Abortion rights figure Henry Morgentaler remembered as a true Canadian hero
Abortion crusader Henry Morgentaler died today (May 29) at the age of 90.
The Poland-born doctor was a central figure in the legal battle that led to the repeal of Canada’s abortion law in 1988.
A Holocaust survivor, Morgentaler opened his first abortion clinic in Montreal in 1968.
In life and death, the University of Montreal-educated doctor is a controversial figure.
For Joyce Arthur, executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, Morgentaler is a “true Canadian hero”.
“He saved so many women’s lives for so many years,” Arthur told the Straight in a phone interview. “We really want to honour his over 30 years of struggle to overturn the abortion law in Canada.
“He was very brave and compassionate, and showed a lot of respect and love for women,” the Vancouver-based Arthur added.
It’s the opposite for Mary Ellen Douglas, national organizer of the Campaign Life Coalition.
“He taught people to be abortionists,” Douglas told the Straight by phone from Ottawa. “He taught them to use the methods he was using. All of these dead babies are a result of his action.”
Asked if she considers Morgentaler a murderer, Douglas responded, “I would not use that term on anyone, but these babies died because of him.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged that his Conservative government will not reopen the abortion debate.
While Arthur believes that Harper will keep his word, she also noted that Conservatives are “no friend of women and women’s rights”.
“We can never be complacent in terms of a Conservative government someday bringing forward the abortion issue,” Arthur said. “Maybe not under Harper but under a new leader, for example. So those are the things that we need to be careful about.”
Douglas acknowledged that anti-abortion legislation will not happen under the current federal government. But she said that opponents of abortion will continue to work through the electoral system so that more politicians sympathetic to her group's cause will be in the House of Commons.
“At this minute, do we have enough to bring in a law?” Douglas said. “Probably not. But that’s not going to stop us from...getting more people in there.”
Comments
3 Comments
King Hughes
May 29, 2013 at 5:22pm
The man who persisted in winning the rights of a woman to an abortion was ultimately responsible for the deaths of thousands, upon thousands of viable human beings, many simply to avoid shame.
A hero? Not on your life.
Forest
May 29, 2013 at 9:26pm
King Hughes: I'm guessing your a man, right? And given that your moniker is "king", I'll also guess that you've bestowed upon yourself some sort of major Caesar complex that allows you to dictate what a woman must do with her own body, for her own good and the good of her children. And finally, I'll make the safe bet that you have not one ounce of the moral rectitude, intelligence, bravery, and compassion that comprised Dr. Henry Morgentaler. He made Canada a much safer, equitable and healthy place for women and their children. What, pray tell, has the King done?
RUK
May 30, 2013 at 8:41am
Morgantaler was a hard man to like personally - boasting about his money and his mistress - but no doubt a pivotal figure, did work that was important, in that respect a very great Canadian.
@King: as a mere guess, I would say that probably many of those abortions were inspired by shame, sure. Ultimately though, whether or not you or I or anyone agrees with the decision, there is a far greater principle here: consent.
If you consent to donate your blood and organs to another person, for transplant or life support, that is great. If you do not consent, but your body is used anyway, then that is a crime against humanity.
The voluntariness is all.
What would be the difference, King, between a woman being required to give birth - a physical condition that is not without pain and risk to health and life - and requiring you or me to donate our blood or organs? After all, we would be saving human lives. The greater good, right?
Wrong.
This country does not have a draft or impress. We cannot be forced to give our time and health to be soldiers. Therefore, it would be equally wrong to oblige women to give their time and health to bring babies to term against their wishes.
Like soldiers, women who are pregnant put their bodies on the line for the greater good, and their honourable decision should be supported, sure. But I do not support forcing them.