Slurpees for Life
By Nicole Pyle

How would you like to get yourself a slurpee, bring your rosary and pray and sing to end abortions at Saskatoon City Hospital?  This is what some young people were doing every Tuesday night through the summer holidays.  Those who think that the youths of today do not put their beliefs into action have not met the combined youth groups of Holy Family, St Michael's and St Peter the Apostle parishes in Saskatoon.  Under the leadership of Terry Cratty and Mathew Courchene, these young people joyfully “walk the talk”.
           
Last June we were fortunate to meet them.  We gladly accepted an invitation to give a pro-life presentation.  They were shown a 14 minutes video on the March for Life in Ottawa, which included a discussion by young pro-lifers.  The Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association provided some hand-outs. 
           
The youths were asked when life begins: It begins at conception.  At four
weeks, the baby's heart is beating.  Brain waves can be read, and the nervous system is complete.  Most pregnancies are detected at six weeks.  At eight weeks, a head, face, arms, fingers and fingerprints, legs, toes, circulatory and major muscle systems are complete.  When the baby reaches ten weeks, the unborn child is more than two inches long, and all body organs are present.
           
The young people were made aware of the following: Canada is the most socially liberal of western democracies, having no abortion laws for any stage of pregnancy.  There were 103,768 abortions performed in Canada in 2003.  Of these, 4,500 or 3% are done after 16 weeks.

Canada is among 60 countries that are now below the replacement birth level.  Our birth rate is 1.5.  We are experiencing a 130,000 birth shortfall per year.
           
In Saskatchewan, there are approximately 1800 abortions a year, performed at Saskatoon City Hospital and the Regina General Hospital.  That is the equivalent of 80 new classrooms every year that do not come into existence.
           
These youths and their leaders were commended for their initiative and courage, and were told they should be proud of what they are doing.  The future is bright in the fight for life and family.  The pro-life movement has many young people who are becoming involved and making an impact.
           
The youths have a lesson for us. We, too, can make a peaceful walk with quiet prayer by the hospital or by the many memorials to the unborn that were erected in our province.  Just don't forget to pick-up your slurpee--Okay, it may have to be a coffee for some of us.

Nicole Pyle is a board member of LifeCanada and the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association. This article first appeared in Saskatchewan Choose Life News. Reprinted with permission of the author.