Staff
The “Life Chain,” a time to silently reflect and pray on pro-life issues, will take place this Sunday (Oct. 1) from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in downtown Fort Frances.
Participants will line the north side of Scott Street from Armit Avenue to as far west as their numbers will allow.
Each will hold a “life” message sign (which will be available at the corner of Scott Street and Victoria Avenue).
Long-time local “Life Chain” organizer Carole Mackintosh noted the annual event has been going for 30 years elsewhere and nearly that long here.
Like previous years, it is a silent, prayerful witness on behalf of voiceless fellow citizens such as unborn babies, vulnerable seniors, and physically- or mentally-challenged people.
Mackintosh added the event has taken on an even broader relevance as political support both provincially and federally grows for assisted dying.
“Our hearts are going out to the people in that desperate situation,” she remarked.
“Instead of giving more money to palliative care, which is a positive thing, it is, in fact, putting doctors into an impossible situation of conscience.
“Because for anyone where [assisted dying] is against their moral principles, it’s going to be an ugly situation where they’re going to feel like they’re being forced into doing something that’s totally against their principles,” she noted.
Mackintosh said that instead of having medical professionals saving lives, they’re going to be asked to end them–just as they’ve asked doctors to do with abortions.
She added there’s concern doctors and nurses will not have “freedom of conscience” to refuse to take part in assisted dying, and those who are adamant and still refuse possibly will suffer consequences on a professional level (not be promoted, etc.)
Mackintosh urged like-minded people to take part in Sunday’s “Life Chain,” including newcomers.
“It’s a time for people to stop for one hour, hold up the signs . . . and take time to reflect on all of these parts of the main issue, which is the tragedy of the government not funding the support systems for the women who are so desperate, and focusing their attention on having doctors provide assistance for dying instead of channeling money toward palliative care,” she explained.
“I think they best way to sum it up is ‘an hour of silent, prayerful witness’ to what’s going on,” she added.
“Ad trying to think then what we could or should do to be choosing the right way to defeat this sort of ‘pro-death’ mentality of the politicians and the legal system–all of that.”
