If pro-lifers were waiting for the right moment to act, this is it, says Father Larry Lynn.
The assistant pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish in West Vancouver and pro-life chaplain has attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C., read news from the front lines in the U.S., and believes the time is ripe for increased advocacy for the rights of the unborn.
“People who are for abortion are really going way out there, talking about abortions until the moment of birth, and even after that if the child survives,” said Father Lynn.
Last week, the U.S. Senate voted on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require that children born alive after failed abortions receive the same health care as any other child of their age born in the U.S.
It fell three votes short Feb. 21, and those who voted against it were accused of promoting infanticide.
Also this year, New York State expanded its abortion laws and Virginia legislators spoke up in favour of allowing abortion up until birth in some circumstances; both met a firestorm of criticism in U.S. news and social media.
“Canadians, we’re way beyond what the Americans have done,” said Father Lynn. “We’ve been doing what the Americans have been debating for over 30 years.”
Abortion can be performed in Canada at any stage of gestation, and the Canadian Institute for Health Information has revealed that children sometimes survive the abortion. In 2017, 152 infants were born alive after failed abortions in Canada, but CIHI was unable to say how they were treated next, only that they all died in hospital.
“You don’t need to be Catholic to see this is detrimental to society,” said Father Lynn. He senses an appetite for change in the U.S. and Canada when it comes to the rights of unborn humans. “There is a lot of energy.”
Father Lynn, the pro-life chaplain of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, has written letters to all local priests and even Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, urging them to promote, support, and encourage their flocks to participate in the 40 Days for Life campaign.
The international, peaceful protest runs annually during Lent and involves participants signing up for time slots to pray and hold signs outside facilities where abortions are performed. Participants who can’t make it to the site may elect to pray at home or in their local church.
Father Lynn said he’s optimistic many parishes will sign up to participate outside B.C. Women’s Hospital this year; one Vancouver Catholic community has already signed up to pray there for four days, which is double the time they spent at the site last year.
Vancouver’s 40 Days for Life campaign begins March 5 with Mass at the John Paul II Pastoral Centre at 11 p.m., followed by a walk to the vigil site. Other major events will include a mid-way rally March 24 and closing event April 13 (one day before Palm Sunday).
