Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1159832
25 OPINION 2017, which updated those same-sex unions to bring them on par with marriage. Or was it the more recent Identity Act, which filtered out gender distinctions in legal documents (among many other things, including allowing people to self-identify as their own pre- ferred gender)? I'd say it was a combination of all three. That sermon was, in fact, directly targeted at all the landmark legislation Malta has introduced to end discrim- ination against gays – but not only – over the last 10 years. And some of the people who pioneered those legislative changes – Jose Herrera, part of the government which intro- duced them; Beppe Fenech Ad- ami, representing the Opposi- tion that (however reluctantly) voted in favour; and Anglu Far- rugia, who was Speaker when all those laws were enacted – actually clapped, when their own handiwork was criticised from the pulpit. What does this imply? Does Jose Herrera agree with the provost's central argument: i.e, that the laws enacted by his own government are 'sin- ful' and 'unholy', and 'need to change'? His applause sug- gests that he does. So… will he use his influence as a Cabinet minister to get Malta's equality legislation repealed? Same goes for Beppe Fenech Adami. Are we to understand that a future Nationalist government will roll back the legislative changes that made Malta the first European coun- try to achieve full marriage equality? As voters, I think we're entitled to know. And as for Anglu Farrugia… seeing as he disagrees with those laws so much, why did he not resign his post as Speaker, instead of allowing them to be enacted on his watch? He had that option, you know… just like I had the option to leave the Church, when I found that I disagreed with almost all its tenets and teachings. But no: like the good prac- tising Catholics they are, all three felt perfectly comfort- able disregarding the Church's objections when it came to legislating as they themselves deemed fit; only to then join in the chorus of pious disap- proval, when their own actions were blasted as 'sinful' by a priest at the pulpit. And it makes perfect sense, too. After all, the 'rules' and 'regulations' of this Church they claim to be part of… they don't apply specifically to Jose Herrera, Beppe Fenech Adami, and Anglu Farrugia, do they? No, of course not. They're Catholic rules: which means they only ever apply to other people… and even then, only to the people we don't like. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 AUGUST 2019 No wonder Catholicism has always been so popular here. Must be fantastic to be part of a club where the 'rules' only ever apply to the people you don't like… while you yourself are left free to just carry on being as 'sinful' and 'unholy' as you please Supported by the peoples of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR EUROPEAN FUNDS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE www.eufunds.gov.mt CHOOSE ONE TOPIC A What do you understand by 'poverty'? B How can youths contribute to the reduction of poverty in Malta? C How can society at large contribute to the reduction of poverty? D What can be done to avoid poverty among the most vulnerable groups*? (*children/youths at risk, migrants, old people etc) INFORMATION & ELIGIBILITY The "25 th Anniversary - EEA and Norway Grants Drawing Competition 2019" would like to invite youths aged 12 to 16 years to participate in a drawing competition to convey what they understand by Poverty Reduction. More information can be obtained by calling on +356 2200 1115 or +356 2200 1151. SUBMISSION RULES All entries must be submitted by hand in sealed envelopes, by noon, 6 September 2019 at FPD offices in Triq il-Kukkanja, Sta Venera. Submissions after the deadline will not be accepted. PRIZES FOR THE TOP 3 ENTRIES WINNERS ANNOUNCED 5 OCT 2019 DURING THIS YEAR'S NOTTE BIANCA 25 TH ANNIVERSARY EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS DRAWING COMPETITION 2 0 1 9 R E D U C E P OV E R T Y