2 Canadian bishops cancel priest’s presentations over abortion ties
April 05, 2011
Two Canadian bishops canceled the speaking appearances of a Mexican priest over the latter’s ties to groups that support abortion.
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa announced that Father Luis Arriaga, a fellow Jesuit and director of Centro Prodh (the Miguel Pro Centre) in Mexico City, would not be making scheduled presentations at the diocesan center and local parishes because of the “Centre’s support of groups espousing abortion.”
According to press reports, Centro Prodh is a partner of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP), the official international development organization of the Church in Canada. CCODP had sponsored Father Arriaga’s appearances in Canada as part of its Share Lent campaign.
“Since the Centre’s support of groups in favor of abortion rights in Mexico is incompatible with the Church’s defense of the right to life from conception to natural death and the mission of Development and Peace, and in order to remove any doubt about this commitment, the speaking engagements of Fr. Arriaga have been cancelled,” the Ottawa archdiocese announced.
Another Ontario prelate, Bishop Paul-André Durocher of Alexandria-Cornwall, canceled Father Arriaga’s speaking appearances in his diocese.
“The decisions to cancel the speaking engagements were made in view of allegations about the Centre Prodh and Father Arriaga, because of which it appears that ‘prayer protests’ were being planned,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement. “The CCCB Standing Committee on CCODP will shortly discuss the questions which have been raised.”
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Further information:
- Comment on cancellation of Share Lent speaker (CCCB)
- Archdiocese of Ottawa Cancels Guest Speaker’s Presentations (Archdiocese of Ottawa)
- Ottawa Archbishop: D&P partner acts against ‘right to life,’ speaker cancelled (LifeSiteNews.com)
- Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace
- Centro Prodh
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Posted by: hartwood01 -
Apr. 08, 2011 3:52 PM ET USA
Yet another Jesuit. Our so-called Catholic universities should take notice this Canadian bishop is not asleep at the wheel.
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Posted by: lauriem5377 -
Apr. 05, 2011 8:48 PM ET USA
It is good to see the bishops taking a strong stand in support of the sanctity of life.
