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Much to the dismay of organizers, a national pro-life conference that was to be held at Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal has been changed to another location because of "security concerns" of the Holy Cross Fathers who operate the oratory. Even as some of the 300 registered participants were on their way to Montreal for the conference, sponsored by Campaign Life Coalition and Life Canada, the priests said it could not be held at the oratory. "In the past three days, we have been informed that protests on our grounds are being planned against the 2005 Pro-Life conference," the rector, Fr. Jean-Pierre Aumont, said Nov. 16. "We have come to the conclusion that we cannot guarantee the safety of people on the grounds of Saint Joseph's Oratory during this event." Luc Gagnon, one of the conference organizers, told CBC news that the move is cowardly and ridiculous. Gagnon said the church is afraid of even the smallest opposition, choosing to end its involvement with the conference instead of making waves. The conference was moved to the Protestant Evangelical Church in the Cartierville area of Montreal. |
