Why the haste in introducing a gender-neutral marriage equality bill? It needed time for public discussion. For example, I wish to ask: Will this mean that school textbooks will have to become gender neutral too? Has it opened the door to gamete donation and surrogate motherhood with their ethical issues?

What is sure is that once we start sliding down the slippery slope, embryo freezing and abortion and euthanasia will follow. In Columbia, three men have made history by marrying in the first legally recognized polyamorous wedding. We may get there. My objection is not that we might get there but that most of people do not know that they are being led there.

What I mean to say is that the majority of the people in Malta do not know the implications so these things are not being introduced democratically. For example, I doubt whether the majority of the people know that in certain procedures of IVF, several ova are fertilized but only the best are put into the womb and the rest are discarded. Now if you believe that human life starts with fertilisation, then abortion is taking place.

I wish to ask our parliamentarians: what principles are guiding you and will your conscience guide you in future matters regarding bioethics? Or maybe you do not even interest yourself in the matter and toe the party line: you take part in some empty discussions and go with the flow. But I think you should stand up and be counted like Godfrey Farrugia.

Malta and Gozo are being changed irreversibly; even their landscapes, skyline, ridges, open spaces and natural environment are not being changed for the better. Do you think the common person is gaining something? Who does not speak up and who does not put his foot down, even if the person is a parliamentarian, is guilty of this social sin.

 

Joe Portelli

Nadur