Maltese pro-life crisis pregnancy support group credited with saving babies lives

According to a report in the Malta Independent a crisis pregnancy support group has been effective in saving babies lives. The group called "Hope" which is a branch of the pro-life organisation "Gift of Life"is reported to have saved the lives of 60 babies in the last three years. Gift of Life spokesman Paul Vincenti said the group seeks to help pregnant women who are considering an abortion.
One of the channels the group uses to promote the right to life of the unborn is a marketing campaign by means of advertisements published in magazines distributed on all Air Malta flights and Virtu Ferries trips to Sicily.

“We aim to target any pregnant women on their way to have an abortion in Sicily, the UK or elsewhere,"

Vincenti explained.

“We never try forcing people not to have an abortion. We adopt a non-judgemental approach. Our people speak to mothers-to-be in strict confidentiality and help them make informed decisions by providing them with support and information about pregnancy and foetal development, as well as available support and options,"

he added.

Hope provides free pregnancy testing and non-diagnostic ultrasound scanning, referrals (obstetric, gynecological, social, as well as referrals for professional support to women who have experienced pregnancy loss through abortion), emotional support, practical assistance and support, and psychotherapy.

EU split over Abortion Language at UN Meeting

Ministers of UN member-states, last week by consensus, adopted a declaration on global public health, after tough negotiations which involved two marathon late-night sessions, and during which Ireland, Poland and Malta held out against strongly pro-abortion language proposed by the US and other EU member states.

The US together with some EU member-states, collaborating with the international pro-abortion lobby, attempted to include the phrase sexual and reproductive health services and rights in the declaration, language that some interpret to include abortion. Malta, Poland, Ireland and the Holy see, assisted by pro-life experts, resisted the attempt and the final declaration contained no new pro-abortion rights language.

During the high level segment of the conference Malta made a statement in the plenary session on Thursday which reiterated the nation's ongoing commitment to supporting the life of the unborn:

"[W]e 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."

The outcome was a victory for life and for the family. States with a pro-abortion agenda should realise and accept that there is no agreement among either EU or UN member-states to recognise a right to abortion. In fact, such a right is impossible, as the right to life of unborn children is upheld in international human rights law, which needs to be interpreted correctly by nation-states.

Heroic Malta firmly pro-life

I have long felt a strong admiration for the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. I have hardly had much choice on the matter, with a Maltese colleague regaling me with stories of Malta's heroism, from standing firm against the mighty Suleiman's fleet in 1565 to surviving the Nazi air attacks and submarine blockade during the Second World War.

My affection for Malta only increased the other day, when I read that a new telephone survey of the Maltese people has found them to be overwhelmingly opposed to abortion across the political spectrum. Now we just have to remind the abortion lobby to respect democracy. That means you, Rebecca Gomperts with your abortion ship and your insulting, colonial attitude to people who believe in protecting life. That means you, Myria Vassiliadou, lamenting the 'terrible situation in Malta' whilst in the same meeting speaking of the need to focus on 'democracy.' If any of these people were worthy of their liberal credentials, they would stop trying to interfere with the laws of democratic nations and re-examine their own deplorable lack of respect for both human life and democracy.

On a more cautionary note, however, the survey does serve as a warning to pro-life groups of the need for education. The small minority who were in favour of abortion, cited either rape and incest or threat to the mother's life as reasons. As Malta's Gift of Life stated: "We believe that when people understand the facts about these two delicate issues, that many would change their minds even about abortion in these cases."