By Patrick B. Craine
To sign a petition in support of Cardinal Ouellet, click here.
OTTAWA, Ontario, May 25, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Despite the beating he took in the Quebec and national media last week, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec City and primate of Canada, is "buoyant, joyful, brimming with love," reports journalist Deborah Gyapong.
Cardinal Ouellet was attacked by the mainstream press, politicians, and even some clergy after he made comments just over a week ago in which he affirmed the teaching of the Catholic Church against abortion in all cases, including rape.
"The child is not responsible for how he was conceived, it is the aggressor who is responsible," he told reporters. "We can see him (the child) as another victim."
Because of this position, the cardinal has been labelled an extremist and compared to an ayatollah. One La Presse columnist even wished that the Catholic cleric would die "from a long and painful illness."
"Was he beaten down? Feeling cornered? Intimidated? No, he was bouyant, joyful, brimming with love," wrote Gyapong, who interviewed the cardinal at a youth summit in Ottawa on Saturday, on her blog. "When I jokingly addressed him as Monsieur L'ayatollah, he laughed. Beautiful, mirthful laughter."
Cardinal Ouellet told Gyapong that he was surprised at the strong reaction to his comments. "I have no power," he said. "The Catholic Church has no power in Quebec."
"Oh, the power of a few words of truth, spoken with courage, spoken with love," wrote Gyapong. "And yes, the reaction from the mainstream media and most of the public square is overwhelmingly hostile. But he does not respond in kind."
In response to the criticism levelled against the cardinal, the pro-life community has rallied behind him. He has received publicexpressions of gratitude from some who were conceived in rape and from at least one woman who had obtained an abortion after being date-raped as a teenager, and who now regrets her decision.
Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) has gathered over 3,400 signatures on a petition of support, which allows signatories to include a message to the cardinal.
"Thank you for the enormous courage you displayed on speaking the truth about abortion," wrote Joe from Toronto on the petition. "I as well as many other Catholics stand with you in solidarity on this fundamental truth. I will pray for you and I pray for all other Bishops, Priests, cardinals and lay people to defend the sanctity of life at all time no matter how fierce the persecution."
"Thank you for speaking out and risking personal attacks on behalf of all women and the unborn," wrote Karen from BC. "I used to believe it was a woman's choice - but now agree that abortion hurts two - the woman and her unborn child. I think it damages one's soul."
"God bless you, Cardinal Ouellet, for defending the lives of those of us conceived in rape," wrote Deborah from Ontario. "The discrimination and hatred toward preborn babies because of how they were conceived must stop."
The petition includes thousands of other such messages, which CLC says it will forward to the cardinal once it has gathered a sizable number of signatures.
To sign the petition in support of Cardinal Ouellet, click here.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Woman Who Suffered Rape and Abortion as Teen: Thank You Cardinal Ouellet
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10052103.html
Woman Conceived in Rape Thanks Quebec Cardinal for Abortion Statements
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10052005.html
Campaign Life Coalition Launches Petition in Support of Cardinal Ouellet
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10051904.html
Pro-Gay Priest Condemns Canadian Cardinal for Remarks on Abortion/Rape
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10051807.html
Cardinal Primate of Canada Slammed by Media, Receives Death Wish for Abortion/Rape Comments
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10051801.html
