RALLY AGAINST ABORTION

‘Life is precious and we need to protect all life — from conception until natural death’

An anti-abortion rally attracted more than 100 people outside Prince County Hospital Saturday morning in Summerside.

An anti-abortion rally attracted more than 100 people outside Prince County Hospital here Saturday.

“Life is precious and we need to protect all life — from conception until natural death,” said Mary Beaulac, who travelled with seven of her nine children from Fort Augustus to attend the rally.

Beaulac, who held a campaign sign that read, “Abortion harms women,” added, “They (pro-choice) need to learn more about life and what happens from conception.”

The protest, organized by West Prince Right to Life, comes after the Island’s Liberal government announced it had chosen the Prince County hospital as the location for a Women’s Wellness Centre that will include abortions.

P.E.I. was the final province to allow abortions and the change comes after the province announced it will not fight a legal challenge launched in the P.E.I. Supreme Court by the Abortion Access Now group, which said it’s a fundamental right and freedom.

For the first time in almost 35 years women no longer have to travel off-Island for the procedure.

“It’s a child, not a choice,” stated one sign held by Anne Marie Gallant, 60, from Abram Village.

“I hope to change women’s ideas on abortion that it is taking the life of their child, their own flesh and blood and one of God’s creations,” said Gallant, who has six children and 15 grandchildren.

Theresa Lewis, 65, a mother of two and a grandmother of four from Alberton said: “I am a practising Catholic Christian and I believe we need to support life.

Jesus didn’t die on that cross so that we could sin and kill babies.”

Lewis, originally from Oregon added: “I get so upset at the States right now because they are doing the Women’s March and I heard on the radio this morning by one of the ladies (a veteran) how important it is for her to fight for her constitutional rights.

“Well, excuse me, but what about the baby’s constitutional rights?”

The Canada Health Act states that everyone in Canada should have access to necessary health services, including abortion.

DESIREE ANSTEY/TC MEDIA Anti-abortion protesters hold signs and rally outside the Prince County Hospital in Summerside Saturday. The hospital will be performing the procedure after the Liberal government said it would allow them.