Dr. Henry Morgentaler to be awarded honorary Doctor of Law degree

A Letter From London Free Press:

Morgentaler lauded for fight for freedom
The University of Western Ontario deserves society's congratulations for its foresight to grant honorary degrees to nine candidates whose individual efforts have enormously enriched Canadian society.
In my opinion, special accolades go to Dr. Henry Morgentaler who, over the years and in the face of incredible obstacles, has promoted a seemingly simple but democratically important concept of "freedom of choice for women."
From the tone of many of the letters to your newspaper, it seems the writers have difficulty appreciating the significance of this concept for a democratic society.

William Chefurka
Steering committee
Humanist Association of London and Area


I have written to University of Western Ontario President, Dr. Paul Davenport, and Board of Governors Chair, Don McDougall, to congratulate them on their decision award Dr. Morgentaler the Honorary Doctor of Law degree. I hope the convictions of the University of Western Ontario are sufficient to hold up to pestering by pro-life activists.


To Drs. Paul Davenport and Don McDougall,

I write to praise your decision to award an Honorary Doctor of Law degree to Dr. Henry Morgentaler. Dr. Morgentaler's work to promote women's health and reproductive rights, resulting in the removal of the Canadian anti-abortion law in 1988 has made a huge difference to the lives of millions of Canadian women, whether directly or indirectly. Margaret Sanger said, "No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body." Women's reproductive rights form the basis for good health and quality of life, as well as the provision of safe medical practices. The availability of safe abortion clinics to Canadian women as a result of Dr. Morgentaler's work supports these rights.
In the face of slanderous email aimed at Dr. Morgentaler, I hope that The University of Western Ontario will honour his work and award him the Doctor of Law degree, despite strong opposition to this decision from pro-life activists. Human rights should be guaranteed for everyone and not subject to the whim of the electorate; even if only a minority believe in freedom of choice, that right should be protected from the tyranny of the majority.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Sarah E. Kidd

Post-doctoral Fellow
University of British Columbia