The Bishop of Gozo, Mario Grech, stated recently that social research shows that there is a link between unstable families and the recourse to abortion.

In her contribution entitled “Fundamentalists using Babaw tactics,” (TMIS 14 February), Pamela Hansen refers to the following part of the bishop’s statement linking abortion to divorce: “Where the family is united, pregnancy is likely to be accepted and celebrated, but where the family is broken, such as in the case of divorced parents, there is a higher probability that life is refused and threatened.”

As to the latter part of the bishop’s statement, Ms Hansen asks, “Why on earth would a divorced couple, or those in a ‘broken’ relationship be getting involved in sexual relations, which might lead to pregnancy?”

It is very reasonable, in this part of his statement that the bishop is not referring to the divorced couple being involved in sexual relations but to an offspring, unwed or otherwise, in the shattered remains of a broken family, as in the case where the parents are divorced, getting caught in a pregnancy situation. It is what we all see happening around us. Contrary to what she asserted, there certainly is no discrepancy in the bishop’s words.

Ms Hansen misunderstood the bishop’s statement and, unaware that she got it all wrong from the word go, proceeded to address the bishop in a most unfair, disrespectful and totally mistaken argument.

Why would she, an intelligent woman, ever think that a person of high calibre such as a bishop would mean what he said the way she mistakenly interpreted it? Who wouldn’t know that divorced couples do not get involved in sexual relations that might lead to pregnancy? Come on Ms Hansen! Or was there ill intent? One likes to think that such is not the case.

The bishop goes on, “In the event that a pregnant woman has a family that loves, supports and accompanies her during her pregnancy, a great number of crimes would be avoided.” Surely no one will deny this; we’re talking about a healthy family here. Again, such is most unlikely to happen if the situation was otherwise.

Bro. Leli Gatt sdb

Senglea