Father Richard Ho Lung of Missionaries of the Poor and Father Gregory Ramkissoon of the Mustard Seed Communities walk out of Parliament yesterday. They expressed dissatisfaction with the poor attendance of members of the abortion policy review committee. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

ANGERED BY the tardiness and frequent absence of members of the abortion policy review committee, leaders of the Roman Catholic Church yesterday boycotted the sitting, refusing to make their presentation to only five members who showed up.

At 10 a.m. when the meeting was scheduled to begin, only committee chairman Rudyard Spencer was present, followed by Hyacinth Bennett and Sandrea Falconer. The meeting started at 11:02 a.m. when a quorum was reached.

There are 16 members on the committee examining the report of the Abortion Policy Review Advisory Group, but on numerous occasions less than half the membership turn up.

Head of Missionaries of the Poor, Father Richard Ho Lung, and other Roman Catholic priests said the lateness of the committee members and the absence of others showed very little regard for the matter being discussed.

"This is the third event we have postponed and this is a major issue of life and death. Clearly, this is disrespectful, disrespect for life, disrespect for truth and the issues that are at hand," charged Father Ho Lung.

Robust audience needed

Father Kenneth Richards, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Kingston, is questioning whether some committee members were committed and sincere in carrying out their task.

"Those persons who are not present have formed an opinion already and are going to act irrespective of what is going to be presented, so we stand together in boycotting today because of the absence of the members of the committee," he told The Gleaner.

But committee chairman Spencer, in his opening remarks, told the committee that Father Ho Lung had decided not to make his presentation because "he believes he is deserving of a much more robust audience. He has advised that it is some three times since last year that he has been trying to present".

However, Spencer said those meetings were in December at which time "everybody was busy with their Christmas doings. It's a bit unfortunate that Father Ho Lung has taken this course of action".

Spencer said he hoped the priest had changed his decision because the committee was ready to hear the submission.

Despite the chairman's assertions, Father Ho Lung turned up the heat on the committee, telling The Gleaner that it was frightening that some members of the committee who showed little regard to an issue of such gravity were part of the Government and leaders of the country.