Malta speaks out in Geneva

During a debate here in Geneva on the impact of current global trends on development, including public health, Poland and Malta made excellent statements in defence of life. Both countries highlighted their commitment to reducing maternal mortality worldwide, but emphasised that this could not and should not be tackled using the evil of abortion. Malta's statement was particularly strong. Victor Camillari stated:

“we wish to reiterate our strong opposition to the use of abortion as a means through which issues relating to sexual and reproductive health may be dealt with. Any discussion of rights in connection with reproductive health cannot take place outside the framework of one of the most fundamental human rights – the right to life. Malta strongly believes that the right to life extends to the unborn child from the moment of conception, and that therefore the use of abortion as a means of resolving health or social problems was a denial of that right.

Termination of pregnancy through induced abortion is illegal in Malta. Consequently we consistently disassociate ourselves from, and consider invalid, all statements or decisions that use references to sexual and reproductive health, directly or indirectly, to impose obligations on anyone to accept abortion as a right, a service or a commodity that may exist outside the ambit of national legislation. We do so again at this meeting.”

It is worth noting that Malta has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in Europe and also one of the lowest in the world. And it achieves this by providing an excellent healthcare service to pregnant women. Whilst maternal mortality rates are increasing in Britain, a considerably wealthier country than Malta, Maltese women enjoy a level of maternity care that is the envy of the world. Maternal health has never been dependent upon the availability of abortion, it is dependent upon the commitment of governments to care for women.

Britain could learn from China?

The Chinese official whose job it is to implement the One-Child Policy, has suggested that Britain could adopt a similar policy to combat climate change. I hope that even police state Britain will not be foolish enough to adopt a policy that would see the state take control of every single woman's fertility and legitimise the systematic persecution and abuse of women in the name of reducing a nation's carbon footprint.

Pro-life and civil liberties groups in Britain need to remain vigilant about this sort of green terrorism. It is a very bad sign that whenever it is suggested that such a policy should be imposed upon the women of Britain, the story tends to be reported in the media entirely uncritically without a word of condemnation from lawyers, doctors, feminists or civil liberties campaigners. Dr Baige Zhao is quite correct. Britain can learn from China's experience of the one-child policy. Learn from it and ensure that such inhumane legislation is never passed in Britain.

Archbishop Sobrinho's Resignation

Heroically Pro-Life Brazilian Archbishop’s Resignation Accepted under Cloud of Vatican Newspaper Misrepresentation is how Life Site News tells us that Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, the Metropolitan archbishop of Olinda and Recife, has tendered his resignation as archbishop to Pope Benedict, and that his resignation has been accepted. The Vatican announcement says that the resignation was accepted as the archbishop has ‘reached the age limit’.

The media vilified the archbishop due to the stance that he took in relation to the tragic case of the nine-year-old Brazilian girl who had been raped by her step-father, resulting in her becoming pregnant with twins. The priest involved in looking after the family, and the archbishop, did everything in their power to work with the family and the little girl to help them, and also to try to save the lives of the unborn twins. However, an international abortion lobby group was urging the family to have the babies aborted – using the situation as ‘a golden opportunity’ to press for the legalisation of abortion in Brazil.

Rally for Life

Grey clouds filled the sky, the rain came and went and came again. Yet, despite all of this, groups of people from all over Ireland started to gather at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin last Saturday for the Rally for Life. A sea of umbrellas was to be seen, and buggies and prams were hastily covered over to keep out the rain. People who had not met for some time greeted each other, and there was a great air of happiness and camaraderie. Then, busloads of people arrived, and more and more people - from all walks of life, young and old – appeared out of nowhere, it seemed. Soon there was a sea of red and yellow placards, and banners, and in the shelter of a motorised stage a group of young musicians from the U.S. played some lively airs.

Suddenly (and I mean suddenly), the clouds parted, and the sun shone out from a clear blue sky. The sun remained shining for the rest of the afternoon while the great crowd walked down through Dublin city centre and halted in Molesworth Street – facing Dáil Éireann (the parliament house) – where they were addressed by a number of eminent speakers. (Further details will be posted at a later date). The event was a marvellous success, and it is hoped that the Rally for Life in 2010, which is planned to take place in Belfast, will be equally successful – if not more so.

The only jarring note of the afternoon came from a very few pro-abortion people who, at one point, shouted obscenities at the Rally participants as they passed through the city centre. Ah well, it is good to be reminded that they don't have any rational arguments on their side.

Bad news for Malta

According to Fr Z, Obama has decided to insult the Maltese people by appointing Douglas Kmiec U.S. ambassador to the island. Malta is one of the last pro-life bastions of Europe - what a coincidence that Obama should have decided to send in a man who has done so much damage in his own country as a Catholic apologist for Obama.

One commentator wrote in Fr Z's combox:

Why is this happening? I do not think Kmiec will like Malta, nor do I think that the Maltese will like him. They are highly intelligent, shrewd people who know a horse from a mule.

Quite. I have a huge amount of respect for the Maltese people, with their history of heroism and self-sacrifice in defending the Truth, but the most dangerous enemies are the ones you cannot easily spot. The Maltese can certainly tell a horse from a mule. I just hope they see this wolf in sheep's clothing for what he is.