Henry Morgantaler is the hero doctor who faced jail in order to operate Canada's first above-ground abortion clinics, a struggle which culminated in the legalization of abortion in Canada. He's faced hardship and privation — including having the Toronto clinic, where I used to escort patients through the lines of chanting protestors, blown up by anti-abortion terrorists — and survived his youth in a Nazi death camp.
The University of Western Ontario plans to award Morgantaler with an honourary doctorate, but a mostly US anti-Choice group has bombarded the University a petition with thousands of signatures protesting the move. There's a chance they'll succeed.
The Humanist Association of Ontario has posted their own petition endorsing the honorary degree. If you are a Morgantaler supporter and a supporter of reproductive rights in Canada, I hope you'll sign it. I have.
Dr. Henry Morgentaler – physician, Holocaust survivor, civil rights activist, and tireless champion for women's reproductive rights and choices – has been chosen by the University of Western Ontario (UWO) to receive an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree. This degree is to be awarded at their convocation on June 16, 2005.
Unfortunately, the noble attempt on the part of this prominent Ontario university to bestow an honour on Dr. Morgentaler is being vigorously opposed by anti-choice elements. A petition to this effect, authored by William Vandoodewaard and endorsed by "Catholics for Life", has been posted on the Internet. Currently, this protest petition has collected over 5000 signatures opposing the pending honour.
(Thanks, Gord!)
