And now – BIOPOLITICS FOREVER.... The Armageddon Factor is a new book by Marci McDonald about “How Canada’s Christian Right was Built.” Skeptics insist that a truly influential religious right could never take root in Canada the way the American movement has done. That one has taken shape over 3 decades and has now infiltrated nearly every level of government - from school boards to the Senate.

The skeptics, however, should be skeptical about their own powers of prediction. In Canada, the same-sex marriage issue propelled evangelicals into political action just 5 years ago. Its coalition of advocacy groups, think tanks and youth lobbies have changed the national debate. They train activists – and their alumni have landed top jobs in public service, MPs’ offices and the PMO. One Ottawa type boasted, “If the media knew how many Christians there are in government, they’d go crazy.”

When Stephen Harper came into office, he adopted an electoral script crafted by his ideological soulmates in the Republican Party, nurturing a religious-right constituency. In 2003 he called for a foreign policy based on morality.

There are a number of items, recently, that relate directly to this topic.

***Recently Harper proposed a G8 maternal health initiative that excluded abortion and in spite of national protest, he’s sticking to it. Apparently, we’re supposed to ignore the whole thing. Harper booster and conservative senator Nancy Ruth told a gathering of women protesting the decision, to “shut the fuck up.” And I gather the CRTC could close me down for quoting Her Honourable Personage, instead of using “expletive deleted” or cartoon punctuation.

***Meanwhile, on May 13th, thousands of activists amassed on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the annual March for Life. They applauded Harper’s decision not to fund abortion services abroad and pressed him to do the same at home. Some 20 parliamentarians joined in the demonstration. One member thinks the House should take up the question of “when life begins” and reach a consensus. Hardly an intellectual leap. I recall that question being raised in the U.S. in 1980. Plus ça change, etcetera...

***And there’s Ouellet. Roman Catholic Primate of Canada Cardinal Marc Ouellet scolded that abortion is a crime even when performed on a rape victim. “Simply stating church doctrine,” said a church lackey for the archdiocese of Quebec City. Ouellet “wasn’t condemning women and believes they need better care before and after abortion,” the flunkey went on. Wha- - ?!!

Why don’t these pseudo-celibates keep out of women’s business – about which they know nothing. And where do they find the time to meddle? Every priest would need a thousand lifetimes just to begin to remedy the harm that they and their confreres have done to children by priest pedophilia. That they should have the hubris to try to interfere in women’s reproductive decisions is diabolical.

***For some perspective on this supposed non-threat by the religious right, it’s global. For example, the notorious American hate site, ProjectSEE, has set up shop in Kenya. The website features pictures, addresses and contact details of supporters of abortion and gay rights. When Kenyan activists learned of ProjectSEE, they went to Kenya’s Communications Commission in charge of regulating Internet content, only to learn that the site was registered in the U.S.

ProjectSEE members have taken part in bombings and arson attacks in the U.S. and murdered Dr. Barnett Slepian, a Buffalo physician. Says the site, “We advocate that abortionists and women determined to murder babies be driven back into filthy back alleys like other murderers.”

***On a lighter note, nearly 1 in 4 women of childbearing age in the U.S. are unconcerned about getting pregnant – but aren’t trying either – and would be happy either way, according to a recent study. At last, something that doesn’t challenge women at every turn....

***And teen birth and abortion rates are down in Canada, due to education and occupational opportunities. And all people should celebrate that. Good on ya, girls.