Pro-life speaker & activist. Poet. I also write on disability, theology, literature, & more.
The apples we place in our grocery carts are all perfectly round. Each red rose in the bouquet from our local florist is the same size and the same shade as her companions. When we don't spend much time in uncultivated nature, we sometimes end up thinking that plants always look so similar to each … Continue reading You’re not a mistake.
Retired Cpl. Christine Gauthier had been trying for 5 years to get Veterans Affairs Canada to install a wheelchair ramp at her house. The former Paralympian was speaking yet again with the VAC, describing the disability-related challenges she was facing. Eventually, an employee suggested that if life was becoming so difficult for her, perhaps she … Continue reading What is the duty of the living?
CW: Brief description of intimate partner violence “I don’t want to play God and decide who lives and who dies,” Helen said reluctantly. Nevertheless, she still thought that abortion was needed in many difficult circumstances. If a woman felt unready, or was battling poverty, how could she care for the child? She spoke at length … Continue reading Valued and Loved
I had an unexpected and beautiful encounter with my cab driver today in Toronto. He called me because he was having difficulty stopping at my location, and he asked if I could walk to another place nearby. I nervously replied that I couldn't because of my disability. (My hips and back were aching, making walking … Continue reading Taxi Rides, Disability, and Unexpected Grace
I recently gave a pro-life presentation on how to have effective conversations about abortion. The talk focused on discussing science and human rights with pro-choice people, to help them understand that abortion is a human rights violation against an innocent child. During the Q&A session, a participant asked me a question that I’ve heard often … Continue reading “Shouldn’t we talk more about adoption?”
Originally posted on November 16th, 2020 for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform “A crowd flowed over London Bridge, so many,I had not thought death had undone so many.Sighs, short and infrequent, were exhaled,And each man fixed his eyes before his feet.” These lines from T.S. Eliot’s 1922 poem The Waste Land have long haunted me, especially … Continue reading The Truth is a Light in the Darkness
Originally posted on April 27th, 2020 for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform It is a question that you will be asked in nearly every conversation about abortion. What about when a pregnancy has resulted from a heinous act of violence? What about pregnancy in the case of sexual assault? Abortion supporters often ask this question in … Continue reading Speaking with Survivors
Originally posted on October 15th, 2018 for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform Alex had stopped, curious at our images and at my question— “What do you think about abortion?”—as he was heading to class. “I’m pro-choice,” he answered. “Pro-choice for what?” I asked. “Uh, just pro-choice. I’m not sure what you mean.” “Sorry,” I replied, “I … Continue reading Are Human Rights for all Humans?
Originally posted on March 28th, 2018 for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform I felt like I was hitting a wall in my conversation with Danny at the Abortion Awareness Project. We had looked at pictures of aborted children, and we had discussed human rights and the difficult circumstances surrounding pregnancy. He would agree with my … Continue reading Speaking from the Heart
Originally posted on April 11th, 2018 for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform It’s a cold but sunny morning in Toronto. We set up for “Choice” Chain at various street corners around Ryerson University. I’m excited because we are there for a full day of outreach, and because there are so many of us—around 20 people spread … Continue reading Watching the Culture Shift
Maria McCann 