Legal recognition of same-sex unions

One detects more than a hint of panic and despair in the Maltese bishops' recent rants against what they choose to describe as "modern relativism". Most western democracies have had to put up with such reactionary outbursts at some stage during their maturation into tolerant diverse societies and Malta is no exception. Indeed, such rants are an indication that the main target of the bishops' ire, Malta's gay community, is now a visible force to be reckoned with.

The bishops lament "that many called for the right of freedom of the individual and for freedom of conscience, which was anchored in the principle that nobody should impose one's faith and its moral consequences on others" (November 21). Hence, they appear to have a problem with fundamental European values that have been enshrined in our civilisation since the Enlightenment. Indeed, it is this humanist heritage, rather than Christianity, that fundamentally characterises the democracies of the West, distinguishing them from the theocracies of the Middle East.

In their statement on same-sex marriages (November 26), the bishops attempt to revive the use of deeply offensive language that has long ceased to be acceptable in the UK and elsewhere in the civilised world. According to them, we homosexuals "suffer from a tendency" or "condition" which is described as "objectively disordered". It is evident that the people with the problem, who are in need of "compassion", are those who are out of step with European sensibility and who have a superficial understanding of human relationships.

It will surprise the bishops to learn that the legalisation of same-sex unions has nothing to do with the promotion of sex. One does not need a same-sex marriage to engage in a homosexual liaison! Legal recognition of same-sex unions is an endorsement of the bond of love that binds two persons in a committed same-sex relationship, enabling them to protect each other throughout their lifetime through next-of-kin rights, inheritance, pension protection and hospital visitation rights.

As a Maltese national residing in the UK, I am extremely pleased to be paying my taxes to a government that will be affording me and my partner such marriage rights through the Civil Partnership Act, which comes into force on December 5.