Canadian "family group" demanding Morgentaler's honor be revoked
Remember how Henry Morgentaler, Canada's best-known abortion-rights crusader was to the Order of Canada? Apparently some folks aren't too happy about it.
A Calgary-based activist group has filed an official request to the Governor General, asking that she strip abortion crusader Dr. Henry Morgentaler of his membership in the Order of Canada...."Henry Morgentaler's conduct is unbecoming that of a member of the Order of Canada and thereby tarnishes all recipients of this tremendous award," the coalition wrote in its letter to the Order of Canada advisory committee.
Yes, supporting women's rights is pretty "unbecoming." Sigh.
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Sadly, I was expecting something like this after reading the first story.
I really hate it when I'm right sometimes......
What, did no one return their award in a fit of anti-Morgentalerism (as previously requested by the anti-choicers)? *eyeroll*
Maybe they should just be happy that SOMEBODY was finally recognized for abortion rights work. But oh...they wouldn't, they're anti-choicers. Should I write a letter to the Governor General for all the recipients whose achievements I don't agree with? I better get a new printer....
I was also wondering about this after I read Pedges post on her blog Anti-choice is anti-awesome. I would have thought that there would have been way more hype before he got the award.
LoL, faerietails. If they do then they didn't deserve it in the first place.
You go Dr. Morgentaler! *cheer*
@faerietails: One person, Lucien Larré a Catholic priest from BC, is returning his award
Interestingly, if the Canadian Family Action Coalition won it's request to retroactively apply a regulation to strip Morgentaler of his award, it would set a precedent which would allow Lucien Larré to be stripped of his as well. And although Morgentaler's prosecutions and professional sanctions were received in the pursuit of his cause, Larré has no such excuse.
rhowan: Except that Larré got a pardon. Assault a girl, do one day in prison, get a pardon.
Note also, that this guy recently (2 years ago) had has counselling license revoked, much to the surprise of the people still paying him for counselling services.
The guy is a nutjob. Absolute nutjob.
@LadyTess There actually has been a fair bit of hype. The media has been talking about the possibility actively since January, which marked the 20th anniversary of the R. v Morgentaler Supreme Court ruling which decriminalized abortion in Canada. There have been competing Facebook groups since at least February (with more popping up now that he's actually receiving the award).
Also, for the Canadians out there, the following message has been popping up on a number of forums, so I might as well spread it here too:
Another Order of Canada was returned. The recipient is deceased but those who run the organization she founded decided she would have returned the award if she was still alive...
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2008/07/08/morgentaler-order.html