Q. What limits should there be on a woman's ability to terminate a pregnancy in the second or third trimester?
Late-term abortions shouldn't be done unless it's necessary to protect the life of a pregnant women (or the fetus can't survive) . . . The more there is the development of the fetus the more it becomes human. . . . To me what counts is . . . the viability of the fetus (and) the development of the brain . . . I would put the upper limit on abortion at 24 weeks.
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Give and take with Henry
Morgentaler
Special to The Free Press
2005-06-17 02:13:55
Q Were you surprised by the controversy this honour has created?
I was really surprised. . . . To my mind, the abortion question has been resolved in Canada, in the sense that women have access to it in most parts of the country. And those who are opposed -- nobody's forced to have an abortion. They can't be opposed because it's not their business. . . . So where's the problem?
Q You changed Canadian history (when the Supreme Court struck down an abortion law in 1988). Yet this is the first university to give you an honorary degree. How do you feel about that?
I feel great that finally a university has had the courage to award me this honour. Without being modest, I think I do deserve it. But I'm really surprised that there's been so much controversy because of a small minority of people who are still against the right of women to ask for and receive a safe abortion . . .
Q When you attribute fallen crime rates to increased abortions, the board of governors of UWO said you're promoting eugenics. How do you respond to that?
About 10 years ago when the first statistics came out saying crime diminished in Canada and the United States, a theory came to my mind that, 'Wow, the abortion must have something to do with it.' . . . Last year, Toronto had its lowest rate of murders in 30 years. . . . I think the theory is true. . . . We do have a situation where most women for whom a pregnancy is unwanted or inconvenient, the women know it's not the right time for them to bring a baby into the world when they know a baby needs a home and love and attention. . . . That's why I say because abortion is available, we have a safer and better society. . . . That has nothing to do with . . . eliminating those people who are not wanted. It's hundreds and thousands of decisions by individual women who make that difference.
Q To oppose an unjust law, you chose to break the law and yet today you said you don't advocate civil disobedience. You advised students to change laws through the political process. Has your opinion changed?
I think that to practise civil disobedience, first of all it's very difficult for the fact that you'll be jailed and persecuted. I don't think in a democratic society like Canada, it should not be necessary, really.
Q Your supporters believe you should receive the Order of Canada. What do you have to say about that?
Well, I wouldn't mind receiving it! (laughter)
Q After decades standing up for your beliefs, how do you react when you still see the crowds of protesters?
I would say hello to them. They have a right to protest. Peaceful protest is something which is accepted in this democracy. And it's a good thing. I think people should protest what they believe is something that is wrong. . . . There's not much to it. We have many religious groups opposed to abortion and they'll probably be opposed for the next 10, 20, 50 maybe 100 years, until such time that they change.
Q What about those individuals in Canada whose conscience does not allow them to support what you are doing? Would you support them or help them figure out how their tax dollars would not go to fund abortions?
That's a more difficult question because when you start choosing, 'I'm going to support the government on this and not on that, I want to take a part of my taxes because they do this and they do that,' how far can you go with that? We all pay taxes, part of which go to health care. People who die of, say, lung cancer who brought it on themselves by smoking, I don't say 'These people are responsible for the lung cancer, therefore I am not contributing part of my money.'
Q What limits should there be on a woman's ability to terminate a pregnancy in the second or third trimester?
Late-term abortions shouldn't be done unless it's necessary to protect the life of a pregnant women (or the fetus can't survive) . . . The more there is the development of the fetus the more it becomes human. . . . To me what counts is . . . the viability of the fetus (and) the development of the brain . . . I would put the upper limit on abortion at 24 weeks.
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