Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1351534
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 17 MARCH 2021 NEWS POST OF LAWYER WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL The Office of the Attorney General Agency is inviting applications for Lawyer to carry out prosecution and related duties. The selected candidates will be employed on a full-time indefinite term basis, subject to a probation period, and will be required to work for a minimum of forty hours per week. Applicants must be in possession of a warrant to practice the profession of Advocate and, must also have at least one year of experience in the practice of the profession covered by a warrant. Letters of application, including a detailed CV, should be addressed to: The Administration Jobplus Vacancy Nos 367210, Permit Nos. 89/2021 Office of the Attorney General, No. 53, Admiralty House, South Street, Valletta VLT 1101 or emailed to ag@attorneygeneral.mt and should be submitted by not later than Friday 26th March 2021 at 13:00 hrs. POSTIJIET TA' AVUKAT FL-UFFIĊĊJU TAL-AVUKAT ĠENERALI LAURA CALLEJA A Vatican pronouncement that Catho- lic priests cannot bless same-sex unions because "God cannot bless sin", has been met with regret by a Maltese Christian gay support group. Drachma LGBTI said it was disappointed at the combative statement that the Church will not bless same-sex unions, which it re- ferred to as a "choice", described them as sinful, and that they "cannot be recognized as objectively ordered" to God's plans. "It is sad and deeply regrettable to get this kind of response from the Vatican. To us, it sounds like the Church wants to keep its head in the sand and remain completely in oblivion about the 'new wine' of same-sex relationships," a Drachma spokesperson said. The NGO is a space open to Christians and others who seek sexual and spiritual integration. The Vatican's statement, approved by Pope Francis and issued by its top doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said God "does not and cannot bless sin". The 'explanation' was responding to a 'du- bium' raised by Catholic leaders after Pope Francis himself had stated that same-sex couples could have a family. "The blessing of homosexual unions cannot be consid- ered licit," the statement said, adding that "there are no grounds for considering ho- mosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family." In a reaction, Drachma LGBTI coordina- tor Christopher Vella, who spoke with his husband Tyone, asked why the Church was still "hankering about 'homosexual inclina- tions'." "Why is it still in denial about the reality of LGBTIQ people and their place in the di- verse order of God's nature? "As a married same-sex couple, it is deep- ly saddening that the Church remains blind to the sacramentality of our relationship, and continues to use terms such as 'sin' and 'against God's plan'. "We pray that the Church opens its eyes to the fact that such statements are harmful. May it, like Peter, understand that 'What God has made clean, you are not to call profane'." The coordinator of Drachma Parents, Louisa Grech, echoed the sentiment. "So very sad to learn about the position the Church has taken on same-sex blessings. The Pope had once said these words of hope: 'Who am I to judge?'. But now again, our sons and daughters, our loved ones, are being harshly judged just because they wish to show their love to their soulmate. How very, very sad." Also commenting on the issue, the Glob- al Network of Rainbow Catholics said the "document was indeed a reactionary cry in response to the fresh air that is filling the Church from those parishes and lay com- munities around the world where blessings for same-gender couples are already a fac- tual reality." The Vatican statement says that gays and lesbians, as individuals, may receive a bless- ing if they live according to Church teach- ing. But blessing same-sex unions, the Vati- can said, would send a sign that the Catholic Church approves and encourages "a choice and a way of life that cannot be recognized as objectively ordered to the revealed plans of God." "It is not licit to impart a blessing on rela- tionships or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage, as is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex." Vatican burying head in sand, say gay Catholics over same-sex blessings MATTHEW AGIUS A Danish national residing at Marsalforn has been handed a suspended sentence for threat- ening an airline manager at the Malta International Airport (MIA) after being denied board- ing because his COVID-19 test result was not recent enough. 30-year-old Abdel Wahab Adam Kevin from Copenhagen was arraigned before magis- trate Doreen Clarke this morn- ing by police inspector Silvio Magro, accused of threaten- ing a Lufthansa manager, at- tempting to use force against him, obstructing MIA security, swearing in public and breach- ing the peace. The court heard how the man had erupted after being told that the only test that would be accepted was the rapid PCR one. He had taken another type of test that took longer for the results to emerge. The accused, assisted by law- yer Mario Mifsud, pleaded guilty as charged. The court sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for two years, together with a €200 fine. Man admits to threatening Lufthansa manager over COVID test Pope Francis had stated that same-sex couples could have a family "To us, it sounds like the Church wants to keep its head in the sand and remain completely in oblivion about the 'new wine' of same-sex relationships"