The Malta Independent on Sunday
We were all embryos once
As soon as I heard of the Manifestation for Life organized by LifeNetwork Foundation which was held last Sunday, in response to the proposed amendments to the Embryo Protection Act, I immediately decided to go and give them my support. My conscience would not allow me to do otherwise. I am not one to attend demonstrations but I could not possibly give this a miss. There is too much at stake.
Many turned up from all sections of society and from both main political parties. But numbers are difficult to calculate in that sort of set up.
There was Archbishop Scicluna and Archbishop Emeritus Cremona, and I believe the Bishop of Gozo, too. There were priests and nuns, but mostly lay people. ***
White balloons, flowers and placards, appropriately worded, were distributed. We walked from Castille, down Merchants Street and Republic Street and stopped near Parliament. ***
There several people spoke from the podium. a young lady using sign language for the benefit of those, in the audience, who were deaf or hard of hearing.
We have heard all the arguments both the pros and the cons of the much disputed amendments to the IVF law. Both television stations and the newspapers as well as Facebook have not stopped discussing these controversial amendments. ***
Dr Miriam Sciberras, Chairperson, Life Network Foundation Malta always speaks with great conviction and from the heart. Moreover, her voice carries and she speaks clearly. I have heard her several times and also read her articles and interviews. I am impressed at her commitment. She does not mince her words either. All embryos are equal is the leitmotiv of this debate. Let’s stop arguing when life begins. Embryos are human beings from conception, no disputing that. “Who is going to hear their voice - the majority of Malta is in favour of life, stop it,” she pleaded.
Where is human dignity? All embryos are equal and have the right to be brought up by their genetic parents, she emphasized.
Where are the Members of Parliament who say they are in favour of life, she asked. Quite rightly too.
A Romanian came on the podium with his Maltese wife and two children. He explained how he had been adopted by a Maltese woman who was single. However, although he was happy there was always this gnawing feeling that he wanted to find out about his family, his genetic mother. He went on searching for them, a numerous family it turned out, and at last found his parents in Italy. Finding them, he said, had helped him come to terms and he is now enjoying his young family in Malta. ***
Another young couple, perhaps in their late ‘30s came on the podium. The woman said how she had had her first marriage annulled and subsequently met her second husband. But just as they were about to get married she had to have a hysterectomy and therefore the chance of her ever carrying her own child was gone. This woman’s strong faith is seeing her through this ordeal. She advised her audience that, when life becomes too difficult to handle, to kneel at the foot of Jesus and ask for his help. (I have to say that you need great faith to face a situation of this kind.) ***
Dr Joanna Rose was one of the speakers. She came to Malta on at least another two occasions. She spoke about the anguish of being a sperm donor baby. Her parents had opted for sperm donation some 43 years ago. In 2002 she won a seven-year human rights test case in the High Court, which led to legislation stopping anonymous donation in British clinics.
Dr Rose repeated what she has been saying for some 20 years that sperm or egg donation is emotionally painful and biolog- ically dangerous for the offspring.
One of her best friends, also conceived through sperm donation, passed away in 2013 from bowel cancer after 15 years searching for her biological father.
This was Narelle Grech whose parents were born in Malta but emigrated to Australia. She had been determined to find the man who could shed light on her genetic and medical history.
Dr Rose explained that Ms Grech’s biological father was traced by the authorities and the two met six weeks before she passed away. She emphasized the importance of knowing your medical history and this can only be done if you know who your parents were.
Dr Rose after years of searching had eventually discovered that her father was a medical student who had fathered some 100 children. She emphasized that there will always be pain in people separated from genetic parents.
There were at least a couple of other speakers, one of them a doctor and the other who said he had voted Labour but came to object to these amendments. *** their
We all know that Life Network is doing excellent work. The latest news that our President is having talks with Minister Fearne is good news indeed. Let’s not go so fast on these amendments. There are several ethical questions which need to be discussed and answered. I hope they will not be approved by Parliament until these questions are sorted out. Let us not be responsible for more unhappiness in the future. It is wise to be cautious.
And we have to keep in mind that the embryo is one of us. mbenoit@independent.com.mt