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Wednesday, January 16, 2013 by

Claudia Calleja

Consensus over gay adoption welcomed

‘In all cases the child is paramount’

Currently only single and married people may adopt. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Currently only single and married people may adopt. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Gay rights activists welcomed the common position of the Labour and Nationalist parties after they both declared adoption should be based on the child’s best interest and not the sexual orientation of adoptive parents.

The important thing is for the experts to confirm that the child will have a loving and caring family

This is the first time there is an open and clear political consensus that gay people should be able to adopt children so long as professionals deem it is in the best interest of the child.

“The Malta Gay Rights Movement welcomes the position on adoption… as one that should be based on the child’s best interests, rather than on the sexual orientation or gender identity of the parents,” Gabi Calleja, movement coordinator, said. She said MGRM will be seeking to meet all political groups to seek further clarifications on their positions with regard to rights and policies.

Last week, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said he was committed to introducing civil unions for same-sex couples, saying it would not be a partnership contract open to everyone but would include a package of rights, similar to those obtained through marriage, for gay couples.

This differed from the civil partnership proposed by the Nationalist Government as part of the cohabitation law. These applied to anyone living together – be they a heterosexual couple, siblings or gay people.

During a meeting at The Times on Monday, Dr Muscat elaborated that he was not against gay couples adopting and believed the underlying principle should be the child’s benefit.

He said the most important thing was that the child was in a “loving and caring family”.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday echoed Dr Muscat’s view. His spokesman said: “The Prime Minister confirms that the important thing is for experts to confirm the child will have a loving and caring family, irrespective of the adoptive parents’ sexual orientation. In all cases, the best interests of the child remain paramount.”

Asked if the PN would consider civil unions, the spokesman said: “Labour appears to be following the PN but changing the name from civil ‘partnerships’ to a civil ‘union’.”

The PN electoral manifesto, he said, spoke about ensuring that the necessary legislation was in place to safeguard people who were cohabiting or in a gay relationship and also referred to the importance of safeguarding family values.

Maltese law allows single people and married couples to adopt. This has been interpreted as a way to stop gay couples from doing so, although the law does not specifically speak about them.

As things stand, gays can adopt if they apply as a single parent. The child is officially registered as adopted by one partner, raising complications over the other’s rights and responsibilities.

Ms Calleja said MGRM was campaigning for marriage equality as it was the only form of recognition to grant equality in rights, obligations and status. Cohabitation did not recognise a stable relationship but acknowledged the physical presence of two or more people under the same roof.

“Malta Gay Rights Movement is against any recognition of same-sex couples and their children that adopts a piecemeal approach to rights.”

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Alfred Falzon

Jan 18th, 14:45

@ Marc Buhagiar

The website referred to above has an error, the word" slash" must be omitted!

Pl read < http://harmful.cat-v.org/society/gay_marriage >

I've tried it and it should be accessible.

Regrets for any inconvenience

Alfred A Falzon

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 18:26

To show your conviction, do not vote at the next election - all parties are agreed on the gay rights issues.

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 18:29

Me too. Divorce, gays adopting,....what next? Probably abortion!

Mr E Phillips

Jan 17th, 20:15

Joe M Borg,
'Divorce', so feel free not to get one
'gays adopting,....' If your not gay it won't affect you
'what next?Probably abortion!' If you don't want one don't have one.

But no-one is telling you that
a) You must, by law get a divorce
b) That you must, by law, be gay to adopt children
c) That you must, by law, get an abortion.

Are you seeing the difference yet?

E Richie

Jan 19th, 10:14

@ E Philps, if that is the way you think dont you care at all for your fellowmen? I wouldnt want another person to do what s wrong , not becsue he would take anything from me ,change my life, but I would worry because of what/ where it would lead to ... for him/her self. e,g. i may not have an abortion.. but that doesnt mean i am happy and agree that another does it ,it is murder of an innocent

Mr E Phillips

Jan 19th, 11:05

E Richie
It’s difficult to know where to start with this one.......
‘.............don’t care at all for your fellowmen?’ Me? Please do point out where your ‘caring’ statement is? I’m seeing a lot of medieval bigoted drivel, but not much in the way of caring.
‘I wouldnt want another person to do what s wrong’. Who are you to decide what is wrong for other people.

Mr E Phillips

Jan 19th, 11:06

Cont .
Decide what’s wrong for yourself by yourself and stick to it. But don’t try to force your outdated and discriminatory ideas on others.
‘,it is murder of an innocent’. Actually it’s not. As is amply proven by the many countries where abortion is legal.

E Richie

Jan 22nd, 12:27

@ E Philips: about abortion,Just because its legal doesnt mean its right ! its still murder. The new testament is after Christ came to Earth... because there was a need for salvation.. pls get your facts right. No updates, no change of God's laws,,, and surely not from Mortal men ! I dont decide what is wrong.. God's word does. but we are all free to choose.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 18:27

And what happens if the parents reject the child and dump in an orphanage -as happens to hundreds of children who are abondoned by their natural parents? Aren't they brought up by nuns - all female I suppose?

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 18:59

@AndrewCamilleri
If and when parents "reject" the child you do not throw it from the frying pan into the raging fire of an unnatural gay environment with a masculine wife and an effeminate father. You find another solution an orphanage where such children are not "dumped" but receive care that does not seduce the child into a gay life.

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 19:00

Andrew THAT is NOT the best situation. They are brought up by nuns because their parents, willingly or unwillingly, forsake their children. Most of these kids are given for adoption! There are hundreds of couple who do not manage to have their own kids, but are willing to adopt. Give these innocent kids the RIGHT to experience a mother/father figure, like YOU and ME did. Don't betray them!

Alfred Falzon

Jan 17th, 17:06

Better still, direct access can be gained by visiting this other website:

<http://www.equip.org/PDF/JAH050.pdf&gt;


This will avoid having to move to other websites since it's the one where the above-mentioned article can be read directly.

aaf

Marc Buhagiar

Jan 17th, 18:23

Can you please cite a source which is not religious? Thanks in advance. A religious source is obviously going to be biased.

Alfred Falzon

Jan 17th, 19:27

@ Marc Buhagiuar

I'll do my best to subscribe to your comment, which is likewise valid.
In due time, with its pros and cons.
Thanks for your suggestion.

aaf

Marcus Davis

Jan 17th, 17:36

Quite right except these children don't have the choice so what next? If the children were all adopted by hetrosexual couples then there would be no children adoption issue would there?

Raymond Bezzina

Jan 17th, 20:02

To make my previous comment more clear.

As the topic is about adoptions; when a child is unwanted or abandoned by his/her BIOLOGICAL parents, the child's best interest is to be adopted by a married male and female, and not by two born males or two born females.

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 17:53

I'm VERY sorry, but this is the truth! Unfortunately, children have no vote, so we can abuse of their rights to experience a mother and father figure in their early life.

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 17:36

So I won't ask your views on IVF then? This is unnatural. Isn't it?

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 18:34

Julien Don't mix lettuce with gas. This is a very serious matter! Children have NO ONE to speak for them. Their right of experiencing a mother and father figure in their first years is taken away from them, simply because a gay couple means 2 votes, while young children mean 0 votes! Pity and shameful! The family is the cornerstone of society.

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 19:22

@Mr Borg- what a load of rubbish- I frankly find it so disgusting that people who have no authority on the matter seem to be quoting chapter and verse from the bible and using it against gay people as an attack on them. We are not sexual deviants, not all effeminate and I think that it's these misconceptions that people have on here which leads to their beliefs on us as bad parents.

Marcus Davis

Jan 17th, 15:43

Prosit Truth spoke at last. Religious hypocrisy and piety, with just the words of hatred. These people need forgiveness of God. And the church needs to ask for everybody's forgiveness when they allowed their priests to interfere with children!!!! Perhaps they should read the book and practice what they preach!!!!

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 15:49

Good comment. Just imagine if these parents had a gay child - poor child!

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 17:58

Ryan Kids being bullied is the LEAST that troubles me. What should trouble YOU is the fact that these kids are DENIED their right to experience a REAL father/mother figure! By nature, during the first years it is VERY important for the child to experience mother ad father love. By giving gays the 'right' (?) to adopt, you would be robbing children their rights. It's abuse. Kids have no vote!

Mr E Phillips

Jan 17th, 14:41

'........time does not change God's word !!'. Really? Old testament, according to some, is the word of god. So everything he wrote in that little black book of his is still applicable today?

Alfred Falzon

Jan 17th, 16:08

@ E Phillips

Why do you call the Bible a "black book"?!
Do you have a better substitute?
If so, let us know!

Alfred A Falzon

Mr E Phillips

Jan 17th, 17:08

Alfred Falzon,
Why would I need a better substitute?

Alfred Falzon

Jan 17th, 18:11

@ E Phillips,

The Holy Bible is not a BLACK BOOK!

It's your obstinacy to deny the truth by opting for something of which yourself are ashamed to mention!

Now don't chicken out!

Have you a better alternative? Tell us!

Or is it just idle talk and babble?

Alfred A falzon

Mr E Phillips

Jan 17th, 19:40

Falzon,
What am I denying the truth about?
Here's my issue with your black book/bible. It carries no more factual information than any other fairystory style book. It has little or no relevance to the modern world,actively encourages discrimination, bigotry and hypocrisy. So those who believe in fairy stories are free to live by them no-one is stopping them doing so. Where's the reciprocation?

Alfred Falzon

Jan 18th, 15:03

@ E Phillips
If u'r aspiring 2 b an advocate of gay marriage you will need much more logic to draw public opinion 2 your so-called cause bereft of any ideal!
U claim to be fighting for equal rights 4 gays, but in reality what u & d gay community r pushing 4 is to have "privileged rights" extended 2 yourselves!
No one is above d law, otherwise it's a return 2 d law of d jungle, your law!

aaf


Mr E Phillips

Jan 18th, 21:22

Particular advocate of gay marriage no, against bigotry and medieval mentalities, yes.
Privileged rights? What's privileged about wanting the same rights as others?
' No one is above d law' - Although entirely irrelevant to the subject, people are campaigning to change the law, not break it. And not entirely accurate either, but why let any logic or truth get in the way of your thought process

E Richie

Jan 19th, 09:35

@ E Philips.. The New Testament is the new convenant .. maybe you should update yourself with The Word of God.

Mr E Phillips

Jan 19th, 10:52

E Richie
So the word of god gets updated periodically does it? How can your god be omniscient if he needs to update his principles every now and again?

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 18:47

As a lawyer, YOU should know that children have RIGHTS as well! They have the right to experience the mother/father figure in their early life. But children have no votes, and no money to pay lawyers, so they are trodden underfoot, Dr Bezzina. Gays are richer than kids, having both votes and money. Shame on you and your progress!

Alfred Falzon

Jan 17th, 21:00

KIDS come before cosmic divinity and what not!
Freedom of expression is sacred, but our CHILDREN are much more important than babble for they are our FUTURE and need to respect that PILLAR of SOCIETY that is MARRIAGE!!
A healthy nation rests on good morals not on twisted and gnarled thinking!

Alfred A Falzon

Anthony Bonell

Jan 17th, 12:47

:) good one lolllllll

M Borg

Jan 17th, 13:31

Or Mary & Jane !!

Robert Callus

Jan 17th, 13:50

Do you also believe in talking snakes and forbidden apples?

Matthew James Smith

Jan 17th, 14:02

Wow JOHN did you come up with awesome rhyme all by yourself? So Original!

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 14:26

try and say something a tad more original!

Mr E Phillips

Jan 17th, 15:10

Did he not create everyone?

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 15:50

John Portelli -does Dr Gonzi know this? He is all in favour of gay adoption and gays entering into a civil partnership.

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 18:51

Phillips. Yes EVERYONE, but from a man and woman.
Callus. We believe in children's rights to have a mother AND father.
Matthew and Julien. Truth hurts, does it? ORIGINALLY, both of you were born, AND RAISED, by a man and a woman. You HAD that right. These children adopted by gays will have THIS RIGHT taken away, for a couple of votes!

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 19:36

Again Mr Borg, get your facts right- I was raised by my father along with a twin sister who did an exemplary job on his own bringing us up whilst working full time. I may have had one parent, but that's irrelevant- it's love children need. The adults teach them the predjudices. Thank goodness we're not all narrow minded. I just hope you don't come across gay people in Cloud Cuckoo land.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 12:57

If you want to be reasonable compare loving homosexual couples with loving heterosexual couples and a Church orphanage with a state orphanage (when it exists). Your anti-religious bias can be smelt from a mile off.

Joe M Borg

Jan 17th, 18:56

Daniel There IS something VERY wrong, if you know a BIT of psychology! In the first years, EVERY CHILD needs to experience the mother and father figures. Letting gays adopt means ROBBING this right to those who have no voice. Try to appreciate that in your first years you received mother and father love. So don't negate it to others.

Ms Samantha Debono

Jan 17th, 19:09

Francis, I think Daniel has made a good point which you (not surprisingly, seeing your previous posts... not just on this issue) seem to have missed! Children who are up to adoption are from BROKEN FAMILIES, who have had no option but to have the children removed from their home, or even better, have ABANDONED their children!! I think his comparison was spot on!

S.M. Cuschieri

Jan 17th, 19:15

@ Francis Saliba MD

Well said Doc, very well said :). I cannot believe how they wish to impose this on children. If they wish to be like that, so be it, but they are now becoming a pest!!! LOLOL!!!

Daniel Schembri

Jan 17th, 12:35

With such reasoning, you won't make much for good parenting! I am assuming you re a good tolerant and non judgmental Catholic aren't you? Shame on you, not on good policy making.

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 14:32

I was often questioned why I only had one parent and not two like all the other kids. I dealt with it and succeded.
My cousin was questioned why she had dark skin but her mother was white.
My English grandmother hated the fact that my father was Maltese.
Life poses many issues we have to deal with and overcome- the way these issues are dealt with shows a true reflection on parental skills.

S.M. Cuschieri

Jan 17th, 19:12

@ Daniel Schembri

Explain to me what good parenting means? Im a heterosexual and a damned good parent at that. What will you explain to your child if he catches you in the act? That sodomy is normal? You and others like you are a pest to society and if you wish to be together, be it so but do not involve children in your sordid lives. And you will NEVER be accepted by the catholic church. Ever.

Doreen Camilleri

Jan 17th, 16:52

How melodramatic! No one mentioned throwing children to the lions!!! As long as children are given a good stable and loving home.... does it matter the gender?!!

E Richie

Jan 17th, 14:06

I have friends who are gay and I love them , so I have nothing against the person as such.. let me make this clear. But I fear God and I know that tho He love us all He hates sin, not the sinner. so I do not agree with encouraging such relationships.By the way I have known cases where gays were not true gays, it seems the system just attracted them, they were vulnerable. Today, they r married, wit

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 14:35

Very true Louis- gay parents making their children gay is the same as saying all striaght people's kids will turn out straight. Utter rubbish. And gay marriage? If straight people don't like it- then surely the simple option for them is not to marry a gay person. Why can't people get on with and concentrate on their own (presumably problem-free) lives.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 15:53

Francis Saliba M.D., may I ask politiely if it is true that you are a medical doctor. I somehow doubt it after reading your comment above.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 16:48

@Mr AndrewCamilleri

You will find the positive answer to your impolite question in the Registers of the Medical Council of Malta.

Marcus Davis

Jan 17th, 15:37

R u for real? Do you actually have any real thoughts of your own or just what your priest and the bible say? Dont forget the bible and its teachings are not 100% accurate many academics who have studied its origins are also christians and they will tell you this also. Even the clerics know this and privately don't believe in everything thats written. But lets face it its easier not to think.

E Richie

Jan 19th, 09:42

@ Marcus .. Are u aware that scientists are actually now finding history and present that actually Proves th bible ? Well, I have made my choice... you are free to make yours

E Richie

Jan 19th, 09:45

and by the way, do u know that of the prophesies written in the Book, two thirds have actually come to be? Any pls note I do not believe what the priest trells me, only God... there is a difference between them, man made laws are not for me.

Marcus Davis

Jan 17th, 11:54

Dear Mr Croker
As a gay man in a relationship for the last13 years with no intention of adoption or child rearing I find your comment also sickening and offensive. Most children to date have had hetrosexual parents and there are plenty of them not doing a good job! But its their right to have them regardless just because of their of sexuality being "right" certainly in your eyes only.

Marcus Davis

Jan 17th, 11:56

Perhaps Mr Croker you would be more happy if the church would look after more of these orphans?

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 11:46

Since you ask nicely, unlike that Tabone fellow, I will explain.
Because if nature intended that a family could consist of two male parents or two female parents it would have provided for conception to be brought about that way and there would be no need for "gays" to abduct and prey on the offspring of a male father and a female mother.

Pamela Borg

Jan 17th, 12:50

Francis can I ask you from what time do you come from? abduct and prey on the offspring! Why are these children up for adoption? im sure they were all born from heterosexual parents? Conception is different to actually bringing up a child. Not all woman or men stay and care for their child even when conceived in "normal" conception. So isn't that person otherwise known as a donor?

Victor Rodenas

Jan 17th, 10:06

They do anything to garnish votes.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 10:44

@VictorRodenas
I believe that "garnishing" a voting document in any flavour whatsoever would be illegal.

joseph green

Jan 17th, 13:01

Bhal insara immisna nirrinunzjaw il vot , ghax l ewwel jigi il principju , ghalhekk jien mhux sejjer nivvotta , sakemm ma johrog xi partit jew xi hadd indipendenti li hu kontra il gay adoption.

Victor Rodenas

Jan 17th, 10:07

Who wants to lose votes?

S Scerri

Jan 17th, 11:08

Sick? Please elaborate.

Alfred Falzon

Jan 17th, 15:15

What makes man's dignity?

What make's man an upright citizen?

Answer: His refusal 2 b carried away by "all that glitters" in life!

One, being d proverbial CARROT soulless political Parties without PRINCIPLE like 2 hang above his head 2 play d petty gods 4 at least 5 YEARS!

D PEOPLE's welfare plays only 2nd fiddle, d FAMILY we know is now up FOR SALE 2 d highest bidder!

PL/PN pl note!

aaf

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 11:11

"Our children will only react to things like we would react, if you hate spiders for example they will hate too. (PamelaBorg today 10:08)

That is the insurmountable problem with child adoption by gays. If such a child sees one of his two fathers sodomising his other father that child would be in great danger of following that example - and we don't want that, or do we?

S Scerri

Jan 17th, 11:20

You are pathetic and insufferable, continously spewing hatred based on prejudice. Shocked that there are family doctors with your mentality around. Here are the usual counter-arguments, which I only provide to counteract any influence you have on others, since you are resolute in your hate campaign. 1) Gay is neither a lifestyle nor a choice 2) One cannot influence or choose a child's sexuality.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 13:09

@S Scerri.
YOU are an illogical person who accuses others of being " ... pathetic and insufferable, continously spewing hatred based on prejudice ... " because they dare to hold views different from yours and which they defend logically whereas you only hurl insults and make categorical idiotic statements without trying to prove them.

Pamela Borg

Jan 17th, 13:51

Please do not use my words for your use of disgust.at no time did I compare sodomy(in your words not mine) to hating a spider! What you are saying is hypocritical. Any child who has seen there parent intimately together is obviously scared however does that mean the people are straight because they have seen there parents doing it? So the ones that are gay haven't? ridiculous argument.

Mr E Phillips

Jan 17th, 14:57

'..The undeclared purpose of gays' - Omniscient as well now?
'to recruit members for their movement by abducting needy babies' - Ring any bells that one?
'... unnatural environment of female husbands and male mothers' - whereas it's perfectly natural to deny a child the unconditional love of two parents because you don't agree with their lifestyle choice?

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 15:52

@Mr E Philips
One does not have to be "omniscient" to discover the hidden agenda of gays even if they choose to hide it because it is shameful.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 15:57

Saliba: I am truly amazed that a supposedly educated person can spew such inventions and hatred towards his fellow men and women. And you call yourself a catholic? If what you say reflects catholic thinking, no wonder people are leaving the catholic church in droves. Your life must be so full of bitterness. I pity you.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 16:05

@PamelaBorg
You cannot prevent me from quoting your own argument against yourself. I applied your statement to a child observing his gay adoptive parents committing sodomy and imitating them because, as you said correctly, children imitate their parents and that applies to sodomy as much as to fear of spiders.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 16:28

@AndrewCamilleri

I have every right to hold opinions different from gays and to criticise gay practices, using a civil if blunt language. It is a sign of weakness to retort by hurling insults instead of arguing sensibly and courteously. That angry and insolent language only highlights your frustration at your inability to engage in a reasoned dialogue.

Mr E Phillips

Jan 17th, 16:40

Francis Saliba,
Indeed, probably not. Interesting thought process though. Homosexuals are looking to adopt young children as part of a recruitment drive for their cause. Incredible piece of deduction that.
Just for clarity, your reference to recruiting for their movement. I assume you are referring to an equal rights movement and to the fallacy of teaching child to become gay.

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 17:32

I have a friend, brought up by two gay men who's straight and now married with children. What went wrong there? Surely these people weren't successful in recruiting the child to their 'movement'. Maybe if you understood people more instead of basing prejudices on the labels you give them- your views would be less archaic.God forbid you ever have loved ones who come out as gay- they stand no chance

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 19:33

@Julien Catania
The case described by you would prove that it is possible for a child to grow up into a normal heterosexual individual IN SPITE OF (not because of) the difficulty created by a gay environment.

Pamela Borg

Jan 17th, 09:47

There's stigma attached to kids who are overweight or look different to others, who talk different, who don't talk at all!!!! so that would mean people shouldn't have kids full stop cause only kids from same sex parents are harassed!! The reason why they (all children) are harassed because at some time in their lives it was ok for them to do so by their 'loving' parents. We are not born haters!

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 15:59

No studies have been carried out -both parties are fishing for votes, and the more desparate is obviously the Pn that in afew onths has gone from ulyra-conservative (against divorce) to ultra-liberal (gay adoption and gay civil partnerships). Is this the effect Simon Busuttil has on the PN?

Kenneth Grima

Jan 17th, 08:17

Mr.Sciberras don't mix murder with Love. Gay couples are willing to Love care and invest a lot of money and dedicate a life time to abandoned children. To remind you these are children abandoned or neglected by their straight parents what many are describing as the natural way. So gay couples are trying to make up for the failure of heterosexual persons. Shame on you for your flawed reasoning.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 08:55

@ Mr Kenneth Grima.

Please do not mix "loving" with "making love" (intercourse). In today's secular hedonist society, very often, they do not coincide.
Children put up for adoption may be orphans or the innocent victims of secular views about marriage stability. Society must not magnify their problem by consigning them into an unnatural environment that warps their future sex development.

Pamela Borg

Jan 17th, 10:08

@ F Saliba How do you know it warps the children's' future sex development? Our children will only react to things like we would react, if you hate spiders for example they will hate too. Yes one day they will be making their own choices. It's up to us parents to teach our children to not discriminate, that just cause their friend has 2 mummies/daddies they are still your friend!

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 10:57

@PamelaBorg.
The development of any child towards adulthood is a combination of "nature and nurture" i.e. congenital characteristics and other later ones acquired by its environment.
Although I am all in favour of teaching our children not to discriminate, as a responsible parent I would never tell lies to my offspring such as that there are people with two mummies or two daddies.

William Tabone

Jan 17th, 11:22

Gender role identification is enforced if we make them more important over attachment. Even primative monkey babies preferred a "smooth surfaced doll with no food" over "a harsh survived doll providing food" proving years and years of successful statistics in favour of positive parenthood irrelevant of the parents gender. However people like you keep looking down on such people and children!

E Richie

Jan 17th, 13:12

Adoption IS murder. " ...homosexuals, murderers, theives.... do not enter the Kingdome of God..." (Bible Quote) . Are the politicians willing to take this on their conscience, and encourage ppl to go to hell for eternity ,, just for votes . How more materialistic and egoistic can one get ?

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 13:14

@William Tabone

I am writing about rational human beings and not about monkeys and their preferences. Even so I do not look down on monkeys and their brood but I reserve the right to criticise human beings behaving like monkeys.

E Richie

Jan 17th, 13:40

hear hear....
murder, (abortion), same sex relationships... x ahna sbieh ux ?? Ezatt iriedna Alla qedin ux...
We are only putting this small island into disgrace . Might as well go live with the pagans

Joseph Grech

Jan 17th, 08:16

You're so right, Mr Spalding. I guess I'll tear up my voting document after this!

joe muscat

Jan 17th, 07:12

Francis bejn il-gvern u l-oppozizzjoni IVA hemm consensus , “The Prime Minister confirms that the important thing is for experts to confirm the child will have a loving and caring family, irrespective of the adoptive parents’ sexual orientation. Dr Muscat elaborated that he was not against gay couples adopting and believed the underlying principle should be the child’s benefit.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 16:00

Saliba: could you please share your thoughts above with Dr Lawrence Gonzi who declared that he has nothing against gay adoption. Yeah, I bet you will!

M Borg

Jan 17th, 11:48

@ M.Borg

Same name,............. but very different views. !!

I do not agree that same sex couples should be given the right to adopt.

M. Borg

Jan 17th, 21:41

Yep, to each their own I guess...

Pamela Borg

Jan 17th, 10:14

How funny no one is willing to reply to your comment, shows exactly how right you are! (Im being serious) I agree with you, everyone is acting on the defensive side. Sexuality has no influence on another if that was the case everyone would be heterosexual.

Francis Saliba M.D.

Jan 17th, 11:37

@Pamela Borg
Speaking for myself I did not answer Tabone (today 00:40) because his insulting style did not merit a reply.
However I did reply to his later comment (at 10:10) addressed to me. I promptly answer your comments couched in a more civil language. I think that you would better advise him to copy you instead of admiring his arrogant style.

Julien Catania

Jan 17th, 14:28

very true William! Why is it the people quoting the bible etc, are the ones with the most hatred?

E Richie

Jan 19th, 10:24

Please note I do not hate gays, I have gay friends and I love them. Indeed I fear for them, what they go thru on earth and what they may go thru thereafter, I do not know, I am not their judge, but I certainly do not hate, i try to make a point because I only desire they know the Truth and God s word, In the long run, however, it is their choice...and I respect that. but involving kids is a No NO

E Richie

Jan 17th, 13:15

or maybe gain votes, and lose his soul.....in eternity... screams and gnashing of teeth...

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Jan 17th, 16:02

Why Dr Muscat? Whatabout the huge u-turn of GonziPN from the religious ultra-conservative party to ultra-liberal ever since Busuttil joined the gang at the top? Will you still vote for the PN?

Pamela Borg

Jan 17th, 10:19

how do you know what gay/lesbian partners can or cant teach their children? You certainly cant teach yours love. You need to educate yourself a bit more before voicing your opinion. It's better if you have something to fall back on in case you are totally wrong! again we are not born haters we are taught to hate and that's something to be proud of to teach your kids to hate isn't it!

Alfred Falzon

Jan 17th, 10:43

@ Pamela Borg

This is far from an anti-gay campaign being waged by those who tend to discriminate!

I for one defend human rights irrespective what u think in your selfishness to turn marriage between a MALE and a FEMALE into one that defies Nature and the rest of civilised humanity!!

YES, innocent children should have normal caring parents, ideally a MOTHER and a FATHER!

Alfred A Falzon

Pamela Borg

Jan 17th, 10:56

Not everyone has your ideal of mother and father be it born from a gay/lesbian or heterosexual family. If you haven't walked a mile in someone else's shoes you don't have a right to think you know how it is in their shoes. Marriage is not nature, that's a piece of paper that gives you more rights then if you weren't. So normal caring parents hmmmmm im still questioning whats normal!!

Stefan Micallef

Jan 16th, 23:36

What difference is it to you if gay couples decide to adopt a child? Surely such an environment is better suited than one where a child is subject to abuse, direct or indirect, with the latter including one of the parents having drug/gambling/alcohol problems.
Let me assure you that the only threat to children raised by homosexuals are people like you whose stigma interferes with their life.

Maria Borg

Jan 17th, 08:04

Mr Micallef, I think Mercieca's point was Muscat's U - Turn about the issue to gain votes from the Homosexual community in Malta.

J Micallef

Jan 17th, 09:56

Don't worry, lots of pre-election promises won't beocme real.

Kenneth Grima

Jan 17th, 09:59

WRONG.STATISTICS AND STUDIES EXIST as they don't include only children brought up by gay parents since this was officially recognized as children with gay parents existed for far longer just they were only officially or on paper adopted by one of the parents only & for your information not one research showed any sign of disadvantage if not the contrary as many of these kids far better academically

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Jan 17th, 10:15

The onus is not on gay men and lesnians to prove they make good parents, as individuals and as couples, but on those who claim that it is not in the best interest of the child to have a gay adoptive (or bilogical) parent. Muscat has indeed achieved a lot and this before he becomes PM, if that is the will of the Maltese people.

Marcus Davis

Jan 17th, 17:34

If hetrosexuals parents were doing such a great job at taking care of these children they're wouldn't be any up for adoption would there? I presume some of these children have some living relatives? Clearly society will fall apart if they are adopted by loving gay parents? Well better to leave them in a home if it doesn't harm outmoded beliefs!!!

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