As Malta is now the only country in the EU where abortion is illegal, the promotion of abortion as a woman’s right is now being pushed forward with increasing intensity.
One cannot say that abortion is a taboo subject as different points of view have certainly been aired in the local press and social media. However, as a Pro-life activist, I am extremely wary of certain so-called debates and discussions which, in reality, too often prove to be no more than a smoke screen to mislead public opinion and usually favour a negative agenda.
This reality was also driven home by the introduction of the morning after pill (MAP) in December 2016. Those campaigning for the introduction of the MAP were disgracefully dishonest, making false assurances that it was not an abortifacient but only a contraceptive.
More incisive journalism would have exposed the shocking fact that to circumvent the illegality of abortion in Malta, certain abortifacient MAPs were legalized by the Government Medical Authority on the false premise that they were just emergency contraceptives.
This raised a firestorm of protests from Pro-Life NGOs which challenged this spurious claim. A court case which is still in progress was instituted to challenge this false declaration.
One should also not give too much weight to the fact that women rarely advertise that they had gone through an abortion. This is hardly surprising and is not only because abortion is illegal in Malta. Terminating a pregnancy is not something women brag about and announce to the four winds, irrespective of whether abortion is legalized or not.
Meanwhile, the unborn that face the prospect of termination, do not have the luxury to debate the finer points of abortion. Not only do they have no voice in the matter, they face a stark and glaringly obvious outcome. For them, deciding on the matter of abortion is a case of 'to be, or not to be' or rather, and more aptly, 'to live, or to die'.
Malta has good reason to be proud of its pro-life credentials. The fact that many women seek an abortion overseas should not be used as justification to legalize what is, in reality, an abhorrent crime – the killing of the unborn. If people resort to money laundering, should one therefore insist that it should be legalized?
I therefore find it rather distressing that a women's NGO seeks to address the problem of unwanted pregnancies by advocating the killing of the innocent and defenceless unborn – those who need and deserve the maximum protection and support in what we claim to be a civilized society.
It is for this reason that society should support women trapped in unexpected or unwanted pregnancies. Our NGO puts words into action by doing its utmost to improve services to help women in these distressing situations.
Sadly, in Malta, there are those who are brazen enough to peddle the blatant lie that pregnant women are denied life-saving treatment if it places the child’s life at risk. This is absolutely not the case. The decision whether to have treatment or not is the mother’s prerogative.
Another stratagem to justify abortion is in cases of women who get pregnant as a result of rape. These rare and scandalous cases are exploited to legalize abortion. Yet, one cannot undo the harm done by one criminal action by committing another.
To sensitize public opinion to this so-called solution, Jennifer Christie and her husband are being invited to Malta. Jennifer was viciously assaulted, raped and almost murdered. Following her harrowing experience and subsequent pregnancy, both friends and medical people advised her to abort the child.
Jennifer chose life, insisting that an innocent child should not be sacrificed. She strongly feels that it is only the rapist who should be punished.
Life Network Malta will be holding its annual march on 9th December when Jennifer and her husband will give witness to their heartfelt pro-life choice. We invite people of good will to join us for the event.
Klaus Vella Bardon
Dr Vella Bardon is the Vice Chairman of the Pro-Life Network