From Dr M. A. Sammut

Daphne Caruana Galizia’s writing is, usually, highly irresponsible, written as if there were no consequences to it. She wrote that Dutch pro-abortionist Dr Gomperts could come to Malta and speak in favour of abortion. She also wrote that there is no law in Malta that prohibits this (TMIS, 6 May).

This is nothing short of irresponsible behaviour, and betrays a complete lack of understanding of the role in society of those who aspire to be journalists.

I cannot believe that Mrs Caruana Galizia can write such stuff and her editor allows her to publish it! Both are trying to make the Maltese public believe that really Dr Gomperts can come to Malta and speak in favour of abortion. Rubbish! Dr Gomperts cannot come to Malta and speak in favour of abortion!

Let’s understand who Dr Rebecca Gomperts is. She bears the name of a Biblical character, Rebecca, who was barren until in the 20th year of her marriage she bore twins. Despite her name, which evokes images of childbearing when all hope for fecundity had been lost, Dr Gomperts’ self-professed mission in the world is to terminate pregnancies. The Dutch doctor’s crusade is to unfetter poor underprivileged women who do not have access to legal abortion from their (possibly patriarchal) chains (and, frankly speaking, all that hogwash). She has been awarded many prizes. Like the award given her in New York by an organisation, which has also awarded a nondescript woman hailing from “Catholics for a Free Choice”. These weirdos wanted to thank her for the great service she’s rendering to humanity by promoting the killing of unborn babies. It’s like giving an award to the best gulag-keeper, or the most assiduous KKK member, of the year! If not worse than that.

If Dr Gomperts were to limit her sterling service given to underprivileged women simply to the mere ethical discussion of abortion would be one thing. But Dr Gomperts usually hires an entire ship, equipped with an abortion clinic, and sails the seas to offer abortion services to so-called underprivileged women!

Dr Gomperts does not visit countries to discuss the possibility of amending the law. Dr Gomperts sails to countries where abortion is illegal, she stays outside the territorial waters of those countries, and offers abortion services to their inhabitants. She’s so bright, this Dutch butcher! She found a loophole in Dutch law and makes use of it to bring hope back to the lives of miserable mothers! Yes, by denuding them of their motherhood, by committing one of the most barbarous and heinous of misdeeds: the killing of one’s own offspring.

So when Dr Gomperts speaks in favour of abortion, she is speaking of actually offering abortion services.

This is despicable, to say the least. Countless ethical questions are raised by Dr Gomperts’ wacky crusade to free the world of unwanted babies. For instance, does she offer counselling to her “patients”, in order to enable them to understand the post-abortion psychological trauma women go through? Does she hang up pictures of newborn babies and toddlers in her anteroom, to appeal to the sentiments of her “patients” in a last-minute attempt to save the unborn child? Does she require her “patients” to undergo a psychological test before submitting to the ablating intervention? Does she really believe there is an intrinsic difference between the baby in his mother’s womb, and the baby outside it? Philosophically, I mean.

Daphne, whose writing would make one think it’s the nec plus ultra in ethical philosophy, studies in democratisation, and anthropology, tells us that Dr Gomperts can come to Malta and speak in favour of abortion. She insists there is no law to prevent her from doing that.

It would be appreciated if Mrs Caruana Galizia, in her infinite wisdom, could kindly explain to your readers the grounds on which she based her assertion.

Mark A. Sammut