Study upon study irrefutably proves the harm abortion inflicts on many women undergoing abortion
By Jakki Jeffs
Special to The B.C. Catholic
Pro-life activists walk down Government St. during the March for Life rally in Victoria before gathering at the Provincial Legislature to protest abortion. Pro-lifers have fought against legal abortion since the passing of the so-called Omnibus Bill in 1969 decriminalized the act. Nathan Rumohr / The B.C. Catholic
The Canadian pro-life community has worked since 1969 to promote respect and protection for every innocent human life.

Educational and political movements, pregnancy support services, and support homes have sprung up across Canada all endeavouring to provide a safety net for mothers and their babies.

This movement has directly challenged the government and people of this country to protect women and children from becoming victims of the abortion industry. We know beyond any doubt that induced abortion harms women, kills children, heals no injury, heals no illness, heals no disease, and is never required to save a mother's life.

Abortion does not take the pain and betrayal of rape or incest away. In many cases, abortion actually acts as a cover-up for these insidious crimes.

Throughout this amazing 45 years of struggle, the commitment by individuals, groups, businesses and churches to maintain and expand this amazing pro-life movement, from sea to shining sea, has never wavered nor taken its eyes off the goal of legislated protection of life for every Canadian citizen in or out of the womb, until now.

While there is much that is laudable in the We Need a Law campaign (weneedalaw.ca) their petition request to the government states "legislation that restricts abortion to the greatest extent possible."

That is not good enough for me and many others. We are told, "it is the main duty of government, if it is not the sole duty of government, to provide means of protection for all its citizens."

The pro-life movement by definition and mission has demanded full protection for every human being. Are we now to stand down? Do we go "tail between our legs" to government to plead for the best it wishes to do?

Never on my watch. The scientific and embryological evidence is with our cause. Study upon study irrefutably proves the harm abortion inflicts on many women undergoing abortion.

Abortions kill the most innocent and vulnerable of our human family, yet all we can ask for is "restrict abortion to the greatest extent possible?"

This is not the mindset of the pro-life community that I have struggled and fought beside since 1984. Truly, we are our brother's keeper and now is the time to step up and demand protection for every Canadian - born or not.

If we legislate protection of every human life then those who wish to kill by abortion can make their case. We do not want abortion limited we want it gone!

Jakki Jeffs is the director for the "We Want the Debate" campaign (wewantthedebate.ca) and the executive director for "Alliance for Life Ontario."