Holy Cross Fathers betray pro-lifers

News Release
For immediate release

Saint Joseph's Oratory will no longer host the 2005 Pro-life conference organized by Compagne Quebec Vie. The administration of Saint Joseph's Oratory has made the difficult decision to withdraw permission from Compagne Quebec Vie to hold its 2005 Pro-life conference which was to be held on its premises between November 17 and 19, 2005.

"In the past three days we have been informed that protests on our grounds are being planned against the 2005 pro-life conference. We have come to the conclusion that we cannot guarantee the safety of the people on the grounds
of Saint Joseph's Oratory during this event," explained Jean-Pierre Aumont, c.s.c., rector of the Oratory.

For the past 100 years Saint Joseph's Oratory has offered an open space for spiritual and peaceful meetings, however, the administration's priority is to ensure the safety of its pilgrims, all its visitors and staff. The administration of Saint Joseph's Oratory regrets any inconvenience that this decision may cause.

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What is going on here you ask?

MONTREAL, November 16, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - One day prior to the opening of the Canadian National Pro-Life Conference the religious priests who are in charge of Canada's national Catholic shrine, St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal, have reneged on the contracted use of their facilities for the conference due to threats received from 'pro-choice' and homosexual activists.

The decision is not based on police inability to offer adequate protection, according to police officials. Organizers of the conference are scrambling to find another location at such short notice. Despite the pleas of pro-life leaders to reverse the decision in several meetings today, Father Jean-Pierre Aumont, the rector of the Oratory, was unmoveable in his decision. The Holy Cross Fathers is the religious Order which tends to the Oratory, and Fr. Aumont is a member of the Order.

The news comes as a shock of monumental proportions to the pro-life movement. Even now, conference speakers and hundreds of attendees are en route to Montreal by plane, train and automobile, with hotel rooms and flights booked and paid for. Many of the hopeful participants have saved all year in order to be able to attend the conference.

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 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 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. She noted that the police could offer "adequate protection" but, "it was the decision of the Oratory to cancel the conference."

I fully expect pro-abortion activists to act in an unacceptable manner and it is evident today that radical homosexual activists will show little constraint in pursuing their political agenda. The Catholic laity, however, expects its ordained priests to demonstrate a minimal amount of steadfastness and courage for the faith. Since the police indicate they can provide adequate security, it is clear that courage and steadfastness are not qualities possessed by the Holy Cross Fathers of Saint Joseph's Oratory. Their capitulation to the cult of death is shameful.

I won't be travelling to the Oratory for a pilgrimage. I prefer to pray without being surrounded by cowardly clerics unworthy of their charge.

One more thing. If I were an organizer of the conference, I'd sue the crap out of the spineless buggers.