Fear that which comes from within

While in Strasbourg on Council of Europe business at the Parliamentary Assembly, I followed with interest the recent consternation expressed by our bishops (EP) on abortion, brought about by a European Parliament committee recemmendation on abortion. The European Parliament subsequently passed a non-binding resolution urging EU member states and candidates to give women safe access to abortion.

While one appreciates the concern shown by the bishops at keeping this serious travesty of morality away from our shores, one also notes the timely reminder issued by the government that, regarding matters of morality, the EU does not have any competence, this being exercised by the individual member states.

This information was also repeated in a statement by the office of the Commission in Malta. Indeed, Article 30 of the revised treaties setting up the EU plainly states that, on such matters as divorce and abortion, legislation has to be drawn up by the individual states according to their own particular mores. The EU cannot, and will not, interefere in such matters. Abortion can only be introduced if the parliament of Malta votes it in. It will only be introduced if there is a clear majoritarian public demand for it, which, thank God, there is not, yet!

The government's statement reminded everyone that in democratic secular institutions like the European Parliament there is a strong lobby in favour of introducing so-called abortion rights usually dressed up as women's rights. Maybe it would have been beneficial to add that there is an equally strong lobby against abortion as well. One must not be surprised that in such large democratic institutions these discussions actually take place. A resolution of the EP does not have an executive outfall, it is an expression of the majoritarian view present in parliament at the time of the vote.

However, one expects these discussions to take place in a parliament with so many varied cultural and religious backgrounds. In these circles one puts forward his personal views and interests and tries to convince others of his opinions as much as one can.

Usually purely religious reasons will not suffice to convince others of a different stance although they are always adequate reasons to form conscience upon.

In these fora, one must use secular and scientific reasoning to try and reach one's goals of convincing others. St Augustine had something important to say about this. Simply telling other pro-abortion politicians that I am against abortion because of my religion would just be a personal statement which I alone would be entitled to comply with.

Secular politics need to be tackled with a secular language, of course in this case underlining one's personal beliefs. As Malta comes further out of its insular isolation to confront the currents of the present world, it must learn to partake in these discourses appropriately and ever more frequently.

It must not be surprised, nor reserved in so doing, but forthright and courageous. It must also learn to accept not always winning the day so far as argumentation go. Democracy is built on the principle of majoritarian opinion, which does not always imply a correct moral one.

I have taken part in several debates on abortion and the destruction of human embryos in genetics for several years now, both in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where we are entitled to vote as members representing a member state, and standing committees of the European Parliament, where we may partake in the discussions, but not vote, as we are not yet a member state.

Obviously in one we give witness to our opinions and flesh that out with our votes, while in the latter we can only witness without voting. It is obvious that our position would be much more enhanced if our witness would be translated into votes by becoming a member state. Just standing and staring will not make the discussion go away. We must engage these arguments and engage them actively and persistently.

The place, of course, to start doing this is here. The real threat to the abortion issue in Malta is not that which comes from the outside. It is that which comes from the inside. It is to that, which we must devote our most sincere and instant attention!