More MPs sign pro-life petition

Another two MPs have signed a petition calling for an anti-abortion clause to be entrenched in the Constitution, pro-life group Gift of Life said yesterday.

Labour MPs Gavin Gulia and Charles Buhagiar have joined 34 MPs who have already signed the petition.

"This is eight signatures shy of the 44 that would make up the required two-thirds for this amendment to be approved should the government table a proposal in Parliament," the group said, referring to the two-thirds parliamentary majority needed for this change.

The lobby is calling on the government to move an amendment to the Constitution in Parliament as soon as possible.

"As we move closer to an election year, there is a risk that this issue may become politically charged," it said.

Gift of Life saw the amendment as "the most natural step in the pro-life process" and a clear demonstration that "both major political parties are willing to carry out an ultimate act of charity to the unborn".

Although abortion is illegal here, Gift of Life is calling on the government to include a clause in the Constitution to protect the unborn child because this would make it more difficult to legalise abortion in the future.

The group started its campaign two years ago. In May 2005, Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg announced the government's intention to entrench the anti-abortion law in the Constitution.

However, no concrete action has been taken and last month Gift of Life said it would put stop its campaign unless the government makes a move soon.

Gift of Life has managed to get 35,000 people to sign its petition. However, there is also opposition to the proposal on the grounds that it could undermine democracy in the future. Kenneth Wain has described entrenchment as a political and not a moral move. He said it was an attempt to block the freedom of future generations to decide for themselves on their morality and on their way of life. Fr Peter Serracino Inglott also questioned entrenchment, saying this showed lack of confidence in the democratic process.