Evangelical pastor to present 10,000 signatures against gay unions

The Christian evangelical pastor Gordon John Manché has announced that he will tomorrow present a 10,000-signature petition, demanding that MPs do not put into effect the law that will introduce civil unions for both heterosexual and homosexual couples.

Manché, who had courted controversy for advocating the ‘conversion’ of gay people [WATCH] from their sexual orientation, said he will present the petition to MPs on Wednesday, at 5pm.

“We want to get the present government’s attention and stress that over 80% of Malta and Gozo do not want the law on gay adoptions and civil unions to go ahead against the majority of the Maltese people’s desire and opinion,” Manché said in a statement.

The proposed bill, which has yet to be fully approved by MPs, gives full equanimity between gay and straight couples in either unions or marriage, and will accord gay civil unions the right to adopt children.

Under present laws, gay couples can adopt children with one parent taking full custody of the child as a single parent.

“We want to get MPs’ attention so that we ask them to put the brakes on this law,” Manché, of the River Of Love fellowship, said. “We are encouraged that the honourable and admirable ex-President of Malta refused to sign this law in action. It’s a sign of the times for Malta.”

Outgoing president George Abela has reportedly refused to sign the civil unions bill on moral grounds, leaving the law in suspension. But this was not made known publicly and the law remains yet to be approved by MPs.

Manché said that if the law goes ahead, he will demand a referendum to abrogate the law. Like the petition for an abrogative referendum on spring hunting, he will need 10% of all the electorate’s signatures on a similar petition.

“It is unheard of, in a country where over 80% of the people are against these issues, that people in power continue to press on. This is no longer democracy, but subtle, in-your-face [sic] dictatorship.”

Manché said that 10,000 signatures were collected “in less than four weeks”.

“We are more than confident that should we need to, the necessary signatures for a referendum will be easily collected in little time… May God bless Malta and His righteousness and justice prevail over us.”