Wednesday, 1st April 2009 - 12:28CET
Updated: Pro-life group 'alarmed' by PL candidate's comments
Sharon Ellul Bonici says she will not be blackmailed
(Adds Sharon Ellul Bonici's reaction)
The pro-life group Gift of Life (GOL) has expressed alarm over comments which it said were made by Labour EP candidate Sharon Ellul Bonici on an open Facebook group. The group has also had talks with Labour leader Joseph Muscat about the matter.
But Mrs Ellul Bonici said when contacted she would not succumb to threats or blackmail by GOL or any other organisation.
GOL said that among references against the proposed Constitutional amendment to ban abortion, Mrs Ellul Bonici wrote: “The state should not constrain a woman from terminating her pregnancy, let alone entrench it in our constitution. The situation in Malta is not tragic only because abortion is available elsewhere in Europe. Had this not been so, we would have faced a tragedy, with underground abortions and their consequences."
In response to repeated requests for clarification by Gift of Life, Mrs Ellul Bonici in an email said: “my joining this group was meant to join a debate with the intention to impart information, mostly EU related. My personal opinion was directed by the principle that the state should as far as possible not interfere in people’s lives. On the other hand, I am also concerned about backstreet abortions, since when one decides to terminate a pregnancy one always finds a way, irrespective of the law. Personally, I have three children and at no time did it ever pass my mind to terminate my pregnancy I would also advise against abortion at any stage. I would like to assure Gift of Life that as an MEP my position on abortion and other matters would be in accordance to Labour Party policy.”
Mr Paul Vincenti, who heads GOL, said that at a meeting with Joseph Muscat on March 17, Dr Muscat indicated that he was satisfied with Sharon Ellul Bonici's response to the concerns expressed, and said that the PL remained anti-abortion.
"In reaction, Gift of Life wish to emphasise that being personally against abortion yet at the same time defending the right to legal abortion is clearly not pro-life" Mr Vincenti said.
The Facebook group was set up in September 2008 to “give a voice to those who are pro-choice”. It was set up by people who not only do not agree with a proposed amendment to guarantee that the unborn child is given the right to life from conception, but to also give a voice to those who consider themselves to be pro-choice for abortion.
In her reaction, Mrs Ellul Bonici said she would not succumb to political threats and blackmail by Gift of Life or any other organisation.
"They bombarded me with calls and emails demanding that I retract my comment and declare myself in writing against abortion or face the consequences. Just like in the times of the Inquisition, they demanded that I sign a declaration that goes against my beliefs, or else... When I made it clear that I will not be a hypocrite, he proceeded with his blackmail and demanded with the PL leader to strike me off the party's candidates list. In their letter to the PL they did not even have the decency to cut and paste my whole comment"
Mrs Ellul Bonici said: "What I wrote last September on Facebook is clear enough. It is my personal opinion and I will stick to it. It is not the PL official line and I am not campaigning for abortion to be introduced, although Mr Vincenti is successfully pushing me in that direction"
She said that her point was that introducing an anti-abortion clause in the Maltese constitution made little sense given the circumstances.
"The fact is that the Lisbon treaty would make it possible for abortion to be introduced in Malta. This information should be of interest to both pro-lifers and pro-choicers, and my personal opinion is highly irrelevant.
"The fact is that, for better or for worse, annexed to the Lisbon treaty is the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This Charter is not very different from the European Convention on Human Rights, but there is one very technical and political difference: the Charter falls under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (the EU Court in Luxembourg) and not the human rights court in Strasbourg, which pertains to the Council of Europe, of which even Russia and Ukraine are members."
Mrs Ellul Bonici said that currently, the ECJ had jurisdiction only at the 'federal' EU level - in matters relating to Community law, applicable mainly to the internal market. With the Charter annexed to the Lisbon treaty, the ECJ would gain full jurisdiction over the rights of all European citizens. Irish guarantees or not, if the ECJ was eventually asked to decide over a case relating to abortion it might choose to rule that abortion was a universal European right applicable to all European citizens.
"That ruling would override national laws and constitutions, including GoL's amended Maltese Constitution should they succeed," she insisted.
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Comments
Actually you are quite very wrong. Wolves have evolved their reproductive system in such a way they can terminate their pregnancy in order to give their other offspring a better chance of survival.
Now, one asks me can you an animal living in the wild with a human being living in a developed world?
I wonder what is the meaning of a developed world!
So my comments aren't that ridiculous, actually they are down to earth and in line with our present laws. Somebody else here is a fundamentalist.
Thanks. I too used to be a hardliner until I became aware of several heart wrenching cases that vividly demonstrated the serious complex issues involved. It is easy to say terminate only if life is threatened. But how does one determine the threat to the mother's life? What should one do when a woman becomes psychotic and suicidal? Should a pregnancy proceed to term if the foetus has malformations incompatible with life? Most abortions are conducted for grave reasons not expediency. So many studies confirm that the consequences of not terminating an unwanted pregnancy when indicated can be severe, even life threatening, and long lasting. By contrast, termination itself does not seem to have long term consequences, though it can prove traumatic at the time. The only argument put forward against abortion is the unborn foetus' right to life - a philosophical, emotional and contentious issue, as opposed to hard facts. Perhaps it is best to allow qualified choice, so that each case can be dealt with individually and a responsible decision made after weighing the consequences for and against. And to refrain from imposing values and morals on the whole of society. Not easy!?
While I'm still against abortion, before I ever heard the feminist perspective I was much more hardcore against it, considering these women as baby killers. However, even if the conception of the child was traumatic (ex rape), if the mother will survive, the child has the right to life which comes before everything.
If, on the other hand, it's a question of life or death for the mother, in that exception, the only exception, yes pregnancy should be terminated
On the other hand, I'm seeing too much fundamentalism from the pro-choice side, these days. Take for instance, Graham Crocker's comments.They're ridiculous. That would be considered an accident.
As for Sharon Ellul Bonici, I'd be surprised if she gets elected. It would show how the Maltese are no longer able to think with their heads. How can she protect our rights if she cannot agree with the most essential right of all? Or can we forgo that right just so that we do like all the other "civilised" countries do?
Your position is understandable and valid - protect the vulnerable. One can see a diffficulty however, in that a woman with an unwanted pregnancy, perhaps resulting from traumatic events, is also vulnerable. Her health will suffer if the pregnancy is allowed to proceed to term. So the question arises how do we decide who is the more vulnerable and how do we decide whose rights we should protect? One or the other is going to suffer.
Another consideration is the welfare of the unwanted child once born. With the best will in the world the child will impact on his mother's life long term and will also be a constant reminder of traumatic circumstances that will have a bearing on his upbringing and psychological health. If the child is relinquished at birth, it is a life time of suffering and anguish for both mother and child and a potential cause of serious depression in both.
Thanks for the most balanced comment here.
I'm against abortion cause I believe the state has the duty to protect the vulnerable.
However, this should be a political issue not a moral one.
Also. I don't like GoL's bullying methods. I disagree with Ellul Bonici on the right to terminate pregnancy. However can we just agree to disagree? No one should be alarmed or use blackmail.
Quite. A very complex and emotional topic indeed. One fact that seems established, through numerous follow up studies of pregnancies terminated, is that the consequences of not terminating an unwanted pregnancy, for the woman's health and for society in terms of cost, far outweigh the consequences of termination. Another is that established medical and scientific opinion distinguishes between a foetus and a human being on biological grounds. A third fact may not apply to our country, but quite often, those who oppose abortion are equally vocal in defence of capital punishment.
Might I also point out that democracy does not mean the imposition of the will of the majority. On the contrary it means everyone has a say and the rights of minorities are respected.
Amongst others, it is these principles that have nourished us into who we are today.
This country has a soul!
NO thank you!
Anyways I believe women have a right to end pregnancies if they wish to, at the end of the day its their bodies and their life.
There are cases when abortion is necessary (In Brazil recently a father raped his 9 year old daughter, got her pregnant & the catholic church there instead of excommunicating the father, they excommunicated the doctors and the mother for allowing the 9 year old to abort her twins (out of child-rape).
So get this, the Church won't excommunicate you if you rape infants, but if you save a child's life (because a 9 year old giving birth to twins is one way of saying Death in child Labor) by using non-catholic approved methods you get excommunicated.
I'm not saying Abortion is a good thing, I'm saying it shouldn't be criminal, because its not homicide.
Governments are made up of politicians.
One very apt definition of a politician is that a politician is that man who does not believe one word he is saying!
I am therefore not surprised that the majority of governments in the world do not
believe me either!
....But I consider that irrelevant. What is most relevant are the key terms human and living. Or haven't you heard that size doesn't matter?
As for your omelette, I hope for your sake that those eggs were not fertilised! ( You don't seem to be able to make the distinction) Otherwise it might turn out to be more tasty and colourful than you bargained for! And you might develop a bit of a tummy ache later on!
Well, the vast majority of all the governments in the world don't believe you. They believe an abortion is a termination of a pregnancy not a human.
No person that has ever died in a war would fit into a Petri dish or a pipette.
Now please excuse me; I have to go crack a few eggs to make an omelette... But you'd argue the eggs are chickens, I guess.. What do they say about counting chickens before they are hatched?
I believe in secularity. The state should not interfere on what consenting adults are doing (thus pro divorce, civil unions etc). However the state has to protect the vulnerable, in this case the foetus. Hope we agree on that.
WHat I found hypocritical is that reading these comments, the Gozitan bishop was attacked for defending asylum seekers, some of which do what they do in order to save their life, while another majority are so keen on saving the life of a foetus.
Is the life of a white person's foetus something more than that of a born black person? WHere have been GoL in all this?
Apart from that, as a pro-life person, I would try to focus more on law enforcement than changing the law. How many doctors were convicted of performing (illegal) abortions in Malta? Isn't that more of an issue than entrenching abortion in the constitution?
In the course of human history, hundreds of countries have gone too war. This does not alter the unassailable truth that war terminates human life. The same goes for abortion. No matter how many countries have legalised it, the unassailable truth remains that abortion terminates the course of a human life.
Of all the basic human rights, few will disagree that the Mother of all basic human rights is the right to life. Without life, all other rights fall by the wayside, become meaningless. Therefore there is no doubt in my mind that the right to life by far supercedes your perceived right to abortion.
As to your second paragraph, please please please keep this discussion serious!
Yes, if you think cats are balls of fur (I know you're talking to explain yourself) bring forward your argument. I'll bring a million to show you that you're wrong. That is lobbying.
If the pro-choice movement think it's a bunch of cells they have the right to bring up their argument without being stigmatized. The rest have right to bring a million arguments to show them they are wrong. Do you get my point?
Sorry, cats are not animals for me! They are just balls of fur. So is it ok that I lobby to torture cats?
What I find difficult to stomach is that we discuss human life and dignity so lightly!
Recent history (1930s and 40s), provides us with ample indication of what takes place when we allow ourselves to 'discuss' human life and human dignity.
If we can't agree that human life should be repsected at all times, we're in a really sad state.
I'm proud our society doesn't accept that education and health services should be accessible only to those who can afford them...but why then we consider as liberating a discussion that not all human beings are entitled to life, particualry those who are most vulnerable?
If it were so, we'd have to get the coroner involved with every natural miscarriage as there would be a dead human being to be certified as to the cause of death.
Every embryo would have to be registered as a human for census, tax, social benefits purposes. For the religious, they'd need to find a way to baptise a zygote.(extreme unction etc)
The majority of countries have decided that there are grounds upon which a pregnancy should be allowed to be properly terminated by a qualified doctor. Abortion is a basic human right.
Whether Malta legalizes abortion or not is entirely academic; which Maltese doctor is going to set up an abortion clinic in Malta? And if they did, which woman is going to walk the gauntlet?
As long as Maltese elected politicians are predominantly catholic, led and controlled by bishops, and therefore believe in miracles of gravediggers' gloves and shoelaces, the likelihood is that Maltese residents wanting an abortion will need to make a short trip to the mainland.
So what do you (pro-life and/or pro-choice) think the vendor should do?
Should he sell to that boy in order not to lose a custom?
Or should he abide by the law and tell the boy to shop elsewhere.
It is the same with abortion: If anyone wants to perform it, let them go elsewhere. I wouldn't want our islands to be stained with innocent blood.
Pro-choicers say that these poor ladies will have to go through the hassle of going abroad in order to get a "termination", well, those innocent lives will be giving up more. (in fact, all)
As others have written before me, one might as well legalise drugs and what have you since people get it anyway.
The pro-choice movement do not agree abortion is killing with which I agree to disagree. Yes they have the right to lobby for what they do not consider killing, as much as we (probably the majority) have the right to bring our counter-arguments
About torturing cats (and I'm an avid animal lover), yes I believe you should have the right to lobby if you have a valid argument. Hunters are doing it regarding killing birds, and yes, I do believe they have the right to do it.
PS. Arson attacks and other blackmail is not lobbying of course
I have the impression that she cannot help going on the wrong side of vote capturing.
I'm sure this has seriously damaged her chances of gaining more than a few hundred votes.
I believe that life starts at the moment of conception and that if Sharon's mother aborted her, she would not be around to express her opinions, take her stands and stand up to her beliefs.
As would non of us either.
Is it ok with you to lobby for the right to kill?
Let's be frank. What would be your, and that of your ilk, reaction if I lobby for the right to torture cats?
This is how you want to win a seat to became an MEP Roberta? First you try and imitate Sharon Ellul Bonici and protest publicly by pretending you are against the PN's stand on the car registration tax, so you will look like a fighter. Then you got slapped on the hand for being such a naughty girl and was told to clean up your act, to maybe get elected. Trick number two..mud slinging at your friend SEB lying to the nation on TV that Sharon is in favour of abortion (a mother of three kids, by the way) You try and play dirty by hurting Sharon was never expected from someone as young as you. You lost my admiration and my vote. Sharon would never do what you did, but again, you can never be Sharon.You stated that SEB is using the Lisbon treaty to scare people, she wrote that since the Charter of fundamental Rights is annaxed to the treaty, how come the Irish counter parts of the GOL opposed the Lisbon treaty. What are your views about the ECJ and the Charter Roberta? Where is your intelligence?
"Just as we agree that life ends when the brain stops functioning, it makes sense that life does not start until the brain begins functioning"
An essential component in the diagnosis of brain death which you have failed to mention is irreversibility. In other words , a patient is diagnosed as brain dead because the loss of function of his brain is deemed to be irreversible.
This situation is in stark contrast to that of an embryo, which is destined to develop into a full grown individual. You refer to an embryo as being a clump of human living cells. Hence you accept that it possesses life, and that it is human. Terminating its progress to full growth is therefore tantamount to terminating the life of a human being, even if it is still in its most immature form.
Your statement is therefore absolutely erroneous.
GOL have a tendency of bullying politicians and anyone else to keep their mouth shut. I don't agree with abortion but fully agree with the right to people like SEB, or activists like Rebekka Gomberts to do their lobbying
Do we realise that the subject matter being discussed so lightly is human life?
So, we go to stupid extremes to protect personal data (do you know that you cannot send and sms/e.mail for marketing purposes without the prior consent of the recipient?) ... but then we accept that the possibility of ending the human life of a person who cannot protect him/herself is liberating!
Critcize me that I live in the dark ages...at least I'm alive!!!
In my opinion it is a pity that GOL is making this issue a political one. Given that abvortion is already illegal in malta it is useless to put it in our constitution. It is not fair to impose or dictate our values on future generations.
Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas innotat ukoll li minbarra li Sharon Ellul Bonici ddikjarat ruħha favur li f'pajjiżna jiddaħħal l-abort, hi ssieħbet b'mod volontarju fi grupp fuq l-internet biex ixxandar u ġġib 'il quddiem il-pożizzjoni tagħha. RMTT fakkret li matul is-snin Sharon Ellul Bonici ħadmet b'saħħa kontra s-sħubija ta' Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Ellul Bonici ħadmet ukoll kontra t-Trattat ta' Lisbona, li jagħti s-sitt siġġu għal Malta fil-Parlament Ewropew, filwaqt li ferħet bil-kbir meta dan ma kienx approvat mill-poplu Irlandiż sena ilu.
Hu ta' għajb li Sharon Ellul Bonici tinqeda bit-Trattat ta' Lisbona biex tipprova tiġġustifika l-pożizzjoni tagħha dwar l-abort, jew inkella qed tinqeda b'gidba dwar it-Trattat ta' Lisbona biex mill-ġdid tipprova tbeżża' lill-Maltin u l-Għawdxin dwar l-Unjoni Ewropea, temmet tgħid RMTT.
This doesn't augur well for RMTT.
Human life is precious at all stages. Each person is a gift, and can choose to be a beautiful gift to others. How wrong are those who believe they have a “right to choose” to destroy life!
Is the “right to choose” paramount over the act itself? Even to defend one’s choice to commit murder? Has defending the choice to kill (or … Terminate a Pregnancy) become noble? Or to help the distressed choose what’s right, even when that requires your support? Thankfully some choose to help out, even at a sacrifice. What a Choice!
Where are Values? People say abortion is wrong, would not even consider doing it themselves, yet they would let others do it and be popular. Abortion kills twice; baby and mother! Silent deaths; the child is tortured and the mother hides away in overwhelming grief, binding some for the rest of their lives. But that, the “pro-choice”, choose not say!
Bl-istess argument ghax nafu li hafna zghazagh saru vittmi tad-droga ghax ma naghmluhiex legali? U dan m'ghandux x'jaqsam mal-knisja. Il-qtil qtil. Zewg affarijiet hziena qatt m'ghamlu wahda tajba.
U Sharon li turi oppinjoni mhux rikatt u l-anqas theddid. Bhal ma int ghandek dritt turi l-oppinjoni tieghek, tant iehor kulhadd ghandu dritt jaghmel dan. Jew issa sirna li jekk nuru li ma naqblux ma xi haga 'moderna' bhad-divorzju u l-abort sirna ta' theddid ghas-socjeta`? Meta se nitghallmu ma nibqghux nibzghu ghal ftit valuri li fadal isawwru is-socjeta Maltija. Possibbli wasalna s'hawn?
Abortion in Malta is a non-issue since both the main political parties do not support it; but the threat to freedom of expression by religious groups is becoming ever more real.
A human embryo or foetus is unequivocally a living being dependent on its mother for its existence, but a seperate living being none the less. Irrespective of the rights of the woman bearing it, the deliberate interruption of its existence (call it "abortion", "termination" or whatever) is what it is - killing. Pro-abortionists like SEB have a right to air their opinion. However, they must acknowledge that in championing women's rights they are campaigning in favour of killing. Religion does not even come into this, this is quite simply logic.
GoL are spectacular victims of their own self-righteousness, abortion is illegal in Malta anyway. Keep digging your political grave.
No one is saying that abortion is a good thing but pragmatism rather than religious idiocy shall prevail in certain circumstances.
We accuse the muslims of being extremists - this is also another form of extremism in my books.
Keep up the good work Sharon - not everyone is able to speak his mind.
I don't think abortion in the very early stages of pregnancy is a good thing but I cannot impose my ideas on others. I will not support a group of self-righteous bigots who are convinced they are some god's gift to our country. We have had too much religious fundamentalism in our history and we don't need that anymore. What we need in Malta is more people like Sharon Ellul Bonici.
Sharon Ellul Bonici together with now leader Joseph Muscat and others in the PL had every right to be against and campaign for what the Labour Party stood for back then.
Unlike other candidates SEB has always shown her fighting spirit irrelevant whether the issue was popular or not. Eveyone else shuts up in order to get votes and go mainstream not to offend the majority. Give us a break and give the girl credit for once. Is that so hard to do? We need fighters to defend our interest and not muzzled robots singing populist tunes.
Your agenda seems quite clear and obvious, your comments are simply to evade the argument above.
Trust is based on one's consistency and credibility.
"You should keep your disturbing comments to yourself."
Who do you think you are to put a muzzle over other people's mouths? I can apply the same comment to you... Stop trying to cow other into submission with your religion.. We are not under the yoke of the Inquisition any more thank you very much..
And keep your shame to yourself also..
...So according to Mrs Ellul Bonici the Lisbon treaty establishes a European right to abortion ! That is GROSSLY incorrect.
And that falsity is evident in Mrs Ellul Bonici's same argument - Malta, like Poland and Ireland is signatory to the European Convention for Human rights, and yet nobody even dreams of taking the government to court over a perceived right of abortion - because the convention, as the treaty in the future, leaves that to Member States as a sensitive area of national policy.
Somebody in the PL should start studying EU law, or at least start taking it seriously ..... or we will be facing the consequences.
I think you are the one that needs to study EU law my friend - with the charter of fundamental rights annexed to the Lisbon treaty, The ECJ might decide that abortion is a universal right. With such a judgement every women in the EU would have that right including Maltese women. If you follow EU politics you would know that the Irish counterpart of GOL simply apposed the Lisbon treaty on these grounds my friend. I wonder why GOL did not utter a word!
Please don't insult our intelligence and don't try to twist facts. She was simply stating facts and maybe you're the one that needs to update yourself on EU law and not PL candidate Sharon Ellul Bonici, she seems to know the EU on her fingertips unlike the other candidates who just talk talk talk and no action. Well done Sharon, keep speaking your mind for us all.
Please don't insult our intelligence and don't try to twist facts. She was simply stating facts and maybe you're the one that needs to update yourself on EU law and not PL candidate Sharon Ellul Bonici, she seems to know the EU on her fingertips unlike the other candidates who just talk talk talk and no action. Well done Sharon, keep speaking your mind for us all.
Errata corrige: In my previous post it should read "impregnated with twins" not "...by twins".
She says she is against abortion, but is not willing to do anything against it in order to please everyone. (if that is ever possible)
What about the rights of the voiceless unborn?
I agree perfectly.
We boast of, and rightly defend our rights to do this and that, but what about the right to life of our own offspring? And all this in a state when even our pets have rights. (maybe even more than our own embryos.) Like our pets, our unborn cannot speak for themselves, but there are laws against the cruelty to animals.
So according to Mrs Ellul Bonici the Lisbon treaty establishes a European right to abortion ! That is GROSSLY incorrect.
And that falsity is evident in Mrs Ellul Bonici's same argument - Malta, like Poland and Ireland is signatory to the European Convention for Human rights, and yet nobody even dreams of taking the government to court over a perceived right of abortion - because the convention, as the treaty in the future, leaves that to Member States as a sensitive area of national policy.
Somebody in the PL should start studying EU law, or at least start taking it seriously ..... or we will be facing the consequences.
" I am not campaigning for abortion to be introduced, although Mr Vincenti is successfully pushing me in that direction". Does this suggest that perhaps Sharon Ellul is not able to make her own mind up? How can another person, by airing his views, "successfully push" her in that direction?
From my experience in my own country, and surely moreso in a country as small as Malta, politicians are desperate for my vote. And, except in the rare cases where they are upfront about what they stand for personally, there are many who will suck up to anybody who will vote for them regardless.
If a politician comes to my door and answers negatively to questions around respect for human life from conception to natural death, they don't get my vote, full stop!
Abortion is not a party political issue. How can one say "The Nationialists are pro life" when they will have their own individual stance on the matter? The same applies to Labour.
Are people saying GOL is a nationalist organisation? Is it not in fact non party - political and non religiously - aligned?
With you on this one. I find Ms Ellul Bonici's stand laudable.
MAKING people follow a religion goes against people's fundamental rights. No one wants to make people have an abortion, the idea is that people who want to have an abortion should have every right to do so.
Humans are the only creatures known to intentionally kill their offspring before they are born. Every human has the fundamental right to life; and that right supersedes any law written by any jurisdiction. Malta should enshrine that right to life its constitution.
Just listen to yourself ranting about the fact that the mother has the right to choose.
Do you not thank God (or your lucky stars) that you have been given the chance to live....
How dare you refuse it to someone else!!!!
I do not judge those who have had an abortion. Everyone can make a mistake.
Yet to people who are not actually involved and like Sharon are advocating abortion I say GROW UP stop being selfish...
You will get a Nationalist vote...with complements of GOL who highlight the risk of fundamentalistic folly in Malta
So according to you miscarriage is murder?
I believe in giving adults the choice. Sometimes, adults CAN make the right choice even when it is perceived as abominable in other peoples' eyes.
Victims and Victors
Speaking Out About Their
Pregnancies, Abortions, and Children
Resulting from Sexual Assault
edited by David C. Reardon, Julie Makimaa and Amy Sobie.
How can a country be free and democratic when it sanctions the destruction of human lives? Life has been cheapened too much already, as can be seen here in the UK. A teenager recently died following a visit to have an abortion in this country, and all because she was not given the correct drugs after the "operation". So two people died in that situation. Yes, two people. not just a girl and a foetus!
The fact that we are in the EU and that this is the 21st Century does not make abortion right.
Our politicians represent us and so they should represent and uphold human life from conception to natural death.
The people of Malta must stand up to those who have no respect for life!
The minute anybody stands up for human life, out come all the extremists, shouting the odds and choosing extremes of their choice in order to try to inflate their arguments!
Abortion as a matter of choice? Do they mean convenience? The destruction of human life is called murder when it happens outside the womb. So as long as it is carried out from the other side of the womb it does not merit such a description. Again this is very convenient!
A child is not an appendage to be sucked out and put into a bin, to be described as "the pregnancy".
The people who say that only men oppose abortion do their argument no help at all!
However you choose to describe abortion, however you wish to butter up the term to make it sound a little nicer, it does not make it right.
Of course it is insulting to those of no faith at all to suggest that the issue of the ending of human lives is a religious issue which religious people seek to impose! It is a fact of life that the majority of the population of Malta are Catholics!
SEB might have said that we need strong-willed MEPs, true, but she never added "on such a serious issue" which is your addition, and which even made you 'confirm that ultra liberals are arrogant'. Let's be factual, please, Mr Busuttil.
1) Human life begins at conception.
2) We have no right to kill children.
My comment is instead directed at Gift of Life. Please, stop your sickening, moral, righteous finger pointing rant. Your campaign is as immature as it is ineffective. Instead of trying to reasonably engage in a moderate and well reasoned debate, you insist on running a frenzied campaign which is unwarranted in a society which, although still very much in the grips of conservative thought, is beginning to mature and come to terms with difficult and challenging debates such as this one.
What I think is embarrassing, Mr. Camilleri, is your insistence on making this a personal issue against Arlette Vassallo, instead of discussing the principles (well, the usual Nationalist ignorance, i suppose). Her choice of profession does not dictate her choice of ethics - goodness forbid all doctors were self-righteous fundamentalists.
I support Ellul Bonnici's statement. Finally, someone with the guts to stand up to GOL and their machinations.
If I'm not mistaken five years ago someone tried to use the abortion issue in the MEP elections against Alternattiva Demokratika.
We saw the results of that campaign: a strong showing from Alternattiva and a 'disaster' for the party that led that campaign.
As to being an ignorant socialist or PL supporter my only response to those writing here is that the only ignorance is coming from you writing these words! What about tolernace and liberty? People should have a choice! What if this is a woman who has been raped? What if this is a young girl who has been abused by a relative?That is why we need to seperate the state form the church!God forbids this to become part of the constitution as GOF wants as one day someone will wake up and make us all go to church on sunday!
And for those who are pro-choice, do you have any children?
A sperm is a human cell with 23 chromosomes, but a cell in which two pronuclei have fused is a human being.
I am ashamed that you call yourself a medical student. You should keep your disturbing comments to yourself. You have no idea how utterly angry you have made me to hear a medical student talking in that way.
I am sickened by Sharon Ellul Bonnici. But that is to be expected from a socialist.
It's a question of abortion vs anti-abortion and not a question of PN vs PL
GOL is an anti-abortion NGO and so it's only defending its values, you can agree and you can not agree. That's it! It's not a political issue.
I am pro-choice and I'm proud of it, because I believe in every woman's right to physical integrity and to self-determination.
How you can identify self-replicating cells as being a life, and not merely a potential life, shows complete absence of scientific knowledge. Why shall we then stop at human life? And not all life? Why shall we stop at fertilized eggs? Isn't sperm a living cell with half a human genome inside it?
Albeit difficult to draw the line, it is blatantly obvious that a totipotent cell with a drive to make copies of itself is not a human being. However,it's a potential cure for a multitude of diseases.
Anti-abortion laws also undermine one of the fundamental human rights - The Right to Civil Marriage and Family Planning. The fact that Malta is still anti-abortion is an embarrassment. The fact that religious indoctrination is still part of our constitution is an embarrassment. The fact that we still allow moral judgment to be imposed on us is an embarrassment.
Will still be voting Labour next June.
Vincenti and his ilk have been attempting to terrorise all into complying with their twisted reasoning for fear of being branded pro-choice. Sharon Ellul Bonici is their latest victory, such is her mettle; nothing much to write home about.
GoL can rave and rant while enjoying the column inches granted them by our press, but they will attain their thwarted aim only if they can manage to bully enough people not to cross swords with them.
I am pro-choice.
I think I'd rather have the state interfere, then.
"My personal opinion was directed by the principle that the state should as far as possible not interfere in people’s lives"
According to people with pro abortion sentiment, a mother has the right to decide whether a baby is to live or die... I sincerely believe that we adults need to grow up and need to start facing our responsibilities. Our state should protect babies. Whether born or not they are human babies
PS. I'm male.
I thank Gift of Life once again, and I urged them to keep working to expose the opinions of important members of society in relation to questions close to their mission.
As far as this question is concerned, I trust no one that expresses doubts which could potentially lead to uncertainties. There is no space for uncertainty when dealing with life and abortion.
The most important thing is that the Labour Party, and also Joseph Muscat himself has always stressed that both him and the party are anti Abortion.
More over, Sharon said she will abide by the PL Policy, now that she is a PL candidate.
Before the last General Elections you attacked Dr Alfred Sant and now its Ms Ellul Bonici's turn. Your only aim is to attack the Labour Party.
I am anti abortion, however, who do we think we are kidding when we refer to values?
What is this news item???
As mentioned , Sharon explained her position and a meeting with Joseph was set on the 17th of March .!!!
So the news item is at least 15 days late!!!
2. Her personal beliefs do not reflect the policy of the Labour Party
3. GOL may express all the alarm in the world but everybody has a right to his/her personal opinion
4. Citizens are smart enough to vote for that person who represents their beliefs, wishes and aspirations without the interference of GOL
5. Fear campaigns such as this are shameful in a democratic society - they are a throwback to the past