The pro-life coalition ‘Int Tista Ssalvani’ claimed victory in reaction to the government’s changes to its bill which would allow a pregnancy to be terminated if a mother’s health at risk, saying that the changes were a “direct result” of the opposition it had presented to the initial version of the Bill.
The revised version of the government’s proposed amendments to the Criminal Code were announced by Health Minister Chris Fearne on Friday morning.
The amended bill has kept the core of its intentions the same, but introduced amendments to clarify that a pregnancy termination may only be considered when the mother’s life is at risk, when all other medical practices have been exhausted, and when the pregnancy itself is not viable.
“The coalition acknowledges that the Government’s redrafting of the amendment was a direct result of the over 25,000 people who emailed the Prime Minister, Minister of Health, and the MPs of their District, the more than 20,000 people who demonstrated in Valletta and the many individuals that expressed their concerns publicly on social media or privately with their MPs – sending a clear message that the original draft of the law would have introduced abortion to Malta, and this was not acceptable to the people of Malta,” the pro-life coalition said in its statement reacting to the bill.
“The Coalition concludes that the amendment as now proposed does not introduce abortion to Malta but will codify the existing life-saving practices currently being applied in Malta, and provide further safeguards for mothers, unborn babies, and doctors,” they added.
Miriam Sciberras, CEO of Life Network Foundation said: “The voice of the people of Malta has been very clear: we are a pro-life nation, valuing every life, the mother that deserves our utmost protection especially when in difficulty, the unborn child that today we have saved, thanks to this new version of the legislation, we will continue to do this”.
“This new version of the amendment is a great relief to all of us, so we can get back to our primary work of helping mothers in crisis situation, with rebuilding their lives and caring for their children”
The statement was issued by the Coalition that was led by Life Network Foundation, Doctors For Life, and I see Life, supported by President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, many other pro-life groups, the 44 NGOs, Groups and Associations, and the 80 expert group made up of doctors, medics, judges, lawyers and ethicists across Malta and Gozo.
The coalition also thanked President of Malta George Vella, “for his strong defence of life and his appeal and efforts for further dialogue that have not gone unheeded.”
The Archdiocese of Malta meanwhile thanked the Government for listening to the concerns that had been raised about the proposed amendment.
The Archdiocese also thanked all those who contributed to "this positive outcome, which continues to foster a culture of care that promotes the right to life of every human being while at the same time respecting the values of support and solidarity, especially to women in difficulty."