Both the government and the Opposition came under attack this evening in a protest march against the Marriage Equality Bill, which, according to participants will dismantle the concept of traditional family.

Organised by the Coalition for Life, Marriage and the Family, the protest of some 150 to 200 people, included the participation of Life Network, Moviment Patrijotti Maltin, Gift of Life, River of Life Evangelical Church, Assemblies of God Evangelical Church and the Defend Traditional Marriage Facebook Group. There were also a number of Catholic priests and PN candidate Josie Muscat.

The crowd gathered in front of Castille and walked down to Parliament, where it was addressed by former Azzjoni Nazzjonali candidate Philip Beatie.

He said the law was dismantling the concept of traditional family and the laws of nature. It was a communist law because it was imposing uniformity where there was none, imposing equivalence between natural marriage and same-sex marriage.

The law, he said, did not offer protection to conscientious objectors apart from religious ministers. It was a dangerous law that removed any obstacles to having a marriage between three people in the future, polygamy or marriage between a father and daughter.

Malta, he said, had two anti-Christian, anti-democratic parties.

“The law hides its true intentions to introduce surrogacy and sperm donation and is another attack on life by a government that believes it can replace God and an Opposition more interested in Parliamentary seats than principles.”

To applause and chants of Edwin Edwin, he singled out PN MP Edwin Vassallo, who voted against the law in the second reading. He urged Mr Vassallo to again vote no in the third reading and asked him to keep strong.

Watch: Edwin Vassallo made free vote request before the election - still to decide on final vote

He criticised “caretaker PN leader” Simon Busuttil who, he said, posed as a liberal but shunted voices of opposition within his party.

“If tomorrow marks the ugliest day in this country’s history, the last victory will still be with christian civilisation and democracy,” he said as he urged the crowd present to continue to pray for Mr Vassallo at this trying moment.

The protest ended off with pastor Gordon Manche singing the national anthem.

At the start of the protest, a handful of gay activists stood on the sidelines holding placards saying God is Love. They left when the speeches started.

PN demo-Christian activists may field own leadership candidate

PN member Godfrey Vella, who said was representing party supporters, activists and councillors, said after the protest the party will be observing tomorrow’s vote.

There was still time for a free vote to be given but depending on what happened tomorrow evening, supporters, activists and councillors would analyse the outcome and act accordingly.

“As demo-Christians we will exert our influence on the choice of leadership either by putting forward a candidate of our choice or by openly supporting someone who adheres to demo-Christian values.

“We want to test whether the Parliamentary group reflects the party’s rank and file,” he said.

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