Pastor Gordon-John Manche’ presented a 10,500-signature petition to MPs yesterday. Photo: Jason Borg

Enough signatures could easily be collected to block the introduction of gay adoptions through an abrogative referendum, according to Pastor Gordon-John Manché, who called on MPs to respect the Cross they kissed when taking their oath of office.

Dr Manché, who leads the River of Love Christian Fellowship, said a 10,500-signature petition, which he yesterday handed over to the whips of both parties in Parliament, was collected in less than four weeks.

The rest, he said, could easily be rustled up to force a referendum, which would surely be won by those who disagreed with the proposed law. He was not collecting signatures towards this end, he said.

Dr Manché is also against the Civil Unions Bill because it is proposing marriage between gays and not a civil partnership. Neither issue was in the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto, he added.

We will fight for what is right

“We are here to give children a voice. We implore MPs to respect the same Cross they kissed when taking their oath of office and follow the will of God,” Dr Manché said as he stood in front of a banner reading Alla jħobb lil kulħadd imma ma jħobbx kollox (God loves everyone but not everything).

Surrounded by around 40 of his followers, the TV evangelical pastor said that 80 per cent of people in Malta did not want the Civil Unions Bill, which included a proviso allowing gay couples to adopt. He was referring to a survey by Catholic newspaper Leħen is-Sewwa.

“Jesus Christ does not want this,” he told government whip Carmelo Abela, Opposition whip David Agius and deputy speaker Ċensu Galea as they entered Parliament yesterday.

He said the petition was signed by people of different religious beliefs, even atheists, as well as gay people who were against gay adoptions. While he opposed the proposed civil unions he said he would have no objection to granting same-sex couples “some form of recognition” to cover things like healthcare and social benefits. He said what adults did between themselves was their own business but bringing children into it through adoption was “a completely different ballgame”.

“A child is not an object one can import from Russia or Japan,” the pastor said.

Dr Manche` praised outgoing President George Abela for having refused to sign the Civil Unions Bill on moral grounds and called on President-elect Marie Louise Coleiro Preca to be the “Christian conscience” of the Maltese people.

In St George’s Square, the group held an impromptu prayer meeting, bursting into prayer invoking God to guide MPs.

As he accepted the petition, Mr Abela reminded the pastor that government MPs were bound by their electoral manifesto which also featured the issue of civil unions.

On his part, Mr Agius pointed out that the Opposition had suggested its own amendments when the Bill was discussed at committee stage but the government “steamrolled” over everyone and was about to implement it once it passed the third reading in Parliament.

Meanwhile, supporters of the Bill are collecting a separate petition online saying “equal rights are for everyone”.

“God loves everyone, don’t let anyone brainwash you! We live in the same world, no one has the right to take your rights away! We will fight for what is right and what is wrong!”

Over 2,200 signatures had been collected by 8pm.