Breaking: Controversial Priest Wants To Bankrupt Life Site News

Former MP Raymond Gravel wants the best of both worlds, trying to be a socially "progressive" radical a Catholic priest at the same time. And he is quite upset when others are critical of his efforts to use priesthood to promote views and behaviors that are in direct conflict with the Church's teaching. He thinks that his critics are way too hard for him. And, to teach them a lesson, he sues Life Site News for libel, demanding $500,000 (their entire annual budget) in damages.

Even though LifeSiteNews reports have overwhelmingly reported on what Fr. Gravel himself has publicly said, he is suing us for libel. Among other things, he argues that he isn’t pro-abortion, but he has said in the past that he is “pro-choice.”

He’s demanding $500,000 in damages
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The very fact that Fr. Gravel feels he has to sue LSN is proof-positive of just how much LSN is needed. Writing about LifeSiteNews.com in Le Devoir on April 20, 2009, Fr. Gravel said that when his bishop received a letter from the Vatican “which forced me to retire from political life,” attached to the letter “was a file almost exclusively in English made up of negative comments about me … which came from those ultra-conservative media.” He even complained about LifeSiteNews during a speech on the floor of the House of Commons!

And then, more recently, Fr. Gravel was removed from a position as a chief catechist for his diocese. In his motion Fr. Gravel suggests that the articles by LSN caused him to lose this responsibility.

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Well, when someone declares in a radio interview that he supports abortion and that "there is not a bishop on earth that will prevent him from receiving Communion, not even the Pope", he shouldn't be surprised that concerned Catholics find him somewhat unfit to teach the Catechism. As for his claims that he is not pro-abortion, but "pro-choice" - didn't he oppose bill to protect women's choice to keep their wanted unborn babies? If he believes that "choice" only refers to one's decision to have an abortion - then there's nothing libelous in calling him "pro-abortion".

Oh well, at least it's not a "human rights" complaint, but a law suit. So, at least, in this case, the standard rules of evidence do apply - and so is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Maybe even, this law suit, is just what is needed to have this Gravel finally thrown out of priesthood. But in the meantime, Life Site News needs funds to defend themselves against his ridiculous accusations. So please consider helping them in this struggle.