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3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 JANUARY 2021 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Pro-birth zealot JOSEPH Azzopardi (Letters, 10 Janu- ary) continues his diatribe against my pro-choice position and now descends to the absurdity of stating that, with the exception of rape, women "are responsible for the aftermath of a sex act". If that is what he believes, then he should trust women to make the right choice after the sex act. This may be birth followed by parenting or adop- tion, or if necessary, abortion. Sexually transmitted infections are also the consequence of sexual acts, but we treat them anyway! Pro-birth zealots like Azzopardi actually make a choice on behalf of the embryo and override the choice of the sentient being who becomes pregnant. Forcing women to remain pregnant is not only disrespectful but an extreme example of paternalism. Prof. Isabel Stabile St Julian's Redemption from God JOHN Guillaumier is back with a bang. He managed to depict the most gruesome, apocalyptic, horrendous scenario of epidemics and the futile prayers of believers in his own inimi- table way. But this global fatality does not im- press me, well before the advent of Jesus, the Ecclesiasticus revealed the miseries of mankind: "Great labour has been created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam from the day of their coming out of their mother's womb, until the day of the burial into the mother of all (Ec- cl.0:1)." Every sunrise brings fresh reasons for fear. Fear it seems has moved in next door and set up shop, because besides epidemics mankind has to face strife, global conflicts, fear of the future and phobia of annihilation. But God-fearing people know what to expect. We have been warned in the Bi- ble 14 times of such calamities (Matt.24:6-8,25-13). Of course, past calamities and the current pandemic turmoil leave us in horrified incomprehension. It's here that the cross eclipses everything while the universe is pass- ing through the final hours before delivery, because nature is a pregnant creation and more painful contrac- tions are forecast. While the poor world is suffering and in death's throes at the foot of the cross, the powerful accusations against a loving God are mystically absorbed by the marvellous power of the cross which worked wonders with those who followed Him throughout the centuries and helped them go forward to the promised land of the living. The greatest tragedy in history, the death of Christ on the cross, resulted into the best thing that could happen, the opening of heaven to human be- ings. The Catholic should put his full trust in Christ in the face of suffering and sickness and heed Him who said "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself" (John 12-32). John Azzopardi Zabbar