In what can be described as an unprecedented development by the Catholic Church in Malta, Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna braved the airwaves yesterday and offered a sincere apology to all LGBT people for the sufferings they had to endure because of the stand of the Church against their lifestyle.  

Mgr Scicluna was the main guest on TVM’s Friday chat-show Xarabank, hosted by popular presenter Peppi Azzopardi. The programme discussed the civil unions’ bill being debated in Parliament, or rather, as it has been described by most experts, as the ‘gay marriage’ bill due to its stark likeness to the marriage law.

The bishop was confronted by gay couples who refuse to understand why the Church continues to make obstacles for them to have same rights as heterosexual couples.

MgrScicluna did not mince his words and, while holding his ground on the teachings of the Church that marriage should be exclusive to the union between men and women, he made a historical statement by asking the gay community for forgiveness for each time those representing the Church made their (gays) life miserable and harder.

The programme also discussed the hot issue as proposed in the ‘gay marriage’ bill whether same sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.