Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ottawa (Fides Agency) - “The greatest treasure of Canada: its people” was the title of the message published by the Catholic Organisation for Life and Family for the National March for Life, to be held in Canada for the ninth time on May 11th, in Ottawa. According to what the organisers of the March say in their message, the situation of Canada is the source of deep concern: the percentage of births cannot guarantee the present consistency of the Canadian population and the growing old age of the people will lead to inevitable social and economic problems. “Abortion is killing the future of Canada” the promoters say, launching an appeal to all Canadians to acknowledge that “the greatest treasure of a Country is its people”.
The Message also wants to be a call to offer to all young people a chaste and faithful concept of love, as the place to welcome a new life, to help young people discover the fullness of human love according to God’s plan, which is not only sex, nor selfishness, but implies self-giving. It is a call to rediscover the greatness of responsible maternity and paternity and promote the beauty of the role of parenthood, a call to offer to the women who grasp this responsibility the opportunity to continue and develop their professional skills and qualification. It is, finally, a call to increase initiatives and services for pregnant women who live in difficult situations.
“The serious demographic challenge Canada is facing - the Message continues - requires resolute actions in favour of marriage and family”. It is, therefore, necessary to change people’s mindset with regard to children who are about to be born: “more than a threat, children are a resource and a promise, a promise for the future”. The Message also calls for “the active engagement of all those people who believe in life and choose to welcome it and help it, from the very first moment up to its natural end”. The Message ends with the invitation, addressed to everyone, to take up this civil responsibility and take part in the March of May 11th, in order to be “witnesses of the sacred and inalienable value of every human life - even in spite of great sufferance - as a means to contribute to humanise the Canadian society”. (RG) (Fides Agency 5/5/2006)
