Divergent points

In his letter (December 11), Adrian Vassallo listed his reasons for not being able to support current efforts to entrench anti-abortion provisions in the Constitution.

One of his reasons was that, according to him, "more pressing problems" that "are eroding our social and family values" should be first addressed by Parliament.

In this category, Dr Vassallo included "child abuse, prostitution, gay marriages and the fast-growing number of teenage pregnancies".

It seems Dr Vassallo is not aware that, as at this point in time, it is not possible for same-sex couples in our country to legally contract a marriage. So, if same-sex marriages are not yet possible here, how can they be described as a "problem" and be blamed for the ills that our society and families are facing?

Secondly, I dispute the assertion that any recognition of same-sex couples would automatically harm the traditional family. Dr Vassallo and others who, like him, claim the existence of such a link, still have to prove their claims.

It is ironic that such assertions come from a member of the Malta Labour Party, whose representatives at European level have repeatedly supported anti-homophobic and pro-gay initiatives at the European Parliament. The Party of European Socialists, of which the MLP is a member, has a long-standing tradition of championing gay rights and equality issues in general.

One wonders, therefore, whether Dr Vassallo's views are shared by his party, in which case the MLP would be at odds with the PES, or whether it is Dr Vassallo's personal views that are at odds with those of his party. Considering the Labour MEPs' outstanding track record in this area, I strongly suspect the latter is the case.