Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Discuss, with particular reference to the fact that Kylie Monogue has just been lobbed an OBE.

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

At least he stood up for his beliefs and for the rights of others on what is an important and controversial issue.

Whether you agree with his position or not, you have to admire his courage and integrity in standing by his beliefs through thick and thin, and his determination in publicising and advancing his arguments. Remember, back in 1967 women had no right to an abortion under any circumstances, but naturally abortions still occured, all be it under horrifying back street conditions. I dont really see how anyone could argue that Canada is not now a better place for women having the choice.

When you cut away the politics and the controversy and the rhetoric, isn't it courageous people of integrity who should be held up as an example, isn't that the point of the Order of Canada, or the OBE come to that?

I'm sure Kylie must do "a lot of good work for charity" , but lets face it, who doesn't have an OBE nowadays? Have you seen the list....its enormous.

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

I have no OBE. Perhaps I'd get one if I could make a connection between these two.

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Don't tell me they missed you out again! Surely there's a category for "services to donkey bollocks"? Or horses' arses? Oh, hang on. Kylie got that one.

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Is it that one is a famous surgeon and the other famously had surgery?

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

I'm not suggesting that there is any particular link. I'm just bemused as to the apparent differences in the criteria used to dish out gongs.

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

What difference? Both are seemingly random. For example Walter Gretzky is also a member of the order of canada! Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Brian Adams, Leonard Cohen, all the members of Rush for gods sake

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Apparently some senior church chappy has handed back his gong in protest at this Dr M's award.

Ahh, the sanctimonious scent of blind dogma...

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Why would a professional god-botherer be given the OC?

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Give them to one side, you have to give them to the other.


Many "professional god botherers" do huge amounts of work for charity let us not forget. The profile for that particular god bother says Seems a worthy enough recipient to me??? Discuss:)

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Agree.The criteria doesn't state you have to be right on to pick up a gong!
Ps love Kylie:wub:

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

If you accept a gong, in this case the Order of Canada, it is because the country has recognised the value to the country of the work you do.

Fr. L's work with disadvantaged children is no less recognised or appreciated by the country as a result of Dr. M's award, and in my opinion he is wrong, not to mention un-Christian, to return his award in this manner.

It is a national award, not a moral, ethical or spiritual award.

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

But its his gong to do what he want with, even if it is just to make a shallow knee jerk political point. Dont really see any connection with christianity one way or the other myself.

Didnt John Lennon return his MBE over something or other that has long since been forgotten? I dont see it as being any different. The government dished out gongs to bask in the reflected glory of the recipients, so its only fair that sometimes the gongs get returned in an attempt to show the government in the opposite light.

I dont know if canada is set up the same as the UK, but in the UK there is no legal provision for people to return the "honour"..they are still on the list and can purchase replacement gongs for a nominal fee if they change their mind or need some fancy costume jewelry later on..

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

I accept iaink's point but your argument is much more in tune with my thinking.

Re: Dr Henry Morgentaler, Order of Canada
 

Fr. Larre is not immune to controversy.

In 1992, a Saskatchewan jury convicted him on two counts of physically abusing children in his care at Bosco Homes and acquitted him on nine other charges.

Larre was sentenced to one day in jail and paid a $2,500 fine for one charge of common assault and one charge that he forced pills down the throat of a teenager to teach her a lesson about drug abuse.

The National Parole Board of Canada pardoned him five years later and erased the charges.

In 1998, Larre registered as a psychologist in B.C.

His work, however, has prompted a number of complaints to the B.C. College of Psychologists in recent years, court documents show.

There were no allegations of abuse, but individuals and other psychologists have questioned his methods and the quality of his work. Last November, the college held an extraordinary hearing and suspended his registration pending a disciplinary hearing because it felt he posed "an immediate risk to the public." The public, however, was never told of that at the time.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/st...9-c4c3374d68c8

Although I find the whole idea of abortion very distressing I do think it should be available to women who want it. Like iaink I can't help but respect the principled stand Dr. Morgentaler has taken over the years. I think he is more deserving of his gong than the (apparently flawed) priest.