COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE / WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2014
- With the Maltese Parliament having approved the law regulating civil unions and adoptions by same-sex couples, while wishing that the discussion continues with due respect to every person, irrespective of his/her sexual orientation and choices made, we as Bishops of Malta and Gozo feel we can convey the following:
- Notwithstanding the changes we are going through, our society should strive to keep cherishing and giving preference to the natural family, built upon marriage between a man and a woman. This family, were the father and mother, driven by genuine love, bring life to the world and with love and sacrifice bring up and educate their children, is an indispensable resource to the Nation. If this family is done away with, we would have wounded humanity. Recently, Pope Francis himself said in no uncertain terms that “in the case of the family, the weakening of these bonds is particularly serious because the family is the fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another”[1].
- One notes, with gratitude, that there is a strong sensibility in favour of children, be they the couple’s natural offspring or adopted. It is our duty to ensure that we have good legal instruments in place so that everybody respects the interests and the rights of children. We should stand guard over ourselves so that parents’ interest in children is motivated solely by a desire to satisfy the true needs of their children. A few days ago, Pope Francis said: “Said positively, it is necessary to reaffirm the right of children to grow up in a family, with a father and a mother capable of creating an ideal environment for their development and emotional maturity. To continue to mature in relation, in confrontation with what is the masculinity and the femininity of a father and a mother, and thus equipping their emotional maturity”[2].
- No one can erase the differences and the sexual complementarity between a man and a woman. The relationships of homosexual couples, from their nature remain altogether different from those of heterosexual couples. The fundamental rights of each person, whoever he or she may be and whatever his or her sexual orientation may be, should always be safeguarded by the laws of a country.
- Now that the Maltese State has introduced civil unions for same-sex couples, as Bishops we look forward to seeing the same State intensify its work so that the family built on marriage between a man and a woman is strengthened.
As spiritual shepherds, we encourage Christians and all people of good will to continually look towards Jesus Christ and, with his help, continue to grow in conformity with the will of God. Although the Creator’s vision of marriage and sexuality is different from the one presented in this law, the Christian community is still duty-bound to show pastoral love towards each person, whoever they may be, and that the doors of the Church remain open to whoever sincerely seeks the Lord.
✠ MARIO GRECH ✠ PAUL CREMONA O.P.
Bishop of Gozo Archbishop of Malta
President of the Episcopal Conference
✠ CHARLES J. SCICLUNA
Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General Malta
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Stqarrija tal-Isqfijiet dwar il-Liġi tal-Unjoni Ċivili
http://thechurchinmalta.org/mt/posts/38400/stqarrija-tal-isqfijiet-dwar-il-ligi-tal-unjoni-civili16.4.2014
- Wara li l-Parlament ta’ Malta approva l-liġi dwar l-unjoni ċivili u l-adozzjoni tat-tfal minn koppji tal-istess sess, bix-xewqa li d-diskussjoni tkompli b’rispett lejn kull persuna indipendentament mill-orjentament sesswali tagħha u mill-għażla li tkun għamlet, aħna l-Isqfijiet ta’ Malta u Għawdex inħossu li nistgħu nwasslu dawn il-punti:
- Minkejja t-tibdil li għaddejjin minnu, is-soċjetà tagħna għandha tkompli tagħmel kuraġġ u tirsisti biex tibqa’ tgħożż u tagħti preferenza lill-familja naturali mibnija fuq iż-żwieġ bejn raġel u mara. Din il-familja, fejn il-missier u l-omm, misjuqa mill-imħabba ġenwina, inisslu l-ħajja u b’ħafna għożża u sagrifiċċju jrabbu u jedukaw lil uliedhom, hija riżorsa indispensabbli għan-Nazzjon. Jekk din il-familja tiġi nieqsa, inkunu għamilna ġerħa lill-umanità. Il-Papa Franġisku stess, ftit ilu qalilna b’mod ċar li “fil-każ tal-familja, id-dgħufija tar-rabtiet issir partikolarment gravi għax hawn għandna ċellula fundamentali tas-soċjetà, l-ambjent fejn nitgħallmu ngħixu bid-differenzi ta’ bejnietna u nkunu ta’ xulxin”[1].
- Wieħed jinnota bi gratitudni li fostna hawn sensibilità qawwija favur it-tfal, kemm dawk li huma wlied naturali, kif ukoll dawk adottati. Huwa dmir tagħna li nassiguraw li jkollna strumenti legali tajbin biex l-interessi u d-drittijiet tat-tfal ikunu rispettati minn kulħadd. Sewwa li ngħassu fuqna nfusna biex l-interess tal-ġenituri fiċ-ċkejknin ikun motivat biss minn xewqa li jissodisfaw il-ħtiġijiet veri ta’ wliedhom. Għal darb’oħra, l-istess Papa Franġisku, ftit jiem ilu qalilna: “mil-lat pożittiv irridu nisħqu dwar id-dritt li t-tfal jitrabbew fil-familja flimkien ma' missier u omm li jkollhom ħila joħolqu ambjent ideali għall-iżvilupp u l-maturazzjoni affettiva. U li jkomplu jimmaturaw fir-relazzjonijiet ma' dak li huma maskolinità u l-femminilità ta' missier u ta' omm biex b'hekk iħejju ruħhom għall-maturità affettiva”[2].
- Ħadd ma’ jista’ jħassar id-differenzi u l-kumplimentarjetà sesswali bejn raġel u mara. Ir-relazzjonijiet ta’ koppji omosesswali min-natura tagħhom jibqgħu għalkollox differenti minn dawk ta’ koppji eterosesswali. Id-drittijiet fundamentali ta’ kull persuna, hi min hi u hu x’inhu l-orjentament sesswali tagħha, għandhom dejjem ikunu mħarsa mil-liġijiet tal-pajjiż.
- Issa li l-Istat Malti introduċa l-unjoni ċivili għall-koppji tal-istess sess, l-awgurju tagħna l-Isqfijiet huwa li l-istess Stat Malti jqawwi l-ħidma tiegħu biex tissaħħaħ il-familja li titnissel mir-rabta ta’ ragel u mara fiż-żwieġ.
Bħala rgħajja spiritwali, aħna nħeġġu lill-Insara u lil dawk kollha ta’ rieda tajba biex kontinwament jitfgħu ħarsithom fuq Ġesù Kristu u bl-għajnuna tiegħu jikbru f’konformità mar-rieda t’Alla. Għalkemm il-viżjoni tal-Ħallieq dwar iż-żwieġ u s-sesswalità hija differenti minn dik ippreżentata minn din il-liġi, il-komunità Nisranija jibqgħalha d-dmir li turi mħabba pastorali għal kull persuna, hi min hi, u l-bibien tal-Knisja jibqgħu miftuħa għal min ġenwinament ifittex lill-Mulej.
✠ MARIO GRECH ✠ PAWLU CREMONA O.P.
Isqof ta’ Għawdex Arċisqof ta’ Malta
President tal-Konferenza Episkopali
✠ CHARLES J. SCICLUNA
Isqof Awżiljarju u Vigarju Ġenerali ta’ Malta
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