Bishops call for preference to be given to ‘natural family’

"We should show courage and give preference to the natural family built on the marriage of a man and a woman"

Archbishop Paul Cremona
Archbishop Paul Cremona

Malta’s Catholic bishops have called on the government to ensure that opposite-sex families are “strengthened”, in a statement issued two days after the introduction of civil unions for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

"Although the Creator’s vision of marriage and sexuality is different from the one presented in this law, the Christian community is still duty-bound to show pastoral love towards each person, whoever they may be, and that the doors of the Church remain open to whoever sincerely seeks the Lord."

The Catholic Church kept a low profile during the debate on civil unions in Malta, with only Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna raising questions about government’s plans to introduce gay adoption.

Civil unions were made law in the Maltese parliament on 14 April, with the Opposition abstaining due to its reservations on allowing gay couples to adopt.

"No one can erase the differences and the sexual complementarity between a man and a woman. The relationships of homosexual couples, from their nature remain altogether different from those of heterosexual couples. The fundamental rights of each person, whoever he or she may be and whatever his or her sexual orientation may be, should always be safeguarded by the laws of a country."

“Notwithstanding the changes we are going through, our society should strive to keep cherishing and giving preference to the natural family, built upon marriage between a man and a woman. This family, were the father and mother, driven by genuine love, bring life to the world and with love and sacrifice bring up and educate their children, is an indispensable resource to the nation.

"If this family is done away with, we would have wounded humanity. Recently, Pope Francis himself said in no uncertain terms that “in the case of the family, the weakening of these bonds is particularly serious because the family is the fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another."

The statement, signed by Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, and also Scicluna, stated that it was society’s duty to ensure a strong legal framework that respects children’s rights in the case of gay adoptions.

Again quoting Pope Francis, they insisted that children should have the right to be brought up by a family with a father and a mother who are capable of offering an ideal environment "for their development and emotional maturity. To continue to mature in relation, in confrontation with what is the masculinity and the femininity of a father and a mother, and thus equipping their emotional maturity."