Times: University Chaplaincy events

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111002/education/University-Chaplaincy-events.387278

Sunday, October 2, 2011

At the University Chaplaincy on October 20 at 8 p.m. there will be the first in this academic year's series of 'DVD Nights' during which the film Prayers for Bobby will be shown. The film is based on the true story of Bobby Griffin, who killed himself at the age of 20 due to the religious intolerance of his family when they found out he was gay.

After the suicide, the film follows the journey of his mother Mary as she follows a path of discovery of homosexuality from the perspective of a loving God.

For further information visit the Chaplaincy's Facebook page: Chaplaincy Uni.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

It-Torċa: Mard trasmess sesswalment iktar reżisteni għall-antibijotiċi

http://www.torca.com.mt/FullArticle.php?ID1='Ahbarijiet'&ID2=538
2.10.11 minn Victor Vella

Quddiem il-mod kif żdiedu l-każi ta' mard trasmess sesswalment fosthom il-Gonor-r-hoeae u l-Chlamydia, fl-aħħar jiem it-tobba Maltin kienu "mwissijin li ċerti tipi ta' mard trasmess sesswalment saru reżistenti għall-antibijotiċi li l-aktar li jintużaw għal kura ta' dan l-istess mard. It-tobba qegħdin ikunu nfurmati li l-Neisseria Gonorrhoeae saret reżistenti għall-ciprofloxacin, waqt li l-Chlamydia Trachomatis ukoll saret reżistenti għall-antibijotiċi.

It-tobba Maltin, fl-aħħar jiem kienu mgħarrfa mid-Dipartiment għar-Regolazzjoni Saħħa Pubblika, li trattament ħażin għall-mard trasmess sesswalment mhux biss iwassal għal żieda f'dan it-tip ta' mard iżda jista' jwassal għal kumplikazzjonijiet fosthom infertilità u problemi fit-tqala. Id-dipartiment irrakkomanda lit-tobba li joqogħdu attenti kif jitrattaw mard trasmess sesswalment u rrakkomanda biex il-każi li jaslu quddiem it-tobba jkunu referuti lill-GU Clinic fl-Isptar Boffa, fejn hemmhekk jingħataw pariri ta' x'għandhom jagħmlu biex jikkuraw il-marda.
Id-dipartiment qed jenfasizza wkoll li każi urġenti għandhom jingħataw attenzjoni fi żmien 48 siegħa. Jekk wieħed jieħu s-sena 2010 naraw li b'kollox kienu rapportati 234 każ ta' mard li jkun trasmess sesswalment. Minn dawn kien hemm 138 każ ta' Chlamydia, 47 każ ta' Gonorrhoeae u 25 każ ta' Syphilis. Ma' dawn kien hemm ukoll 18-il każ ġdid ta' persuni li għandhom l-HIV.

Parti żgħira

Irid jingħad li dawn il-figuri huma biss parti żgħira mill-każi li jkollna f'pajjiżna fejn jidħol il-mard trasmess sesswalment. Dan għax dawn il-figuri jinkludu l-każi ta' pazjenti li jmorru fil-GU Clinic u għalhekk m'hemmx infor-mazzjoni eżatta u preċiża ta' kemm hi kbira l-problema. Il-fatt li issa qed ikun rakkomandat li każi ta' mard trasmess sesswalment jintbagħtu fil-GU Clinic għandu jgħin biex ikun hawn aktar għarfien għal dan it-tip ta' mard, li fi kliem it-tobba żdied bil-kbir f'pajjiżna. Dwar il-mard trasmess sesswalment u l-ippjanar biex f'pajjiżna jkollna politika nazzjonali dwar is-saħħa sesswali, kienu saru diversi laqgħat fil-Kumitat Parlamentari għall-Affarijiet Soċjali, fejn it-tabib Philip Carabott li jmexxi l-GU Clinic, kien qal li qiegħda tinħass il-problema li mhux kulħadd hu responsabbli biżżejjed li jekk jimrad b'infezzjoni trasmessa sesswalment ifittex l-għajnuna tal-GU Clinic. Hu kien qal li r-raġunijiet għaliex persuni infettati b'mard trasmess sesswalment ma jftittxux is-servizzi tal-GU Clinic huma varji fosthom għax il-persuni ma jkunux qegħdin iħossu uġiegħ ta' dan il-mard, jew inkella jmorru għand it-tabib tal-familja u ma jirreferux. Jgħid li hemm oħrajn li jistħu jidħlu fil-GU Clinic. Hu kien qal li t-tobba tal-familja m'għandhomx il-faċilitajiet biex jagħmlu t-testijiet bħall-GU Clinic u allura l-istatistika lokali mhix kompluta. Kien issemma' li f'Għawdex m'hemmx GU Clinic. Fil-kumitat kien intqal li quddiem ir-realtà ta' aktar mard trasmess sesswalment u l-fenomenu dejjem jikber ta' tqala fost iż-żgħażagħ u 'single parenthood', jeħtieġ aktar impenn favur relazzjonijiet b'saħħithom mal-adolexxenti u ż-żgħażagħ. Kien issemma' li jeħtieġ li ssir edukazzjoni preventiva li ssaħħaħ ir-relazzjonijiet, possibilment fl-età adolexxenzjali u post adolexxenzjali. Kien ingħad li l-iskejjel għandhom rwol importanti f'dan ir-rigward u jwasslu l-messaġġ tal-fedeltà fir-relazzjoni fl-etajiet indikati.

Times: Never mind white lies

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111002/opinion/Roamer-s-column.387315
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Roamer's column

Try lies as black as Hades, of the sort AFP indulges in. Here is the concluding sentence of one of its reports, which was carried in last Monday's edition of The Times. "The Pope has used his trip to call on German Catholics to hammer home his ultra-conservative credo on a range of issues such as artificial contraception, abortion, euthanasia and gaymarriage."

We had forgotten that these calm educated Libyan men exist, so complete was their removal from the periphery, never mind the centre, of power
It is well to point out that during his four-day state visit to Germany, Pope Benedict delivered some 18 speeches and homilies. He spoke with journalists on his flight to his homeland, addressed the Federal Parliament, met with representatives of the Jewish community and celebrated Mass at the Olympiastadion, met representatives of the Muslim community and the German Evangelical Church Council.

He participated in an ecumenical celebration, attended vespers and the next day celebrated Holy Mass at Domplatz in Erfurt, greeted citizens gathered at Munsterplatz, addressed seminarians in Freiburg, held a prayer vigil with young people, met with a group of Catholics active in the Church and society, also at Freiburg – a wicked schedule for an 84-year-old who never fails to surprise.
I made a point to visit the Vatican site where his speeches, homilies and addresses can be found, downloaded them and found not a single reference to contraception, abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage, nor the skimpiest sign of a hammer.

What I did find was an impassioned call to his "Dear Young Friends" to "Dare to be glowing saints" because, "You are the light of the world. Where God is, there is a future." He reminded them of the existence of evil about which "we cannot remain silent". And he spelt out that evil – "selfishness, envy, aggression... sloth, or laziness in willing and doing good... (The) damage to the Church comes not from her opponents, but from uncommitted Christians... Christ is not so much interested in how often in our lives we stumble and fall, as in how often with his help we pick ourselves up again."

In Thuringia he reminded his audience in what was the former German Democratic Republic that they had "to endure first a brown and then a red dictatorship, which acted on the Christian faith like acid rain".

He then returned to the theme for his visit: "Yet the last two decades have also brought good experiences; a broader horizon, an exchange that reaches beyond borders, a faithful confidence that God does not abandon us and that he leads us along new paths. Where there is God, there is a future."

Checked his speech to lay Catholics in Freiburg – no sign of hammering. But he did take a swipe at "exaggerated individualism... People can hardly find the courage now to promise to be faithful for a whole lifetime... the real crisis facing the Church in the Western world is a crisis of faith (without which) all structural reform will remain ineffective".

And still no reference to the Big Four. So why do the media lie in so obscene and perverse a manner? For you can bet your bottom dollar that any newspaper that picked up that AFP report printed it tale quale if, that is, it deemed it necessary to carry it.

May have missed all that hammering, of course; I doubt it. Perhaps AFP's reports on Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church should be treated with more circumspection and subjected to more scrutiny.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

Times: Dozens detained at gay pride rally

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111002/world/dozens-detained-at-gay-pride-rally.387410
Sunday, October 2, 2011, 09:19 , by PA



Russian police officers detain an anti-gay protester during a gay pride rally in central Moscow. Photo: Ivan Sekretarev

Russian police detained dozens of anti-gay protesters and gay rights activists during a gay pride rally in central Moscow.

Yesterday's protest was one of the few gay rights events sanctioned by authorities.
In recent years, several attempts to hold gay pride marches in Moscow and other Russian cities have been blocked by police, Russian Orthodox Church activists and soccer fans.

Moscow police spokesman Anatoly Lastovetsky said 40 people were detained.
He said police were "finding out whether (the detained) were part of the rally or the people who tried to thwart it".

During the rally, several men were seen trying to pelt the protesters with tomatoes and unfurling posters with derogatory remarks about homosexuality.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

MaltaToday: Complaint against Cyrus Engerer dropped

http://maltatoday.com.mt/news/2011/0930/complaint-against-cyrus-engerer-dropped
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 By KARL STAGNO-NAVARRA

Cyrus Engerer

Sliema Deputy Mayor Cyrus Engerer has had a complaint brought against him by his former boyfriend dropped.

Engerer – who earlier this year had resigned from the PN and moved on toLabour – was at the centre of a controversial charge which was issued some 10 days after his resignation, sparking a debate on whether a complaint filed by Marvic Camilleri back in January 2010 deliberately surfaced for prosecution.

Lawyer Franco Debono, who is appearing for Cyrus Engerer confirmed that complainant Marvic Camilleri has formally dropped the charges against his client and had filed a note with the courts.

Camilleri had complained that Engerer had circulated compromising photographs of himself to friends and his employer.

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on MaltaToday's website.]

EU Parliament: Parliament condemns daily violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20110928IPR27706/html/Parliament-condemns-daily-violence-and-discrimination

Human rights − 28-09-2011 - 13:38
Plenary sessions

Parliament called today for an end to the discrimination and violence suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people on a daily basis both in the EU and outside it and stressed that gender identity disorders should not be treated as psychiatric conditions.

In a resolution adopted by an overwhelming majority (442 votes to 104, with 40 abstentions) MEPs demand that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people be upheld fully within the EU and defended systematically in its external relations.

They call for gender identity disorders to be removed from the World Health Organisation's classification of mental and behavioural disorders. They roundly condemn the fact that homosexuality, bisexuality and trans-sexuality are still regarded as mental illnesses, requiring psychiatric treatment, in some countries, including some EU Member States, and they call for this to stop.

Parliament points to the obligation of EU Member States to grant asylum to people from non-EU countries who are fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation. They also call on Member States to ensure freedom of movement for same-sex couples and their families in the EU as well as access to preventive health-care and medical treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The House supports the efforts of foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and of EU Member States to promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people at the UN and welcomes the ground-breaking UN Human Rights Council Resolution passed in June this year. It backs plans to continue discussions at the next session of the UN Human Rights Council, taking the view that a "respectful and open dialogue" amongst all regions of the world is indispensable.

Procedure: Statement by Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton + resolution

REF. : 20110928IPR27706

Contact

European Parliament resolution of 28 September 2011 on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations

The European Parliament , – having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to the European Convention on Human Rights, and to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, – having regard to UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/60/251 establishing the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), – having regard to the Declaration of 16 March 2006 by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on behalf of the European Union on the establishment of the UNHRC, – having regard to its resolution of 10 March 2011 on the 16th session of the UNHRC(1) , – having regard to its resolution of 16 December 2010 on Human Rights in the World in 2009 and EU policy on the matter(2) , – having regard to previous joint statements and declarations at the United Nations, including the Joint statement on ending acts of violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity of 22 March 2011 at the Human Rights Council, and the Declaration on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of 18 December 2008 at the General Assembly, – having regard to the UNHRC resolution A/HRC/17/19 of 17 June 2011 on Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, – having regard to the 17th session of the UNHRC, which adopted resolution A/HRC/17/19 on Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, and the 19th session of the UNHRC, which will hold the panel discussion mandated by resolution A/HRC/17/19, – having regard to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly resolution 1728 of 29 April 2010 on Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and the Committee of Ministers recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 of 31 March 2010 on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, – having regard to the Organization of American States resolution AG/RES. 2653 of 7 June 2011 on Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, – having regard to the report 'Homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity' by the Fundamental Rights Agency (November 2010), – having regard to Articles 2, 3(5), 18, 21 and 27 of the Treaty on European Union, and Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, – having regard to the Council of the European Union's Toolkit to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People, – having regard to the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations, – having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure, A. whereas respect for, and the promotion and safeguarding of, the universality of human rights is part of the European Union's ethical and legal acquis and one of the cornerstones of European unity and integrity; B. whereas numerous human rights violations linked to sexual orientation and gender identity occur daily in the European Union as well as in third countries; C. whereas the European Union and its Member States should guarantee respect for human rights in their own policies and practice, so as to strengthen and make credible the European Union's position in the UNHRC; D. whereas the European Union attaches paramount importance to universal and indivisible human rights; E. whereas the European Union already includes sexual orientation and gender identity in its work at the United Nations, within regional bodies and some of its bilateral human rights dialogues; F. whereas the UNHRC resolution on Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity is the first resolution adopted at the United Nations dealing specifically with sexual orientation and gender identity; G. whereas states from all regions, including all EU Member States at the UNHRC, voted in favour of the resolution on Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, and 21 EU Member States sponsored the resolution; H. whereas several United Nations human rights treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and agencies, as well as the United Nations Secretary-General and High Commissioner for Human Rights, have expressed grave concerns about human rights violations experienced by LGBT people worldwide; I. whereas other regional institutions, including the Council of Europe and the Organization of American States, recently adopted resolutions condemning human rights abuses on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity; 1. Reiterates its concern regarding the numerous human rights violations and widespread discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, both in the European Union and in third countries; 2. Acknowledges and supports the work already undertaken by the Human Rights Council, the UN Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN human rights treaty bodies, special rapporteurs and other UN agencies to ensure that international human rights standards apply fully, regardless of a person's sexual orientation and gender identity; 3. Welcomes the adoption of resolution A/HRC/17/19 on Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity by the Human Rights Council; 4. Draws attention to the fact that the resolution was supported by states from all regions and authored by South Africa; reiterates that human rights are universal and indivisible, and apply equally to all regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity; 5. Supports the organisation of a panel discussion during the 19th session of the Human Rights Council in spring 2012 to have 'constructive, informed and transparent dialogue on the issue of discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity'; takes the view that holding a respectful and open dialogue on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity among UN Member States from all regions is indispensable; 6. Welcomes the longstanding support of EU Member States and the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for including sexual orientation and gender identity in the work of the Human Rights Council and of other UN bodies, including in the case of earlier joint statements and declarations; 7. Recalls that the Toolkit to Promote and Protect the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by LGBT People of the Working Party on Human Rights of the Council of the European Union mentions the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the world, equality and non-discrimination, and the protection of human rights defenders as key priorities; takes the view that the High Representative, all EU institutions and Member States should uphold these priorities systematically at home and in their foreign relations; 8. Calls on the High Representative and Member States to systematically promote, in partnership with third countries, the protection and respect of human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity at the United Nations and in other multilateral fora, and bilaterally in their human rights dialogues; 9. Encourages Member States to engage constructively, and in partnership with third countries, with the Universal Periodic Review and treaty body procedures to ensure that human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity are fully upheld in the European Union and in third countries; to this end, encourages Member States and the High Representative to ensure consistency between the EU's external and internal action in the field of human rights, as provided for by Article 21(3) of the Treaty on European Union; 10. Calls on the High Representative, the Commission and Member States to further promote, in partnership with third countries, human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity through bilateral human rights dialogues, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and other external financial instruments; 11. Regrets that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are not yet always fully upheld in the European Union, including the right to bodily integrity, the right to private and family life, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to freedom of assembly, the right to non-discrimination, the right to freedom of movement, including the right to free movement for same-sex couples and their families, the right of access to preventive health care, the right to medical treatment and the right to asylum; 12. Recalls Member States' obligation to protect or grant asylum to third country nationals escaping or risking persecution in their country of origin on the basis of their sexual orientation, as laid down in Directive 2004/83/EC(3) on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted; 13. Roundly condemns the fact that homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality are still regarded as mental illnesses by some countries, including within the EU, and calls on states to combat this; calls in particular for the depsychiatrisation of the transsexual, transgender, journey, for free choice of care providers, for changing identity to be simplified, and for costs to be met by social security schemes; 14. Draws attention to the findings of the European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency in its report 'Homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity'; calls on the Commission and Member States to act on the opinions contained therein to the greatest possible extent; 15. Calls on Member States, the Commission and the EEAS to fully address these inequalities; reiterates its request that the Commission produce a comprehensive roadmap against homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity; 16. Calls on the Commission and the World Health Organisation to withdraw gender identity disorders from the list of mental and behavioural disorders, and to ensure a non-pathologising reclassification in the negotiations on the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11); 17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security, the Commission, the Council of the European Union, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Secretary-General.

L-Orizzont: Id-djalogu jagħmel ġid aktar mill-kundanni

http://www.orizzont.com.mt/oldarticles/article2277.html
28.9.2011 minn SAĊERDOT, Victoria, Għawdex

Sur Editur,

Ippermettili nirreferi għal dak li kien irrapportat fil-ġurnal tiegħek tal-Ħamis, 1 ta' Set­tembru, 2011, fejn f'paġna 8 kien hemm artiklu li kien in­titolat: "Monsinjur jikkundan­na lil kull min appoġġja d-dħul tad-divorzju".

Dwar il-kontenut ta' dan l-artiklu, xtaqt inqajjem xi mistoqsijiet u nagħmel xi kjarifiki/interventi:

Intqal li "għadha ma saret ebda ċensura mill-awtoritajiet tal-Knisja". Nifhem jien li dak li stqarr l-Onorevoli Ċensu Galea qiegħed jiġi endorsjat minn dan il-ġurnal. Jien jidhir­li li l-PL, li hu l-partit tal-liberali u tal-progres­sivi, hu kontra ċ-ċensura! U al­lura x'sens jagħmel li toħloq pressjoni fuq l-awtoritajiet ekk­leżjastiċi biex japplikaw ċ-ċensura? Aħna rridu jew ma rridux li l-Knisja tirriforma ruħ­ha?

Inkwantu t-tagħlim tal-Knisja dwar "l-indissolubbiltà taż-żwieġ", jiġifieri, li "l-indissolubbiltà taż-żwieġ hi Domma tal-Fidi definita fis-Sessjoni XXIV tal-Konċilju ta' Trentu u definita bħala ex iure divino" – persważ li dan it-tagħ­lim għadu jgħodd u allura s'hawn il-Monsinjur Gauci għan­du raġun.

Ċertament li dawk l-Insara li jiċħdu dan it-tagħlim awtomatikament jwettqu żball u allura bħala konsegwenza jsi­ru ħatjin ta' Ereżija u allura s'hawn il-Monsinjur Gauci għan­du wkoll raġun.

Fejn ma naqbilx ma' Monsinjur Gauci hu fil-każ tal-interpretazzjoni, bħallikieku li l-Parlamentari Maltin li vvotaw favur id-divorzju kienu qegħdin jiċħdu dan it-tagħlim dommatiku.

Nifhem jien li l-Parlamenta­ri Maltin kienu qegħdin jil­leġiżlaw għall-membri ta' Stat Sekulari/Lajk. Kellhom f'moħħ­hom li jilleġiżlaw ix-xewqa ta' Poplu Sovran kif es­pressa fir-Referendum. Kellhom f'moħħhom is-soċjetà ċi­vili fl-interezza tagħha. Iċ-ċittadin li mhux Nisrani (anke jekk f'minoranza) għandu l-benefiċċju li jagħmel użu minn din il-liġi. S'intendi anke ċ-ċittadin li hu Nisrani jis­tà jagħmel użu minn din il-liġi però jkun qiegħed jirriskja li ma jkunx f'rabta regolari mal-Knisja – dan hu tagħlim tal-Knisja Kattolika. S'intendi sta għan-Nisrani jekk jonorax il-liġi tal-Knisja jew le! Bħalma sta għan-Nisrani jekk jo­norax il-liġi t'Alla jew le!
Naħseb li f'dan ir-rigward ikun utli jekk wieħed jirrifetti fuq il-kelmiet tal-Arċisqof ta' Berlin (li miet fit-30 ta' Ġunju) il-Kardinal Georg Sterzinsky, meta stqarr fuq Domradio.de, li "secularism would continue to spread and the number of Christians continue to shrink. For Christians this would increasingly resemble the situation in biblical times and would be a 'Christianity of choice'." (The Tablet, 9 ta' Lulju, 2011, p.27).

Ikun utli wkoll jekk nirrif­lettu fuq il-kelmiet tal-Arċis­qof ta' New York, Timothy Dolan. Fil-kuntest tal-abbozz ta' ligi li jikkontempla l-leġiż­lazzjoni dwar "same sex marriage" (li hu differenti mill-każ tagħna), filwaqt li jikkonsidra din il-leġiżlazzjoni bħala: "ominous threat" u għal­daqstant jwissi li l-Gvern "should not be able to change fundamental social institutions", għall-mistoqsija li sarit­lu "whether the Church would excommunicate Catholics who supported the measure, jwieġeb billi jikkonkludi: "We try to model ourselves af­ter Jesus, and he's always conciliatory… Sometimes, if we come off too hard, we lose more people. Our job is to try to patiently change hearts, and not be throwing people out." (The Tablet, 2 ta' Lulju, 2011, p.30).

Fil-fehma tiegħi, jekk nieħdu f'konsiderazzjoni t-twissijiet ta' dawn l-Isqfijiet, ikun hemm aktar lok biex il-Knisja tiddjaloga mas-Soċjetà Ċivili, minflok nehdew nitkellmu fuq ċensuri u skomuniki. Fuq kollox, u hawnhekk nixtieq in­qajjem u nikkonkludi b'mis­toqsija fundamentali, jistgħu jew ma jistgħux, it-twissijiet ta' dawn l-Isqfijiet, jservu bħa­la linja gwida għall-Knisja Maltija?

COE: Schools must stop spreading homophobic and transphobic messages

http://commissioner.cws.coe.int/tiki-view_blog_post.php?postId=181
Council of Europe (COE)

Posted on 2011-09-27 09:05

In schools across Europe young persons are being harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Homophobic and transphobic bullying is an every day reality in the lives of many. It is time to react – especially in view of several national studies and reports warning that there have been a number of suicides among young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons feeling rejected by their peers and families.

The scope of this problem appears to be large. A study in the United Kingdom showed that nine in ten secondary school teachers had witnessed children being subjected to homophobic bullying in their schools. Among primary school teachers two in five had made similar observations regarding children at this very early stage.

Such studies have also demonstrated that children in primary schools use homophobic remarks alarmingly often. They pick up and repeat negative jargon, most often without even understanding what the words refer to.

My recent report "Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Europe" contains numerous examples of how factually wrong information about LGBT persons is disseminated – sometimes also by schools themselves. This is a serious problem and may contribute to bullying and to cementing homophobic and transphobic attitudes.

School books used to spread prejudices

The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases in 1990. Despite this, prejudices and misunderstandings have too often lived on in teaching programmes.

Only this past summer was a decision taken in "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" to revise a school textbook describing homosexuals as "neurotic and psychotic persons" with an "abnormal, unnatural and degenerated sexual life". From Lithuania I have received information that children have been taught that homosexuality is a sickness and that same-sex relationships destroy families.

In 2009 the European Committee of Social Rights set an important standard in its review of a complaint against Croatia regarding the content of a school biology textbook which was held to contain prejudiced information. The Committee found that "Certain educational materials which are used in the regular teaching programme are biased, discriminatory and degrading." Croatia withdrew the textbook as a result of the Committee's findings, though NGOs in the country still report similar problems with other textbooks.

"Don't stand for homophobic bullying"

Some member states have taken encouraging initiatives. A national action plan in Norway targets schools at both primary and secondary level and has added an LGBT dimension to subjects in the mainstream curriculum. In Estonia the national study curriculum provides a basis for discussions on LGB issues. UNESCO is initiating an international consultation on homophobic bullying in educational institutions. NGOs conduct indispensable anti-homophobic bullying campaigns such as the Irish 'Don't stand for homophobic bullying' initiative.

There is a strong need to review curricula and teaching materials in all member states of the Council of Europe. This was also emphasised in a Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Recommendation which called on member states to provide "pupils and students with the necessary information, protection and support to enable them to live in accordance with their sexual orientation and gender identity."

Schools obliged to protect students

It is an obligation for all schools to protect their students from bullying and to teach respect and openness. School personnel need thorough training concerning non-discrimination issues. One important tool in this regard could be the Council of Europe training pack on violence reduction in schools.

Policy makers and school management need to give strong support to teachers in order for them to have the means and resources to create a healthy and inclusive environment in schools and classrooms.

Thomas Hammarberg

Link: The Commissioner's thematic page on human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons (LGBT)

Times: Pope 'understands' those leaving Church over abuse scandals

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110923/world/Pope-understands-those-leaving-Church-over-abuse-scandals.385993
Friday, September 23, 2011, by AFP

Pope Benedict XVI expressed understanding yesterday for those who had turned their backs on the Catholic Church after the recent sex abuse scandals, on his first state visit to his German homeland.

At the start of a four-day trip, the Pontiff also took a conciliatory tone with thousands of protesters rallying in free-wheeling, increasingly secular Berlin and reached out in the former Nazi capital to the Jewish community.

"I can understand that in the face of such reports, people, especially those close to victims, would say 'this isn't my Church anymore'," the Pope, 84, told reporters on his plane from Rome in reference to widespread abuse by priests.

But he asked for patience as the Church grapples with enduring outrage over the scandals that has threatened to cloud his visit to Germany, where his election six years ago had met with an outpouring of joy.

The Church "is a net of the Lord which catches both good fish and bad," he said ahead of his arrival, which was met with a 21-gun salute and children bearing flowers under glorious autumn sunshine.

He said in his first speech to a national assembly, Germany's Bundestag lower house of Parliament, that public officials must embrace their moral responsibilities.
"To serve right and fight against the dominion of wrong is and remains the fundamental task of the politician," he said in an address that met with a standing ovation as well as a boycott by dozens of leftist lawmakers.

The Pope said growing positivism, the rule of logic and the rejection of metaphysics, was diminishing humanity and encouraging "extremist and radical movements" to fill a vacuum left in Western culture. Germany's Christians are split down the middle between Catholics and Lutherans, each with about one-third of the population in the country that was the cradle of the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago.

A few blocks away behind police barriers, peaceful demonstrators, some dressed as contraceptives and nuns, rallied against Pope Benedict's views on issues ranging from gay rights to the paedophile priest scandals.

Police and protesters put their number at around 10,000, half the number organisers had expected.

Pope Benedict told reporters demonstrations were "normal in a free society marked by strong secularism."

"One can't object" to such protests as long as they were "civil", he added. "I respect those who speak out."

[Click on the hyperlink above to view the comments on the Times' website.]

Di-ve: Labour urges young people to involve themselves in politics

http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=86382&newscategory=33
by di-ve.com - editorial@di-ve.com
Politics -- 25 September 2011 -- 14:10CEST

A campaign to urge young people to get involved in politics has been launched by the Labour Party's youth section.

The Forum Żgħażagħ Laburisti campaign START was launched today in Sliema, with Labour leader Joseph Muscat stressing the need for more young people and women to participate in politics.

Next March's local elections, which will see new councils elected in half of Malta's localities, was a particular focus for the Labour leader. Dr Muscat insisted that councils were in need of change, and should not simply become an extension of the national government.

Dr Muscat said that in politics, the young had typically served as window dressing, and insisted that his party sought to change this. He said that political parties could not forget that the earth did not revolve around them, and that they could end up irrelevant if they do not notice changes in society.

The Labour leader touched on a number of issues which were of concern to the young, stating his opposition to limiting student intake at university, lamenting delays in drawing up IVF legislation and stressing the need for improved gay rights legislation.

The Labour leader also referred to the divorce law, lamenting that the structures which need to be set up to deal with divorce applications have not yet been put in place, even though the law comes into force next week.