripture passage about where your treasure is, there is your heart…came to mind, but this matter, I think, along with other things such as having changed the Constitutional definition of marriage, goes way beyond honours, or dishonour. When a country abandons God, God will abandon the country, and eventually the people of God will abandon the country as well, if not physically, then psychologically and emotionally. It is not unlike the disunity created in the Church by all the divisive factions; the fact that this was purposely planned to happen on Canada Day has caused much dissension and divisiveness, and for thousands of people has ruined the national day when we should all be thanking and praising God for the beauty and blessings He has given us here. We can and should continue to thank and praise Him for all we have been granted here, but I feel there is a growing awareness of the enormity of reparation that will be required.
This is terribly disappointing and a sad day for people of every nation.
Canada is still lovely and holy and family oriented. My view is always from her people, not her big names, so I can see that she is still all Joseph-ine, all Catholic oratorio, all hockey, all Mere Mere tortiere, and all good neighbour to all her neighbours. Every year for all my life (and still!) I see her children come down here, sweet traditional families of younger limbs swimming in *warmer* ocean waters and boosting our economy every whichway, and teaching us friendliness through an enormous language barrier (I can’t say “J’taime” to just everyone, tho’ it brings a chuckle), and I’d not know of the Rosary’s love if not for Canada. She will never be dirtied in my eyes, mon ami, and I suppose there is a silver lining: This is a reminder that Joseph, too, is stronger than the prince of the world, and we will ask him all the more to throw his mantle over the land. But yes, reparation, too.
‘yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country.’
This is indeed a sad reflection on what a committee can do in spite of what they are hearing from without - in fact it sounds very much like it is to spite what they are hearing.
Power has gone to their heads - but that is nothing new.
But nothing can justify their decision in my opinion - especially when you consider the qoute I’ve taken from the extract.
Prayer, Gabrielle, is the only powerful answer/ weapon against this - more and more of it.
I’m sorry for the upset this causing so many good, right-thinking Canadians.
I might elaborate that when I was in Ireland’s west, I was thrilled to see Mary statues everywhere. Ireland is nothing if not the epitome of Catholicism. There was even a Mary arch built into a railroad station’s wall, and of course statues out in the hills, lit at night.. Mass and Adoration everywhere all the time.. It eased the soul of someone from a country of 26% Catholic (to some degree) of which only 2% perhaps refer to Mary, especially via statues.. Ireland was still fighting the English abortions, and divorce, and I grieved for my country. And then, when I went into the Ladies’ in a beautiful ancient old hotel, I saw a condom dispenser. In a Catholic land? In a land that loves children? WTH?? My God, it was like a mule-kick to the chest. How did the devil get into Ireland, of all places?? I could only blame the Christ-less influence of the EU, but I left a note on the machine anyway, “Out of Order.” (Indeed so!) My friend was astonished; there was no such machine in the Gents’. I’d wanted him to bring me around to all the Ladies’ in all of Cork. He said he’d never live it down if I got beaten senseless on his watch.
Yes, I am sorry too, that Canada has been shamed. It is the way of “the world,” and I cannot imagine why so many Catholics are still so asleep to it! But also, I suppose people in every age are moved to ask the very same thing. Amen, Ann, prayer. Sometimes it seems like only a handful are praying in a land, but it’s not so. However, one cannot fail to see the necessity for Mary’s dedicated “army.”
Gabrielle: After reading the heartfelt comments offered by your other readers/participants, I am in agreement with them all. Carol is right; your references to Canada could just as easily have been made about my (our) own nation. Just in my own lifetime, I have witnessed the decline of morality and the unraveling of ethics in America….like “ripples in a pond”, the effects seem to just go on and on. Terry is right, this “regognition” is indeed a tragedy for all people, of all nations, not just for Canada. Ann is right, that prayer is OUR right response…to cry out to God in the face of such evil.
Your response of “righteous indignation” and horror is reflective of your love, respect & honor for our Lord, and for all that He has created. If this series of events did NOT horrify you, then you would have to ignore the TRUTH that is so evident to His followers. You’d be entwined (and a participant) in the distortion and the deceit - rather than one who SEES with spiritual eyes and HEARS with spiritual ears. GOD BLESS YOU for speaking out, for not turning a “blind eye”. A few days ago, you posted a quote re: “detachment” and “the suffering of the world”….sometimes this is a “fine line” we must walk…to respond in grief, compassion and mercy….to be CONNECTED to the suffering, but not to lose hope.
Indeed, we are engaged in “spiritual warfare”…and yes, Carol, God’s enemy is VERY busy, trying to undermine the Kingdom (”His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven…”). He is busy in every nation where human beings exist, as we are the very ones he seeks to destroy. It’s a wonderful promise, that we have been given the tools/weapons/defenses, in order to engage in warfare! At times like these, it feels as tho we are on “the front lines” of battle.
My mind turned to some passages in Romans, where Paul speaks of the moral decay and depravity of culture….see what you think about a “direct parallel” to be found in the following verses:
Romans 1: 28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 2: 5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.
GOD BLESS YOU…and Carol….and Terry….and Ann….for making a difference, for keeping the faith, for fighting the good fight.
May God bless you too, Kristin, for all the very same.
Thank you. Kristin, for your blessings. Amazing parallels can indeed be drawn between the passages you have cited and today’s awful happenings throughout the world, but as you say too, we must never give up hope.
It is yet another of the many signs of the times when good and evil become indistinguishable to the masses.
In fact, more so than ever, we are well into living in an age where a major cultural reversal of values is emerging. That which we hold as sacred and good is coming to be viewed as the useless and lifeless holdover of an age bygone, and those things which run contrary to the the faith and its values are somehow deemed to be good.
It is also the case that moral blindness is a growing symptom of our times. I recently wrote a post on how we are to defeat evil. Undoubtedly, it is a perplexing issue.
Terry, how very appropriate, after reading your comment, to see in my sidebar today, from the Daily Bible Verse: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)
I just want to say thank you to all of you for your understanding and your wonderful comments, and for the support you give here. Kristin, the first quote you give, from Romans I (the first sentence) is exactly what I meant when I said to C in one of these comments that if a country abandons God, God will abandon the country… I truly do believe, as Ann said, that prayer is really the only answer, ultimately; but, as we tried in this case, action is imperative as well. The Archbishops are rallying us for a “revoke the award” campaign; I will participate, but quite honestly I do not feel very hopeful in that regard. I have a prayer in mind, though, to post for tomorrow or the next day.
Our local “Catholic” MP isn’t responding to letters related to this issue. He also supports a culture of death in regard to marriage and euthanasia as well as murdering the unborn. But what’s worse is that many Catholics don’t seem to see what the fuss is about.
Owen, I would love to be able to say I’m surprised, but of course I’m not… We are living in a society where murder is considered to be “health care”…
I see that a Canadian bishop has given back his own Order of Canada award in protest of Morgentaler’s having also received it. Good for that Bishop. As we’ve long known from the Lord’s own mouth, the awards of the world are skimpy at worst, fickle at best.
Hi Carol (and thanks for the link you sent to me as well). Actually, Jean-Claude Turcotte is a Cardinal, and Archbishop of Montreal. I was able to catch a portion of his interview on t.v. the day this was happening, and I’ve read his official statement. I must admit to being a bit mystified by his delayed reaction, despite what he says in his official statement; nevertheless, better late than never, I suppose.