Parents As First Educators Asks Ottawa Catholic School Board to Review Free the Children

On September 24, 2013 parent Andy Pocrnic from Parents As First Educators told the Ottawa Catholic School Board that Free the Children is an unsuitable partner for Catholic schools.  With the passage of a stricter policy on board partners last spring, it's now the time to examine whether with Free the Children's record on abortion and contraception it passes the litmus test.  Pocrnic said that based on the charity's support of the distribution of abortion and contraception services within developing countries the board should sever its partnership with Free the Children.

Craig and Marc Keilburger's charity, Free the Children has the praiseworthy goal of activating young people to work on behalf of their peers struggling with poverty and crime in developing nations.   No one can argue that teaching children to give to others who have less than they do is of great importance in the "big picture" of Catholic education.  And no doubt they have a PR machine that can't be beat.  Their annual event "We Day" is a star-studded extravaganza that draws in thousands of Catholic students to listen to inspiring stories of young people who are acting as agents of social change. What's not to love?

Unfortunately the brothers are also outspoken in their wish to make "reproductive health services," which among activists invariably means contraception and abortion, more commonly available to women in the developing world.  (more...)

Parents As First Educators Asks Ottawa Catholic School Board to Review Free the Children