United Nations abortion push

LifeSiteNews.com reported extensively in December on the United Nations committee recommendation to Malta to legalize abortion which was rejected by the Maltese Government and condemned by the Catholic Church. LifeSiteNews.com of the Illinois Federation of Right to life was the first source that revealed the directive of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which includes a Maltese member Franco Depasquale ( retired Judge currently busy with the immigrants assault investigation ). The Covenant member states elect the Committee's 18 expert members who serve in their individual capacity for four-year terms. Article 28 of the Covenant requires that "they shall be persons of high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights." The committee recommended that Malta should "review its legislation on abortion and consider exceptions to the general prohibition of abortion for cases of therapeutic abortions and when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest." From the report by LifeSitenews:

The Bishops of Malta issued a press release condemning the abortion push. "The United Nations Committee's pressure on the Maltese State to legalise abortion in certain circumstances is objectionable and unacceptable. We regret very much the United Nations Committee's decision to make such unfortunate pressure on our country," said the statement signed by Joseph Mercieca, Archbishop of Malta; Nicholas J. Cauchi, Bishop of Gozo; and Annetto Depasquale, Auxiliary Bishop of Malta.

The bishops encouraged "the Maltese people to remain steadfast in their appreciation and defence of human life from its conception, and in their total rejection of abortion." They concluded by addressing Maltese officials. "We also encourage all the representatives of our people to continue not only to reject abortion without any reservations, but also to never stop pronouncing themselves in defence of life and against the killing, through abortion, of persons totally unable to defend themselves," the Bishops wrote. Malta has been outspoken in defence of its pro-life legislation. The Catholic Church in the predominantly Catholic country has been at the forefront of the battle to defend life.

In 2002, the European Union's enlargement commissioner, Gunther Verheugen, assured Malta Archbishop Mercieca that the European Union would never take jurisdiction over abortion. Verheugen stressed that the EU would never tell Malta or any other member state to legislate in favour of abortion. The EU, he pointed out, had no jurisdiction over abortion or similar issues and this position was "definite, absolute and forever".

That same year, Malta's Permanent Delegate to the EU, Ambassador Victor Camilleri, criticized an EU resolution in favour of abortion, reiterating his government's position on abortion. "Not only is abortion illegal in Malta," he said, "but successive governments... have been strongly committed to retaining the legal prohibition and have held this position also in the context of European and international fora, not least at the level of the United Nations." He said abortion is a domestic issue on which the EU "has no competence to act, decide or legislate"


Malta attacked by the UN - from the catholic weblog Chateau du Meau

Malta Bishops Assail U.N. Pressure to Legalize Abortion - catholic.net - Global catholic news

Maltese EU Commissioner Joe Borg was more careful in his choice of words than Rocco Buttiglione-interview on abortion-Malta Today

Catholic information sources: Catechism of the Catholic Church - Search Engine; The Catholic Encyclopedia - Information about Catholicism; The World Seen from Rome - ZENIT News Agency; Vatican News Services - Media summary; The Holy See - The Vatican Home Page; The Maltese Church - the official website; MalteseNetworkResources- Catholic portal and news service