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Karl Schembri
Unborn foetuses did not manage to get the controversial clause banning abortion in the Constitution but at least they will get a monument that will be unveiled by none other than President Eddie Fenech Adami in the midst of Mosta.
The Gift of Life Foundation, which last year convinced Home Affairs and Justice Minister Tonio Borg to unsuccessfully seek support to entrench anti-abortion laws in the Constitution, will be launching the monument on 25 March in a ceremony that will include politicians and dignitaries.
“It’s about the celebration of life, not just abortion, death and all that gory stuff,” the foundation’s head, Paul Vincenti, said.
Asked why all the focus on unborn beings, Vincenti said: “The question you pose is understandable if one does not consider the unborn to be ‘alive’. It is unjust to discriminate against human life simply because of its place of residence – in the womb or in vitro for example – or to discriminate against life because of its size or its age or capacity to think and hold opinions. Society has come a long way in recognizing that people have intrinsic value whatever their physical or mental condition. It would be a regression not to recognize the same value for people who have not yet left the womb.”
Vincenti insists the country is “nearer to having the rights of the unborn child included in the Constitution” – a prospect that has been met coldly by the Opposition.
“From what we have heard through public statements made by both the government and the opposition, it seems that both sides agree in principle that the unborn child must be afforded a form of constitutional right to life, it would seem that they are close to agreeing on some form that is acceptable to all concerned,” he said. “In our official request of the 24th of January 2005, to the Social Affairs Committee, to have the unborn child protected through the Constitution of Malta, we never went into the technicalities of precisely how the unborn child should be protected through the Constitution; in fact we left the technical decisions up to the decision makers. We based our proposal to the SAC on the Irish model that includes a section within their Constitution that provides the right to life of the unborn child. We trust that option is also being considered.”
Gift of Life only limits its campaign to defend unborn children, although it also opposes IVF. Asked about the immediate needs of born children who find themselves in distressing conditions, Vincenti replied: “Hundreds of thousands of people need help in thousands of different ways. It is unrealistic to imagine that we could tackle and be effective in so many issues. We are however encouraged when through our limited resources we manage to help save the life of even one child that may have been lost forever. A doctor whose specialisation may be heart surgery, does not by his choice in vocation seize to be a doctor, neither does his choice of specialisation in any way imply that he is doing an injustice to that patient who may need a neurosurgeon.”
The foundation describes itself as “a group of lay voluntary professionals who share a common concern about the issue of abortion and more recently for the protection of the embryo” with their primary aim being “to peacefully campaign against any possibility of abortion being legalised in Malta”.
The foundation also plans to open a charity shop in Mosta and an “emergency pregnancy support centre” this summer, as well as anti-abortion seminars for teachers.
The monument, by artist Ganni Pace, will be erected at the Mosta ring road, in the junction with 21 September Avenue, Naxxar.
kschembri@mediatoday.com.mt
Links: www.lifemalta.org/index.html
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