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Canadian Hero Linda Gibbons Back in Jail
Written by Peter Youngren on August 27, 2011This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
Earlier this month, on a Thursday morning, Linda Gibbons arrived at a Toronto Morgentaler abortion clinic that is “protected” by law from pro-life activity within 500 feet. Linda, who believes women have the right to receive pro-life counsel before having an abortion, began walking back and forth on the sidewalk, quietly and without interfering with anyone, while carrying a sign depicting a baby and the words, “Why mom? When I have so much love to give?” It didn’t take long for two sheriffs and six police officers to surround Linda, and off she went in handcuffs.
Linda has a history of being arrested and has spent eight of the past sixteen years in jail for breaking city by-laws that prohibit pro-life information outside abortion facilities. In Ms. Gibbons’ mind, abortion is murder and when carried out on a massive scale, as is the case in Canada or the US, she equates it to genocide. According to her, our age is deeply morally confused and blind for not seeing what she considers obvious.
There was something pathetic watching the YouTube clip depicting the arrest. I remember the diminutive Ms. Gibbons from her visit to the Niagara Celebration Church about 15 years ago. It appears she has not changed much, retaining her quiet moral strength, without defending herself. The demeanor of the arresting officers was rather subdued, it seemed they’d rather be chasing real criminals than the grandma-like Ms. Gibbons.
Linda believes that God and the Canadian charter, in that order, give her the right to counsel against abortion and to stand in front of abortion clinics offering kind and loving advice to those willing to listen.
While some in the media consider her crazy for being willing to spend so much time in jail, Ms. Gibbons disagrees. Last year she was quoted in the National Post, “Wherever I am, I’m free to do God’s work. I can be on the outside or on the inside it doesn’t matter. I don’t feel burdened by what I’m doing.”
Her lawyer, Daniel Santoro, considers Ms. Gibbons a prisoner of conscience: “She’s not a fanatic, she doesn’t rant or rave. I’m a strong believer in free speech. Whether I agree with her or not about abortion is not relevant. People are always asking me whether I think she’s crazy because they assume that anyone who goes to jail for that long must be totally crazy. I don’t think she’s crazy at all.”
Celia Posyniak, an abortion clinic director in Calgary, stated, “What people like her do is creepy. They don’t even have to say anything; it’s intimidating just to have somebody standing there. Why is it acceptable to intimidate women making a personal and legal decision?” After the recent arrest some news-sources called Linda “a damn creep”, who causes “harassment of women”.
The last time abortion was discussed in our federal parliament was under the Mulroney government, and at that time evangelical Christians unfortunately took the stance of all or nothing, and the Canadian people ended up with nothing—no protection for the unborn. Since then Canada has been on a list of nations, including Cuba and North Korea, where in the face of scientific realities, aborting the unborn is considered no different than the removal of any unwanted tissue.
What is so threatening about this woman suggesting an alternative to abortion? Is the abortion industry afraid of losing customers? Why are bylaws prohibiting free speech within 500 feet of an abortion clinic allowed? How can we Canadians stand for such restriction of free speech? Don’t we want women to be well informed of all sides of the argument, including scientific evidences of when a fetus is a fully viable human, before making the final decision regarding an abortion? Or is it only pro-abortion counsel that should be permitted?
In short, why are those, who claim to be “pro-choice”, not willing for women to have a well informed choice? Those who are comfortable with Canada’s unregulated abortion industry should not be intimidated by Ms. Gibbon’s presence outside the abortion clinic. Meanwhile those of us who feel ill at ease about Canada’s refusal to protect unborn girls and boys owe gratitude to Ms Gibbons. She is a Canadian hero.
Katherine
~ Buffalo, Oklahoma, USA
Bravo, Linda. We should all be so willing to stand up for our beliefs. Linda is not only a Canadian hero, but she is an inspiration to Christians around the world.
John
~ Brampton, Ontario, Canada
I agree whole heartedlyi with Pastor Peter’s article in support of Ms. Gibbons right to “free speech” and express her “love and support for the unborn” in Canada. We have reached a “tragic and untenable state of affairs” in this nation when we allow abortion laws to exist which only reveal a complete lack of respect for the sacntity of life, especially for unborn children who have no voice of their own. Again, it is only a “revelation” of God’s love in Christ Jesus and the inestimable high value and respect that He has toward all human lives that will bring about a change for the better in our thinking concerning this vitally important spiritual and moral issue that is now confronting us as a nation. As followers of Christ and concerned Canadians, I reiterate the words from our National Ahthem: “Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee. With glowing hearts, we see thee rise the “true North” strong and free.” Ms. Gibbons, is truly fulfilling this commission as a Christian and devoted Canadian. I applaud her ‘boldness” and at the same time her “gentleness of spirit” in speaking up and addressing this controversial issue.
Respectfully,
John
Bob
~ Huntsville, Arkansas, USA
Linda will be greeted in Heaven by a lot of little voices crying, “Linda! Thanks for trying!” ... and a host of others greeting her with, “Linda - Thank you for saving my life!”
Great blog, Peter.
Judy
~ Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
I agree with Ms Gibbons and my God Bless her richly and may she win many souls to Jesus Christ.
Cook
~ Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
She is a Canadian heroine and may God continue to bless and encourage her with His truth.
Beverly
~ Soldotna, Alaska, USA
Praise the Lord for this woman who stands for righteousness, truth and LIFE.
Thank you .
Venu
~ Wheaton, Illinois, USA
I stand with this brave sister Linda. In the so called modern society, people talk about equal right vehemently. At the same time, there seems to be no one in this society that cares about the unborn lives who are murdered for no crime they committed. This murder is officially termed as abortion as they have no guts to come out and say the word murder. Where is the human right movement when such vulgarity exists in our society? No matter this happens in Canada, US, Britain, India or China, those who love to live have a responsibility to stand against this crime.
Lorraine
~ Hanover, Ontario, Canada
She surely is a canadaian hero.Congratulations to someone who is willing to stand up for free speech as well as free choice. How is it possible to make a free choice with biased information .Obviously the real free choice person here is the one who recognizes that people have a right to all the information available so that they can make an informed decision The so called Pro- choice people are denying people that right.So much for their alleged caring for women.
They themselves are a victim of the insidious brainwashing of a killing mentality that is being heralled as freedom.
Clifford
~ Colima, Mexico
Why not circulate an email petition for like minded people to sign?
Let’s have freedom of expression.
Canadian living in Mexico
Richard
~ Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, Canada
Didn’t Paul and some of the others do their most inspirational work in confinement. Are not we silent types prisoners of our own complacency. We may very well be judged more harshly for looking the other way when we know that abortion is genocide committed against the unborn.Eternity is a long time to suffer for doing the wrong thing well.
Better to suffer for this time which is as short as a fleeing mist.
Linda
~ Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Fear of being proved wrong is tantamount in those involved in all areas of abortion. They know what they are doing is wrong, but as long as no one proves it unconditionally, they can carry on; eventually that fear will eat holes in their stomachs - ulcers.
Alexander
~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
My heart absolutely breaks at just the thought of a child being aborted. At the Cry in Ottawa, I couldn’t contain the pain our sweet Saviour must feel as abortions occur. What tears me apart is that as a society we would find killing innocent children an option. If it was made illegal, it would go underground and become a thriving scary scenario and may act as a revolt to the lost turning to the Lord. The Lord loves us (the verb), and the Lost need to experience the Fathers love, which is not forced on them, but given freely. Imposing laws to yield the Lords outcome to stop abortion, may be what believers that don’t want to share the love of the Lord with a lost world desire, but choosing life may still not happen. I’m not certain laws can compensate for what the Lord has asked us to do; love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. I believe that people consider this option because they don’t experience the love of the Father through His children. I support Linda Gibbons loving approach for the lost, what a faithful Kingdom warrior. May we all learn to love others as ourselves. I await your thoughts….
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Comments:
Bridget
~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Women should have the privilege of getting advice about their unborn babies to ensure that whatever decision they make is fully their and they could later on be able to live with their decision.
If women get counseling for other things, why not about abortion?