Abortion law in the Constitution

Pro-life arguments have very often caused my thinking process to short circuit. What do pro-lifers want? Do they want to decrease the number of abortions or do they want to eliminate them altogether? Is this possible and at what cost? What are the effects of making abortion legal or vice-versa?

If I want to be completely honest, like many others I would beg to differ with the argument that making sure abortion is illegal will decrease the numbers, let alone stop abortion altogether.

On the other side of that coin, there is not a single doubt in my mind that if abortion were legalised, the number of abortions would rise, as has happened all over the world.

Gift of Life has been pushing for years to protect the right to life of an individual "from conception". Many argue that this should not even be a matter for discussion since it is a foregone conclusion that abortion will never be legalised in Malta and even if so it is a matter which should be left to the individual. So what could possibly justify such a hard stand?

Firstly, I invite all readers to have a look at the articles of the Constitution. Some are very serious matters, like the protection of life of each individual, while others are relatively trivial such as the setting up of local councils or the description of the Maltese flag. So it is obvious that entrenchment in the Constitution does not happen to make sure that no one can reverse these decisions again but simply so that a matter of debate cannot be polarised.

Entrenchment in the Constitution does not mean that the matter can never be reversed but that instead of a simple majority of 50 per cent +1 to overturn a law, two thirds of the members of Parliament need to agree. At the moment one person with an axe to grind with his own party can overturn any law. With the government holding only a one-seat majority, it is very easy for an issue like abortion to be overturned without reflecting the views of the majority. To quote Prof. Kenneth Wain, from an interview carried out by Malta Today dated December 18, 2005: "Laws must respect the prevailing beliefs of the people living in a society, their dominant moral and religious outlook". Entrenchment will only ensure that if and when abortion is legalised, it will be done democratically and not for personal reasons of one member of Parliament.

We are only four and a half years away from an election which will see a fierce battle between two of the most influential leaders Malta has seen for a long time. It is highly improbable that that these two gentlemen will use the issue for the gain of their party, but we all must agree that "all is fair in love and war" and we will only be doing them a favour by removing the ammunition from their loaded guns.