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Gay adoptions – experts should decide what is in children’s best interest
Experts' evaluation on adoption must be guided by what's in best interest of children and not prejudiced by sexual orientation - PM
15 January 2013, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at Villa Arrigo this morning
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said adoption rights to parents should be guided by experts' evaluations of what is in the best interest of children.
Gonzi was replying to questions from MaltaToday over Joseph Muscat's stance in favour of gay adoption.
"Any such evaluation by experts should be free of any prejudice towards any sexual orientation," Gonzi said, whose government's bill to regulate cohabiting partnerships came under fire by gay couples.
Muscat has however told MaltaToday that legislation on gay parents' adoption was not on his legislative agenda.
Meanwhile, speaking at Villa Arrigo this morning as part of his electoral campaign, the Prime Minister vowed that a new PN-led government will continue to grant all the best possible care for the elderly.
While listing his government's achievements in this sector, Gonzi revealed his intention to broaden the home help services, currently being granted to hundreds of elderly persons around the Maltese islands.
Gonzi said that should he be confirmed in office, he would ensure to extend the current service to one where the carers would take on a role which would be similar to an "almost personal assistant" to the elderly person.
He said that the plan was for those family members who are currently receiving a 'solidarity pension' whereby family members take care of their elderly parents or a relative at home, would be the net beneficiaries, which could practically mean they would receive a full-time salary from government for doing so.
When asked about waiting lists for elderly waiting for operations at Mater Dei Hospital, or seeking entry to homes, the Prime Minister said that while the public-private partnership with private hospitals has already proved to be removing the burden for cataract and other operations for elderly, more money is being invested in community services to cater for the reality of a growing demand for elderly to enter homes.
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This is typical of the Maltese: we don't know how to walk yet we want to run. ... Do you really think that a party (PN) that found it impossible to keep its promise – a promise made since 1998 to legislate some form of recognition of same-sex couples – and in the end could not even accomplish a half-baked law as the cohabitation act, will now be granting adoption rights to same-sex couples??? ... Probably once pigs learn to fly. ... Let us all be prudent and start from the basics: grant same-sex couples legal recognition via civil partnerships or something similar for starters. The general population will see that fire will not rain from the sky and life will remain normal. ... When people see well-functioning gay couples going about their daily life, earning a normal living, caring for each other, and contributing to society the way heterosexual couples do, people will also start feeling more comfortable with these issues. ... Then we can starting thinking of moving forward and making more change, and maybe society can accept adoption of children. ... It is true granting gay couples some rights is long overdue, consensus among all political parties is good, and the PN now also seems to be in favour of this, so let them show it with voting to introducing Civil Partnerships TOGETHER with the LP immediately the new parliament is formed! ... This show of consensus will also help the general population accept these issues. Antagonism is in no one’s interest, least of all gays. ... There was no country that I know of, that went from nothing to immediately to granting marriage and adoption rights. ... Incremental change is helpful for society to come to terms with a new situation and to adapt itself. A society at peace with itself is also a good community to live in.
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As usual the Pharisee is washing his hands of all the affair. He can't stop trying to please God and Belzebub at the same time. It is a shame that the PM does not have an opinion on a lot of delicate issues. He is a whimp and no wonder Malta has suffered so much in these last 8 yeasr under his premiership.
David Bongailas •
On the times of malta web site many are posting comments against Joseph Muscat's stance on gay adoptions. Many are claiming that they intended voting PL but are now voting PN (take it with a pinch of salt I say but anyway).
Gonzi's declaration is pretty identical to Muscat's. "Free of any prejudice towards any sexual orientation" means equal treatment between same sex and opposite sex couples. In other words Gonzi and Muscat are saying the same thing.
