What we can do

As I wrote yesterday, I think we really need to pray without ceasing, to combat the evil that has gripped the world in general, and Canada in particular.

This would go hand in hand with all of our other efforts to combat evil.

This morning I offered up 8am Mass at St. Andrew's Cathedral (in Victoria) and adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament for this. Maureen prayed in front of the abortion clinic in Ottawa at the same time (11am in Ottawa).

I'd like to continue to do this weekdays until Easter. It would be great if others would like to join in at the same time, in their own way, across the country. To pray. In whatever way you pray. For our political leaders and for our spiritual leaders. For persecuted persons and for their persecutors. That they will act in accordance with God's will.

As the priest said at Mass this morning, as long as we are being faithful to God, and trust in Him, He can bring good from evil. Even man's sin cannot thwart God.

That's 8am Pacific time and 11am Eastern time, every weekday. Join me and Maureen in prayer.

When evil spreads

Last week Maureen and I prayed at the Ottawa abortion clinic. It was very cold. It was very sad. It's always sad there. How could it not be?

In fact Canada is a very sad country, and getting sadder every day it seems. Unlimited abortion on demand, and now we'll have an assisted suicide regime to follow in abortion's foosteps.

And the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario wants to force doctors to refer anyway, even when they object to these practices.

While the world is outraged over ISIS, all of this is going on in our own backyard. With hardly a peep of protest from the average person.

It seems that prayer in front of an abortion clinic is all that some of us can do to stem the tide of the evil. A tide that's spreading. Right in front of our noses.

Abortion counseling lacking for older women

Apparently Unwanted pregnancies–and abortions–are rising among women in their 30s and 40s.

And we don't know why. Because of course, abortion data collection in this country is woefully inadequate as I've written time and time again. And the reasons for abortions are unknown as well, because we don't track reasons either.

But here's something else that's interesting. You know how abortion clinics love to tell us they counsel women who are having abortions? Well it seems that with these older women, they may not be getting the counseling they need:

"That’s led to what some see as significant gaps in support services for older women who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies. For Carrie, the fact that she already knew the joys of motherhood made the decision to have an abortion particularly difficult. “I knew exactly what I was giving up,” she says. “I knew I was never going to get another chance.” 

She also felt the staff at the abortion clinic assumed that because she was in her 30s and already had three children, she didn’t require counselling to help make the decision to end her pregnancy. Clinic staff told her abortion was likely her best option because of the complications with her past pregnancies. 

Four years later, now 37, she’s still struggling with the emotional fallout. “[They] assumed I was old enough, mature enough to deal with it,” she says. “They were wrong. I very much needed help and was not given it. I think they focus on young girls and making sure they are okay with their decision. No one is doing the same for older women.”

It's too bad this poor woman hadn't gone to a crisis pregnancy centre instead of an abortion clinic.

Abortion consent forms

Some time ago I contacted numerous abortion clinics/hospitals around the country. I asked them to provide me with copies of their abortion consent forms.

Five places responded to me with their consent forms.

Some would not provide their forms.

Some places never responded.

Here are the documents I did receive.

Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg
(I was told that “We use the same consent as we do for all surgeries and procedures in the region”.)

Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital BC
(I was told that they "use the standard consent form from BC Women's Service Clinic adapted for our site".)

Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region’s Women’s Health Centre
(I was told that "The consent used is the same consent used for Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures for both outpatient and ambulatory clinics in our region.  It is important to also note, that the Women’s Health Centre in Regina is a member of the National Abortion Federation (NAF).  The Women’s Health Centre follows the Clinical Policy Guidelines set forth from this organization to ensure that women’s needs are appropriately address and that they are fully aware and informed of what procedure they are consenting to have."

The Ottawa Hospital
(I was told that the "Ottawa Hospital does not have treatment specific forms".)

The Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg posts their consent form on their website. Here it is.