Morgentaler's Ordure of Canada

Since the early Medieval period—that is to say, as long as anyone, and longer than most—the papacy an d the Catholic Church has bestowed chivalric honours. One might have heard of the Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, or the Knights of Malta. For some of these orders, notably the Order of St. Gregory the Great, one need not be Catholic.

It strikes me that it might be a good and just idea to bestow one of these honours on those who choose to return their Orders of Canada because that distinction has recently been given to the famous abortionist and abortion campaigner, Henry Morgentaler.

Besides the Order of St. Gregory, possibilities include the Order of St. Sylvester, which may be able to trace its lineage back as far as the 12th century; the Order of Pius IX or Pian Order, originally founded by Pius IV in 1560, since renamed; the Order of the Holy Sepulcre, which dates to the 12th century, Godfrey of Boullion, and the First Crusade; and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, aka the Knights of St. John, the Knights Hospitaller, or the Knights of Malta, dating to the eleventh century and for many centuries the rulers of Malta and Rhodes.

Roman Catholics (only) are also eligible for the Order of St. George, or Constantinian Order, which can trace its history with certainty as far as the 16th century, but by tradition was founded by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD; the Order of the Annunciation, founded in 1350; and the four great Spanish Crusading orders, Santiago (12th C), Calatrava (12th C), Alcantara (12th C), and Montesa (14th C), which were vital elements of the Reconquista before Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

The Order of Canada, by contrast, dates to 1967 and Lester B. Pearson.

Papal orders generally feature insignia based on the cross of Christ—the most famous is the distinctive “Maltese cross” of the Hospitallers. It is an image of eternal salvation and of cosmic order.

The insignia of the Order of Canada is based on a snowflake. Gone in an instant of sunlight at dawn.

Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn't it?