The report on President George Abela intimating his reluctance to the Prime Minister to sign the Civil Unions Bill, at present going through Parliament, has prompted numerous online comments both in favour and against the President.

I find the comments criticising the President on the grounds of the perceived irrelevance of morality and conscience in the highest public office of the land, solemnly sworn in to protect the Constitution of Malta in complete loyalty and conscience, to be particularly confusing and disheartening.

President Abela was in office at the time of the last general election. The electoral programme of the Labour Party did not include the issue of the adoption of children by gay partners and hence he is under no obligation to endorse any measure favouring such an act.

As for the question whether morality and conscience have a place in national politics, I would say they have a very special place and distinguish a civilized nation with a predominantly Christian culture from a barbarous one.

To profess the opposite is to go down to a level of political cynicism that ill befits our history.