Gilles Duceppe goes after Opus Dei

In my role covering the Catholic Church, I run into people who belong to Opus Dei. There is absolutely nothing scary about this organization that urges Catholics (and other Christians) to seek holiness in the performance of their daily work, no matter what it is--in law, business, in the home, whatever. But Bloc Quebecois Gilles Duceppe brought up Opus Dei membership in Question Period today as if this should be some kind of disqualification for participation in public life.

M. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, BQ): Monsieur le Président, l'évêque d'Ottawa a déclaré hier qu'un important caucus pro-vie au sein du gouvernement travaillait dans l'ombre. Le premier ministre, qui contrôle tout, doit connaître l'existence de ce caucus. Il doit aussi savoir que Kara Johnson, qui a été présidente de l'exécutif national du Parti conservateur, est membre de l'Opus Dei et que Mme Nicole Baron-Charbonneau, qui sera à nouveau candidate pour son parti dans Saint-Bruno — Saint-Hubert, fait aussi parti de l'Opus Dei et qu'un député conservateur a invité ses collègues à dîner avec des dirigeants de l'Opus Dei.
Le premier ministre admettra-t-il que sa politique est influencée par la droite religieuse fondamentaliste?


Hon. Rona Ambrose (Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, CPC): Mr. Speaker, what our policy is influenced by is people like Sharon Marshall from World Vision Canada who is telling us that over 24,000 children under the age of five will die in the developing world. Our government is bringing the G8 leaders together in June to help save the lives of women and children. We have an obligation to try and protect and save the lives of women and children in the developing world. It is a noble initiative. It is an honourable initiative and I ask the opposition to support us instead of engaging in this divisive debate.


Mme Christiane Gagnon (Québec, BQ): Monsieur le Président, la ministre de la Coopération internationale a dit en comité que c'est l'ensemble du gouvernement qui a refusé d'inclure l'avortement dans l'initiative sur la santé maternelle. C'est donc dire que les supposés ministres québécois pro-choix sont complices de cette décision niant ainsi des droits fondamentaux des femmes.
Le premier ministre peut-il nous expliquer les raisons qui l'ont amené à exclure l'avortement des mesures visant à favoriser la santé maternelle?


Hon. Rona Ambrose (Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, CPC): Mr. Speaker, what led us to decide to save the lives of mothers and children was people like Sharon Marshall from World Vision Canada who has said that she is outraged that this debate is being raised in order to distract from the real issue on the table. The real issue is that 8.8 million children are dying every year from causes that we could easily prevent with intervention that costs pennies. We are listening to people like Sharon Marshall with World Vision Canada. We want to save the lives of mothers and children in the developing world. We have a consensus with our G8 partners and we ask the opposition to support this great initiative.

In the post Question Period scrums, a reporter asked Duceppe whether his questions was a little "McCarthyite."

The Bloc leader said the McCarthyism was on the other side of the aisle.

"But the fact is and what I want to prove is that there’s the fundamentalist religious right is acting within that party and in a modern society religion and the state and politics should be separated," he said.

The Leader was then asked if he thought people who were members of Opus Dei shouldn't be in politics.

"I mean not as a group," he answered. "Individually certainly but not as a group." Then he goes on to "out" people who are members---one he says is on the national executive of the Conservative Party, and that someone in the Tory Party invited someone from Opus Dei to the Hill. He says: "The Bishop of Ottawa said that there’s a pro-life caucus acting behind the curtains within that party. So a lot of things that prove that something’s going on."

Sad. Who is forcing their religion here? Are only secularist views allowed in the public square?

For the record, here's what the Ottawa Archbishop said in Quebec City:

1) Two weeks ago, nearly twelve thousand people gathered on Parliament Hill and thousands more in several Canadian cities to stand up in defence of the unborn. These people represent many in the silent majority who are on the side of life. The significant Pro-Life caucus of our Federal Government works quietly, day after day, to keep human life at the top of the Government agenda.

So? What's wrong with that? There was nothing shadowy about them, as about 20 or so appeared on stage at the March for Life. Do they not have a right to be at the table? Apparently not in a Bloc Quebecois world.