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2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 MAY 2021 No equality for women who risk jail Editorial IN presenting a private member's bill to decrimi- nalise abortion in Malta, independent MP Marlene Farrugia has – no doubt intentionally – stirred a hor- net's nest. In an interview with MaltaToday, Farrugia explains that part of her intention was to force the two major political parties – which have between them dom- inated Parliament since Independence – to finally take up a public position on this controversial issue. If so, she has certainly been successful. Both La- bour and the PN were compelled to convene urgent parliamentary group meetings: but the outcome of those meetings was far from satisfactory. The Nationalist Party was the first to break its si- lence: announcing – just two hours after initiating its internal discussion – that it "can never be in favour of decriminalising abortion" and "that it would sup- port measures that do not endanger the life of a child before or after birth." This is hardly a proper response to the issues raised by Farrugia's private member's bill: which, ultimate- ly, aims only to remove criminal sanctions for abor- tion, while keeping the practice itself illegal. There is, after all, a world of difference between 'decriminalising' and 'legalising' abortion: and this is also reflected in public opinion. Recent polls indicate that, while public opposition to abortion remains very strong, people respond dif- ferently when asked the question: do you agree that women should be imprisoned for procuring an abor- tion? Indeed, it transpires that a relative majority – 46.8% – respondents said they do not agree with imprison- ment in such cases. Ironically, this majority is more pronounced among PN voters, than Labour. This does not, naturally, mean that the PN is com- pelled to change its views in the matter. Certainly, the Nationalist Party is well within its rights to take up an adamant pro-life position. But if it chooses to oppose decriminalisation with the same fervour as it opposes abortion… it is also incumbent on the party to at least explain its reasons to the electorate. It has not done this, however. Instead, it seems to have deliberately conflated these two, very different issues: as if to hide behind the widespread nation- al aversion to abortion, in a bid to avoid having to even discuss the practical consequences of this total, blanket ban. As such, the PN seems to be repeating the same mistake it had made – with disastrous consequences – during the referendum campaign in 2011. There is, after all, a limit to how often a political party can tell its own supporters, to their faces, that it just doesn't care enough about their concerns to even bother dis- cussing them. All the same, however: at least, it remains a political position. The Labour Party, on the other hand, took much longer to come out with its own reaction… on- ly to eventually issue what can only be described as a 'non-statement'. "The discussion on a sensitive topic such as abor- tion is conducted by society in a mature and free manner, and is not stifled by such a motion," the party said. "[We need] a discussion that is not monopolized by political parties in Parliament, and is built on hones- ty and respect for different views, without sensation- alism or condemnation and against stigma." This is quite frankly meaningless. Far from 'stifling public debate', Farrugia's motion has actually got the entire country discussing the issue. Conversely, it is Labour non-committal stance that fails to take this national discussion to its next logical step: a Parlia- mentary debate. Moreover, both Labour and PN have time and again proven quite willing to 'monopolise' public discussion in this country. Once again, the party fails to explain why this issue, in particular, is such an ex- ception. Yet the reasons are fairly obvious. After pursuing so many perceived 'liberal issues' – IVF, gay rights, cannabis legalisation, etc. – Labour has clearly over- stretched itself with the 'progressive, moderate' agenda. As such, its statement only betrays that it treats such matters as mere vote-catching ploys. Moreover, one must question the entire purpose of a Parliament that simply absents itself from im- portant national discussions. If Parliament refuses to debate a matter of such evident concern to the elec- torate… why does it even exist at all? All this is a great pity, as – despite misgivings on the strategy employed by Marlene Farrugia – Malta- Today believes that this discussion is indeed not only important, but long overdue. Beyond the public fu- rore that inevitably arises when the word 'abortion' is raised, there is clearly a need to revise an archaic law that has not been updated since the 19th cen- tury. This country needs to ask itself whether there is any sense in retaining the threat of imprisonment for women, when even Malta's medical community agrees that the blanket ban only causes more harm than good. And yet, the political establishment has once again passed up the opportunity to make its own voice heard in this important debate. And this can only be described as a grave dereliction of duty. 15 May 2011 Psychologist distances herself from Evange- list preacher husband PSYCHOLOGIST Mariella Blackman has de- nied claims that she offers 'Christian' reparative treatment for homosexuals, after her husband – televangelist pastor Gordon-John Manché – cancelled a testimonial of three gay men who said they had been converted and turned straight. Blackman however demanded that MaltaTo- day does not report her denial, if the newspaper mentioned that she was married to Manché. After first providing comments explaining her position, Blackman requested that the article omit mentioning the fact that she is marriage to the pastor, whose gay 'faith conversion' event drew the ire of hundreds and prompted protest plans. When told that MaltaToday would not with- hold such information from its reportage, Black- man withdrew her comments. Her marriage to Manché has already been reported in the media. Blackman, a well-known psychologist amongst TV audiences, having also served as vice pres- ident of the Malta Union of Professional Psy- chologists. She is no longer on the union's exec- utive. ... The issue of 'faith' conversion and homosexual 'reparative therapy' hit the headlines days ago when on Thursday evening, a conversion event organised by Smash TV's evangelical charismat- ic pastor Gordon-John Manché was announced on Facebook. The Facebook event 'Gay no more – Made new by the power of Christ' was cancelled by Manché after protestors planned to picket the event. This latter protest was later cancelled due to lack of police permits. Manché said his activity had been "hijacked by people incited by others" and said his critics were being intolerant. "It's not therapy. It was going to be testimonials from three men who were homosexuals before giving their life to Christ. It's got nothing to do with hating homo- sexuals," Manché said. He also denied claims that his wife Mariella Blackman does 'reparative treatment' for gay men and women. "This is untrue. We work different jobs and we're professional about it. I'm a pastor, she's a psychologist." ... Quote of the Week "[If ignored] it would be a message that women continue to be second-class citizens in this country. This piece of legislation, the criminalisation of abortion, specifically targets a gender, which is women, nobody else." Women's Rights Foundation director Dr Lara Dimitrijevic MaltaToday 10 years ago