Pro-life march in Valletta
The annual pro-life march is being held by Gift of Life in Valletta this morning.
The objectives of March are to raise funds for women in a crisis pregnancy and to reaffirm pro-life values to all citizens, particularly students.
Gift of Life also wants to emphasise the beauty of human life from conception to a natural death and to remind all Maltese and Gozitan people of pro-life values.
It wanted to reaffirm the its call for Maltese MPS to legislate to fully protect the dignity and right to life of the human embryo during IVF treatment and to reaffirm its opposition to embryo freezing as part of standard IVF treatment in Malta. However, it supported vitrification as a viable more ethical option.
The movement wants to reaffirm its call to political parties to come together an entrench an anti-abortion clause in the constitution.
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P. Vincenti
Nov 3rd 2011, 18:00
Mr Fenech, below you stated' The only justification against abortion is if the morning-after pill is widely available' that would be even be acceptable if the morning after pill was a contraceptive, which it is not.
Breakthrough pregnancies occur and the MAP kills the life as it prevents it from implanting. Basically,\ abortion.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Oct 31st 2011, 21:08
Pope Innocent III (circa 1161-1216):
He wrote a letter which ruled on a case of a Carthusian monk who had arranged for his female lover to obtain an abortion. The Pope decided that the monk was not guilty of homicide if the fetus was not "animated."
" Early in the 13th century he stated that the soul enters the body of the fetus at the time of "quickening" - when the woman first feels movement of the fetus. After ensoulment, abortion was equated with murder; before that time, it was a less serious sin, because it terminated only potential human life, not human life.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) also considered only the abortion of an "animated" fetus as murder. "
http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_hist.htm
Joe Fenech
Nov 1st 2011, 11:08
As I said below:
The only justification against abortion is if the morning-after pill is widely available. If people have unprotected sex for whatever reason they either act quickly or they have to lump it! I don't accept that one fine day you wake up and say "I want a termination."
The other plausible solution would be to promote shorter cut-off periods for abortion.
Can't understand their point about the embryos. That implies that if a male mastrubates, he is harming life.
Mr Duncan Scerri
Oct 31st 2011, 14:38
Where does the pro-life movement stand on terminations in the context of ectopic pregnancies? Are these pregnancies okay to terminate since it would result in the death of both foetus and the mother? Or does the pro-life movement consider both are to die?
So if there are circumstances in which terminations are acceptable, who are you to dictate what those circumstances may be?
For the Bible Brigade reading: Why does your all powerful god allow these things to happen? Or is he unable to stop them happening?
P. Vincenti
Nov 1st 2011, 00:56
In ectopic pregnancies, under the principle of the "double effect," attending physicians must do everything in their power to save both the mother and the child. However the child growing in the fallopian tube inevitably dies as the tube is surgically removed. If the tube with child is not removed, the mother would die from massive bleeding. This treatment is perfectly ethical and acceptable albeit still very real and hearth-wrenching for the mother and those involved.
Pro aborts often claim that the pro-life movement is against this treatment. This is simply not true. It is a total fabrication meant to stir up resentment by those who have no winnable arguments to justify abortion.
It is a case of if you can't beat them on their argument, defame them and lie about them, something is bound to stick.
With the treatment of ectopic pregnancies involving the removal of the fallopian tube, the mother's life may be saved by a surgical procedure that does not directly attack the unborn baby's life. This is double effect.
This is not abortion to save the mother's life but as explained above, this is the principle of double effect. There is a great difference.
As far as I am aware, and I am no expert on religious issues, the Catholic church does not condemn this either. One had best check this out with someone from the church however.
C Briffa
Oct 31st 2011, 05:42
A few days ago a lot of people wrote that the laws should be more harsh when it comes to animal cruelty. I agree but why when it comes to kill a human being than this is another story? I I insist that our constitution should protect life as from the first beging
Louis Cutajar
Oct 30th 2011, 22:19
Il-ħajja hi rigal u ilkoll kemm aħna għandna l-obbligu li nħarsuha mill-konċepiment sat-tmiem naturali tagħha.
"Any country that accepts abortion, is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what it wants." Madre Teresa ta' Calcutta
Joe Fenech
Oct 30th 2011, 21:10
I could understand someone fighting against abortion if the morning-after pill is widely available, or promoting shorter cut-off periods for abortion, but what on earth are they going on about embryos? So if a male mastrubates, is that harming life?
Before defending life, get one for yourselves first !
David Farrugia
Oct 30th 2011, 19:46
Just a bunch of schoolgirls. Guess the majority of them will just stare at you if you ask them what a constitution is.
Alexia Calleja
Nov 2nd 2011, 17:50
Veru david , tfal zghar u bla esperjezza u ma jafx xi jifieri meta tkun nixtieq isir omm u ma tistax. veru bla sens kienet.
Mr leo attard
Oct 30th 2011, 19:21
@ A Tabone.... there is nothing Gestapo like about legislating against abortion. While there are extenuating circumstances, for example, if the pregnancy will cause the mother's death (even then it is up to the parents to decide whether or not to take the risk)... I am writing about those who seek an abortion because it is a simple inconvenience... My point Mr Tabone is that life begins at fertilization and deliberately ending a human life is murder, and that is illegal. the embryo may not yet look human, but it is a life that is already genetically determined...and we're talking about abortions that take place even after 5 months! man's arrogance is the cause of his own destruction. Hubris! Reminds me of the novel Frankenstein -- first he created life only to immediately abandon it and seek to destroy it. In fact, one scene in Frankenstein in which he creates the mate for thee Monster only to destroy it before he gives it life is depicted as an abortion --- and it only causes mayhem and Dr Frankenstein is the true monster.
A. Tabone
Oct 30th 2011, 20:18
I may allow you to butcher your way into my arguments, and forgive you for it, but I cannot allow you to butcher a novel. I hope you do realise that Shelley wrote that novel with the Frankenstein monster as the new Prometheus, with the 'monster' being able to live with Victor's family. Shelley gave her monster all of our human feelings and intelligence. It was Frankenstein lack of will to assume the responsibility for the creature he created that was the tragedy. And that fits perfectly with what the Liberal thought really says: I am ready to spend the rest of my life to convince a woman NOT to have an abortion, but I will not allow government to sledgehammer a law in order to forbid it. It is not up to the state to decide on these matters.
Again, that novel has nothing to do with abortion. But you seem to be able to twist things to suit your own little theories. An admirable, if slightly misguided, quality.
Mr leo attard
Nov 2nd 2011, 14:57
@A Tabone ... who is butchering a novel? You are agreeing with me in that Frankenstein was the monster and he did create a life and then seek to destroy it. literature is a matter of interpretation and you shouldnt get teed off just because mine doesnt agree with yours. Yes, the scene i referred to has been interpreted by some as a metaphor for abortion.... Also, you havent tackled my argument that life starts at conception and deliberately ending it (even months later making it worse) is murder and governments are bound to prevent it (apart from the extenuating circumstances i referred to) My point is that you cannot condemn governments for legislating against abortion -- what next? I have a right to marry my own daughter if we feel like it? ...
George Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 18:10
I am very much a layman in scientific matters, but I am amazed that people are still asking whether the embryo is a person that is separate from the mother. This is a foregone conclusion that science helped to establish years ago. Suffice it is to say that the embryo DNA is different from the mother's. So it is incorrect to say that the embryo is part of its mother's body, like an arm or an ear. The argument therefore should focus on whether one should be allowed to kill these little, defenceless persons.
Mr leo attard
Oct 30th 2011, 19:06
to an extent, Mr Camilleri, for half the DNA does come from the mother, the ova was produced by the mother's body just as the fertilizing sperm was produced by the father's body. still, i agree with your valid conclusion as expressed in the last sentence.
David Caruana
Oct 30th 2011, 16:36
This is a very delicate and complicated issue which inevitably should revive the discussion of when does a person become a person? Is it at conception? Or is it when the 'baby' can be delivered by natural or artificial means and so become independent of the body of the host, the 'mother'. What rights should the host have until the 'baby' is attached and intrinsically dependent on her own body?
John Spiteri
Oct 30th 2011, 17:56
There is nothing complicated about it. When a baby is delivered from the womb it is not independant. It still relies on its parents to feed cloth and nurture it. Does that give the parents the right to abuse the child?. There was a time when the Nazis claimed that the Jews and other undesirables were not human. Look what happened. The second world war. Lets hope another is not on the way.
N. Bill Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 14:54
Does that mean that I can kill my wife because she is an inconvenience to me, and the government will stay out of my business??
PS. Honey, I don't mean that ..... I am just making a simple example for these people who always seem to associate liberal with intelligent.
Ken Cowan
Oct 30th 2011, 17:01
Is your wife a part of your body, attached to you 24/7?
Did you marry her by accident when you were 13 years old?
No? Well, then, your "analogy" hardly warrants a response then, does it?
Wilfred Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 20:00
@Ken Cowan Are you fro real? Your comments don't warrant a response either!
Steve Pace
Oct 30th 2011, 20:13
@Ken Cowan -
Is your wife a part of your body, attached to you 24/7?
Did you marry her by accident when you were 13 years old?
No? Well, then, your "analogy" hardly warrants a response then, does it?
So you mean to tell us that a baby born and still breast feeding and who needs his / her parents 24/7 to survive should not be considered an individual !
How sure are you that your "analogy " holds any ground ?
Steve Pace
Oct 30th 2011, 14:43
Stop this theocratic nonsense and focus on solving Malta's real problems.
How would legalizing murder help solve Malta's real problems in your view ..
And before you jump on the wagon wheel of accusing anyone who defends life, a theocratic die hard think twice. You would only show your absolute lack of knowledge on the subject and the people commenting .
A. Tabone
Oct 30th 2011, 16:26
I am ready to spend the rest of my life to convince a woman not to have an abortion. But I do not believe the government can impose a legislation to stop women from having abortions. This is no place for the state to legislate.
Do you realise one of our MPs suggested we stop pregnant women at the airport, and ask them - Gestapo like - where they are going and what they intend to do with their own bodies?
And before you start your petty moralising remember that some years ago, when the church was about to close an orphanage,no room was to be found for a group of children in this fair land of ours. Isn't that cause equally as worthy?
But no. This Gift of Life group continues to be a clutch of middle aged men, obsessed with what women do with their own bodies.
Steve Pace
Oct 30th 2011, 19:35
@ A. Tabone. - obsessed with what women do with their own bodies.
...
With all respect to women ..
Shouldn't women think what to do with their body before having sex rather then saying oops and decide to rid themselves of the unwanted 'burden' which came only a result of sensless , selfish and thoughtless sex !
i suppose you will tell me that a raped woman would not fall under this catagory... True, but yet again in such a situation there are two victims. The woman and the child .. Why should the child pay the price ?
A. Tabone
Oct 30th 2011, 20:21
Of course. It's always the women's fault. Funny, I thought males are usually present at time of conception.
Stop these petty arguments and individual cases of yours. My argument was and will remain that I'm willing to convince a woman not to have an abortion, but I'm not willing to have government legislate against abortion.
If restricting the freedom of movement of pregnant women doesn't come across as a horrendous thought, in the very slightest, than I assure you there must be something terribly wrong with you.
Ronald Cauchi
Oct 30th 2011, 14:18
What happens in our bedrooms at whatever stage of our life is our own private business and not there for the state to legislate about.
K Cassar
Oct 30th 2011, 17:09
Sorry to disappoint you... but IVF precisely never happens in the bedroom! And that is precisely why legislation is needed... if you can make a baby in your bedroom you don't need IVF!!!
Joe M Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 17:16
Mr Cauchi.
You are free to say that because your parents gave you a chance to live. So why are you deciding on someone else's life. It is true that what happens in our bedrooms is our private business, but NORMALLY, all of us stated life on Earth from someone else's 'business', in someone else's 'bedroom'! But you were given YOUR chance to live, and it seems that you don't give a damn about other's right to live!!!
John Spiteri
Oct 30th 2011, 18:12
We have a choice to terminate another person or sexually abuse someone and the state should not interfere to protect vunerable people? What nonsense!
K Pullicino
Oct 30th 2011, 13:21
Liberals like to pick and choose when to cite scientific evidence in their arguments. When it comes to abortion, they quickly start pulling out all their "do what they please" nonsense and ignore all the facts just to stay put in their armchair and bid their responsibilities farewell.
Ken Cowan
Oct 30th 2011, 17:09
If these people are so convinced that life in all its states is valuable and needs protecting, then I presume we can now do away with the Maltese Military because, hey, musn't kill, musn't kill! No matter WHAT the circumstances...
Oh, and someone in a vegetative state after an accident which has basically made mush of his brain, so that even if he survives it will be without any personality, any conscious thought or desire, well, euthanasia isn't an option no matter HOW much it costs, right? Even if the money saved could be used to help orphans?
These people's hearts are in the right place - based almost certainly on religious teachings... but when it comes to defining real human solutions to real problems, well, maybe it's time to use your head, too?
K Pullicino
Oct 30th 2011, 19:44
I hardly call killing someone else a solution. The Maltese Military is there to provide security and defense. A pregnant woman is not being attacked by the developing human inside her and neither does she need defense so I have no idea how you brought that into this all.
If we're so good at providing "real solutions", how come the best one we've managed to come up with is "kill it and drop it in the bin"?
Wilfred Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 20:10
@Ken Cowan This is not a religious issue; it's a human issue. Real human solutions to real problems are indeed necessary. Unplanned pregnancies by women who engage in sexual relations without taking precautions are not real problems; they are ignorance, laziness, and lack of responsibility!
Robert Callus
Oct 30th 2011, 12:14
"Gift of Life also wants to emphasise the beauty of human life from conception to a natural death and to remind all Maltese and Gozitan people of pro-life values."
This is simply not true:
http://robertcallus.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/rights-of-a-born-foetus/
A. Tabone
Oct 30th 2011, 12:04
Governments have no role to legislate on these matters. The state would be sledge-hammering its way into our individual lives. Stop this theocratic nonsense and focus on solving Malta's real problems.
DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,
Oct 30th 2011, 11:21
Let us stop the hypocretical gods playing havoc with the personal and individual lives of women who have their intimate reasons as to why they desire their pregnancies terminated in adequate medical time: all other reasons are pure nonsense!!
===================================ALPHA.
Karl Consiglio
Oct 30th 2011, 12:11
Ezatt, tell them Dr. Bezzina,
They remind me of ants who only think for the colony, and not the situation of the individual
Steve Pace
Oct 30th 2011, 14:45
You signed ALPHA , signifying the begining of everything... It seems you are more the Omega and terminate everything ! including precious life !
Joe M Borg
Oct 30th 2011, 17:19
Dr Bezzina, MA, MAG..............................
You signed ALPHA! Does this name stand for the Political Party which was so successful, that it was 'aborted' by the Maltese?
Wilfred Camilleri
Oct 30th 2011, 20:07
It's obvious that the alphabet soup behind your name has not made you much smarter!
Of the over 50 million abortions performed in the US, 99% of those abortions were for "intimate reasons" of inconvenience for the mother! That means that these women are using abortion (i.e., murder of human beings) as a means of birth control! A genocide unprecedented din human history.
Women have no more right to murder an unborn baby than Hitler did in murdering Jews, or Pol Pot murdering millions of his countrymen.
What's pure nonsense are your comments!