Gonzi weighs in on embryo freezing debate

Former Prime Minister and PN leader Lawrence Gonzi today was present at a press conference in which a new pro-life organisation launched a petition against proposed changes to IVF legislation that could allow embryo freezing, surrogacy and sperm donation.

During the press conference, Life Network chairperson Miriam Sciberras warned that if the law is approved by legislators they would collect signatures to hold an abrogative referendum.

On his part, Gonzi told the press after the event that the proposed introduction of embryo freezing is "equivalent to the destruction of life".

"If such a law passes, it will represent a conscious decision to end human life and will sow the seeds for abortion," Gonzi said.

"The IVF law was passed in Parliament unanimously after months of analysis and debate, and it is unheard of for somebody to suddenly come up with an idea that will discard it all.

"The rationale behind the proposal must be clarified immediately. What has happened to change the substance of the law?" Gonzi asked.

The press conference was also attended by Nationalist MP Antoine Borg, Alleanza Bidla leader Ivan Grech Mintoff, National Women Council president Mary Gaerty, and River of Love pastor Gordon Pace Manche.

Fr. Charles Cordina, pastoral secretary at the Curia, was present to represent the Church.  

Last month, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat declared that he will forge ahead with plans to re-introduce embryo freezing, which was banned in 2013 under the Embryo Protection Act made law by the Nationalist government.

“I am resolute to introduce embryo freezing,” Muscat told MaltaToday in a clear message to legislators who are expected to vote on the amendments in the coming weeks.

However, two government backbenchers, Marlene Farrugia and Deborah Schembri have since declared they would vote against embryo-freezing.

In today's press conference at the Phoenicia Hotel, Miriam Sciberras warned that embryo freezing will pave the way for the eventual legislation of abortion.

"Everything that places the lives of embryos can open the doors for abortion," she said. "Maltese society has always been pro-life from conception, and it is currently the only ray of pro-life hope in Europe."

Sciberras launched a petition that will eventually be presented to Parliament, and called on MPs to fulfill their duties as "the custodians of life" and leave the current IVF law untouched.

She confirmed that the group will call for an abrogative referendum if the law is passed.

“It shouldn’t have to come down to this though,” she said. “All major Maltese political parties have already declared themselves against abortion, and no party had included embryo freezing in its manifesto.”

"Every person, every journalist cried when they saw pictures of a dead Syrian child on the beach,” she said, referring to images of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi that went viral last month. “We made an emotional connection because we could see his face. Although we can't see the embryos' faces, we all know what goes through the minds of women as soon as they find out that they're pregnant - they all know that they're going to have a baby."

On surrogacy and sperm donation, Sciberras claimed that such practices would deny children the right to grow up without a biological parent.

To add weight to that argument, she has invited Joanna Rose, an English daughter of a sperm donor who has a PhD in donor conception, to deliver a speech on how the discovery of her origins damaged her psychologically.  

‘Referendum only as a very last resort’ – Gift of Life

Pro-life organisation Gift of Life clarified that it will only accept the calling of a referendum as a very last resort, that is if Parliament votes in favour of embryo freezing.

“The pro-life movement will not accept the shifting of this very important issue onto the citizens of Malta, by way of a consultative referendum,” Gift of Life president Paul Vincenti said in a statement. “It is incumbent upon MPs to take on their full responsibility as elected representatives, and handle this matter in Parliament, without turning to the Maltese to take this decision on their behalf.”