http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-10-31/opinions/maltese-values-within-the-eu-3048538113/
Thursday, 31 October 2013, 08:00 , by Therese Comodini Cachia
In the midst of a debate on a Civil Union Bill, let’s be clear from the outset on what role the EU plays in issues of social matters. The mantra that EU membership obliges the Maltese to depart from their values and social norms is incorrect.The EU does not have competence to oblige Malta to legalise abortion, to legislate in favour of same sex marriage, to legislate in favour of joint adoption by same sex couples, or to legislate in favour of euthanasia. These are only a few issues the decision for which falls squarely within our lap.
But today’s society is all about trying to strike a balance between legislative recognition of social and human situations and enshrined values. As citizens we are facing this reality and we need a strong representation on issues that affect social norms and values within the European Parliament. It is important that an MEP would first and foremost be aware of the jurisdiction that the EU has on these sensitive issues and secondly be able to suss out those proposals that may have an effect on the core values which are intrinsically interwoven in our Maltese social fabric.
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Malta Today: ‘No church has a monopoly on the truth’
Observers feel the non-debate on civil unions and gay adoptions is down
to an internal schism on how the Church should strategically handle
another legal challenge to its Magisterium so soon after the divorce
referendum.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/No-church-has-a-monopoly-on-the-truth-20131031
Thursday 31 October 2013 - 11:06 by Raphael Vassallo
Fr George Dalli: “Everybody is forgetting that the law as it stands today already allows adoption by single parents.”
A proposed bill on civil unions, which would permit adoption by same-sex couples, appears to be locked on a direct collision course with the authorities of the country's majority religion.
But not all within the Catholic Church are necessarily sorry to see the issue being discussed... even if some fear a repeat performance of the recent divorce referendum, which also served to expose the utmost limits of the institution's millennial hold on public opinion.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/No-church-has-a-monopoly-on-the-truth-20131031
Thursday 31 October 2013 - 11:06 by Raphael Vassallo
Fr George Dalli: “Everybody is forgetting that the law as it stands today already allows adoption by single parents.”
A proposed bill on civil unions, which would permit adoption by same-sex couples, appears to be locked on a direct collision course with the authorities of the country's majority religion.
But not all within the Catholic Church are necessarily sorry to see the issue being discussed... even if some fear a repeat performance of the recent divorce referendum, which also served to expose the utmost limits of the institution's millennial hold on public opinion.
Joseph Mizzi: Gays, Unjoni Civili u Adozzjoni
29.10.2013 [http://josephmizzi.blogspot.com/]
Hbieb,
Il-ligi tal-Unjoni Civili hi riflessjoni tal-qaghda spiritwali ta’ pajjizna. Filwaqt li l-Istat ghandu d-dmir li jhares id-drittijiet tac-cittadini kollha, ninkwieta li:
1. Iz-zwieg se jkun mnezza’ mit-tifsira unika tieghu.
2. It-tfal adottati minn koppja gay se jkunu mcahhda mill-imhabba ta’ omm jew ta’ missier.
Bhala pajjiz qed nitilfu l-valuri Nsara, u dan mhux b’kumbinazzjoni. Il-valuri Nsara jserrhu fuq il-Blata, l-Hallieq u s-Sid taghna, Gesu Kristu. Imma hafna Maltin warrbu ‘l Alla minn hajjithom. Minghajr pedament il-valuri jikkrollaw, kif qed naraw.
Hbieb,
Il-ligi tal-Unjoni Civili hi riflessjoni tal-qaghda spiritwali ta’ pajjizna. Filwaqt li l-Istat ghandu d-dmir li jhares id-drittijiet tac-cittadini kollha, ninkwieta li:
1. Iz-zwieg se jkun mnezza’ mit-tifsira unika tieghu.
2. It-tfal adottati minn koppja gay se jkunu mcahhda mill-imhabba ta’ omm jew ta’ missier.
Bhala pajjiz qed nitilfu l-valuri Nsara, u dan mhux b’kumbinazzjoni. Il-valuri Nsara jserrhu fuq il-Blata, l-Hallieq u s-Sid taghna, Gesu Kristu. Imma hafna Maltin warrbu ‘l Alla minn hajjithom. Minghajr pedament il-valuri jikkrollaw, kif qed naraw.
Times: Confusion in civil unions
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131029/opinion/Confusion-in-civil-unions.492379#.UnKVFHCsLD4
Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 00:01 by Austin Sammut
With the end of summer (or is it?) and the boring months with virtually nothing to write about, things have started bubbling again.
Let’s not go for the Budget yet. A bit early. But certainly one topic at the top of the agenda is this blessed Civil Union Bill.
Let me get straight to the point. This union is marriage and no less. The same rules of marriage apply – bigamy, divorce, separation, annulment, maintenance and so on. So why not just amend the existing Marriage Act and get on with it?
Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 00:01 by Austin Sammut
With the end of summer (or is it?) and the boring months with virtually nothing to write about, things have started bubbling again.
Let’s not go for the Budget yet. A bit early. But certainly one topic at the top of the agenda is this blessed Civil Union Bill.
Let me get straight to the point. This union is marriage and no less. The same rules of marriage apply – bigamy, divorce, separation, annulment, maintenance and so on. So why not just amend the existing Marriage Act and get on with it?
Times: Child rights trump all the others
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131029/letters/Child-rights-trump-all-the-others.492371?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=child-rights-trump-all-the-others#.UnKVGXCsLD4
Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 00:01 by Ray Azzopardi, Xemxija
It has been reported that Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli urged society “to compare the Civil Union Bill with civil, not Church marriage”.
Why are we giving two versions of marriage in order to suit our political interests? Why don’t we define marriage before we decide whether the union between homosexuals should be considered at par with marriage?
Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 00:01 by Ray Azzopardi, Xemxija
It has been reported that Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli urged society “to compare the Civil Union Bill with civil, not Church marriage”.
Why are we giving two versions of marriage in order to suit our political interests? Why don’t we define marriage before we decide whether the union between homosexuals should be considered at par with marriage?
Times: Gay people welcome at Sochi says Putin
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131029/sport/Gay-people-welcome-at-Sochi-says-Putin.492391#.UnKVE3CsLD4
Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 00:01
President Vladimir Putin, seeking to defuse criticism over his treatment of Russia’s gay community, said all people will be welcome in the Black Sea resort of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Triggering angry criticism from the West and even calls to boycott the Sochi games, Russia adopted in June a ban on homosexual “propaganda” among minors, a law denounced by critics as discriminatory and aimed at stifling dissent.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013, 00:01
President Vladimir Putin, seeking to defuse criticism over his treatment of Russia’s gay community, said all people will be welcome in the Black Sea resort of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Triggering angry criticism from the West and even calls to boycott the Sochi games, Russia adopted in June a ban on homosexual “propaganda” among minors, a law denounced by critics as discriminatory and aimed at stifling dissent.
Independent: Too Hot to Handle
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-10-29/opinions/too-hot-to-handle-3025305603/
Tuesday, 29 October 2013, 07:52 , by Gejtu Vella
[Excerpts of the article. Click on the above link to view the entire article.] ...
Going back to local challenges a number of hot issues are taking shape simultaneously on the national agenda. I will attempt to address some.
It is common knowledge that the gay community has mounted substantial pressure within our society, not least within political parties, during the past months. Without going into the merits of the issue, the gay community have lobbied in favour of their cause and now they have it black on white. The gay community should be proud of this achievement. I firmly believe that no one has a right to interfere in others’ lives.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013, 07:52 , by Gejtu Vella
[Excerpts of the article. Click on the above link to view the entire article.] ...
Going back to local challenges a number of hot issues are taking shape simultaneously on the national agenda. I will attempt to address some.
It is common knowledge that the gay community has mounted substantial pressure within our society, not least within political parties, during the past months. Without going into the merits of the issue, the gay community have lobbied in favour of their cause and now they have it black on white. The gay community should be proud of this achievement. I firmly believe that no one has a right to interfere in others’ lives.
Independent: Civil Unions 'Profoundly Change' Definition of Marriage - Mgr Gouder
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-10-28/news/civil-unions-profoundly-change-definition-of-marriage-mgr-gouder-3005906945/
Monday, 28 October 2013, 09:15 , by Neil Camilleri
The Civil Unions Bill is a full marriage Bill, according to Monsignor Anton Gouder, the Curia’s Pro-Vicar General.
When asked for his personal opinion on the subject by this paper, Mgr Gouder said that the Bill itself confirms that it is a full marriage. This is not a matter of opinion. “Under the heading ‘Objects and Reasons’”, the Bill states that “the underlying principle of this Act is to equate civil unions with marriages, in terms of procedure and substance in a manner that guarantees equal rights to parties in a civil union as are granted to spouses in marriage”.
Monday, 28 October 2013, 09:15 , by Neil Camilleri
The Civil Unions Bill is a full marriage Bill, according to Monsignor Anton Gouder, the Curia’s Pro-Vicar General.
When asked for his personal opinion on the subject by this paper, Mgr Gouder said that the Bill itself confirms that it is a full marriage. This is not a matter of opinion. “Under the heading ‘Objects and Reasons’”, the Bill states that “the underlying principle of this Act is to equate civil unions with marriages, in terms of procedure and substance in a manner that guarantees equal rights to parties in a civil union as are granted to spouses in marriage”.
Malta Today: Putin - Gay athletes welcome at next year’s Winter Olympics
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/world/Putin-Gay-athletes-welcome-at-next-year-s-Winter-Olympics-20131029
Tuesday 29 October 2013 - 09:08
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that gay and lesbian athletes have nothing to fear at next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, insisting that gay athletes - and supporters - should feel at ease.
Russia has been criticised over a new law banning "homosexual propaganda" towards people under 18.
Under this new homosexual propaganda law, passed earlier this year, private individuals promoting "non-traditional sexual relations" to minors face fines of up to 5,000 roubles (€113.74) while officials risk paying 10 times that amount. Businesses and schools could be fined up to 500,000 roubles.
Tuesday 29 October 2013 - 09:08
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that gay and lesbian athletes have nothing to fear at next year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, insisting that gay athletes - and supporters - should feel at ease.
Russia has been criticised over a new law banning "homosexual propaganda" towards people under 18.
Under this new homosexual propaganda law, passed earlier this year, private individuals promoting "non-traditional sexual relations" to minors face fines of up to 5,000 roubles (€113.74) while officials risk paying 10 times that amount. Businesses and schools could be fined up to 500,000 roubles.
Malta Today: The sanitised debate on civil unions
While the introduction of civil unions is a welcome step towards greater social inclusion, it has exposed the lack of a real organic debate within political parties.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/The-sanitised-debate-on-civil-unions-20131029
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 by James Debono
Malta has truly made performed an incredible summersault: from being one of the last countries in the world to introduce divorce to one which grants a civil status equivalent to marriage (with adoption rights included) to same sex couples.
We did so without first introducing a cohabitation regime for people who want some basic guarantees without assuming the full obligations of marriage. The government has in fact hinted that it will be introducing a cohabitation bill at a later stage.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/The-sanitised-debate-on-civil-unions-20131029
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 by James Debono
Malta has truly made performed an incredible summersault: from being one of the last countries in the world to introduce divorce to one which grants a civil status equivalent to marriage (with adoption rights included) to same sex couples.
We did so without first introducing a cohabitation regime for people who want some basic guarantees without assuming the full obligations of marriage. The government has in fact hinted that it will be introducing a cohabitation bill at a later stage.
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