What Does It Mean to Be Pro-life?

What Does It Mean to Be Pro-life?

The definition of being pro-life, as stated by https://www.thefreedictionary.com/, is “advocating the legal protection of human embryos and foetuses, especially by favouring the outlawing of abortion on the ground that it is the taking of a human life.”

But being pro-life is so much more than that!

Being pro-life is not just about opposing abortion. It is also about being in favour of anything that protects and preserves life at all stages, from the moment of conception until natural death. It involves the promotion of life as being precious and cherished. It calls for the nurturing of life of all human beings, young and old, and providing sanctuary in practical ways to those who need it. It entails offering physical and emotional support to those who are suffering or infirm and safeguarding the life of those who are mentally unable to think for themselves.

Being pro-life means just that—for life!

There are many misconceptions about people who are pro-life in today’s society. When someone states that they are pro-life, others automatically assume that they are:

  • deeply religious and/or influenced by their belief in God
  • anti-science
  • opposed to women and their rights
  • unsympathetic towards victims of rape and incest
  • uncaring about women who find themselves facing an unwanted pregnancy
  • unwilling to help people who are suffering

These and other similar views are a very false reflection of who a pro-lifer really is.

A person who is pro-life can be an atheist or a believer. They can be Catholic, or Hindu, or following any other religion—or even no religion at all. The root of respecting life has nothing to do with theological beliefs or non-beliefs. It actually stems from the simple basic fact that every life is precious because it is alive.

And this remains true whether that life is in the womb or outside it; whether young or old; whether physically or mentally ill; whether sick or dying. There is obviously nothing wrong with being religious or believing in God. But it doesn’t automatically make a person pro-life. Loving and protecting life does!

Being in favour of life does not automatically exclude science from the equation either.

On the contrary, pro-lifers support and promote that which science continues to reveal—the main point being that life begins at conception, and therefore it deserves protection and respect from that very point onwards. The advances in science have also offered us an exclusive view of the baby inside the womb. There is also a better understanding of the side effects of birth control medication and the morning after pill on a woman’s body and her reproductive organs. And these may also be a detriment to the process of life at its early stages.

Furthermore, science continues to discover new ways of carrying out medical and routine procedures whilst safeguarding life at all times. New treatments and medications are constantly being identified to help those who are at the mercy of a terminal or debilitating disease. Therefore, science does play a very important part in the pro-life movement, especially when it is used to sustain and save life at all cost.

A pro-lifer seeks the safety and security of the life of every other person other than themselves.

This includes all men and women, whether inside the womb or out of it, at whatever age. Opposing abortion therefore does not mean that a pro-lifer is unaffected by the plight of the young girl or woman who is carrying an unwanted child, or that they do not care about the circumstances, such as rape and incest, that led to the pregnancy. It does not mean that the pro-lifer wants only to save the life of the baby, without thinking about its wellbeing after it is born. It does not entail ignoring the adults in the equation either, especially when abuse and violence is involved.

Opposing abortion means that both the lives of the woman and the unborn child are precious. In fact, many pro-life groups offer pregnancy support through crisis centres, counselling services, adoption agencies, fostering, and many other facilities that will aid the mother in practical and financial ways, as well as ensure the safety of the child.

The concept that abortion is perfectly safe for the mother is far from true.

Besides being in itself anything but a simple procedure, abortion leaves the woman with numerous physical, emotional, and psychological side effects that are largely dismissed. The truth is that women do die from abortion. They sometimes risk losing their fertility. They do end up in emergency rooms with massive complications from the procedure.

Additionally, the psychological harm often does not show up until years later. But then, as countless women testify, it often attacks with a vengeance. This is why pro-lifers support women who are dealing with unplanned pregnancies. This is the reason these women are presented with alternatives to termination—and offered counselling if they did opt for one.

This is why being pro-life means being in favour of women and their wellbeing.

As for the rights of the woman over her body, the pro-life movement accepts and respects the fact that she is entitled to them in full. However, once a baby is conceived, there is no longer one person but two, both of which have rights, the most basic being the right to live. The woman needs to take into consideration that the other person—the child in the womb—also deserves to have rights just as much as she does.

Even if the baby is conceived after rape, he or she is a victim just like its mother. That baby certainly does not deserve to pay for someone else’s crime with its own life. When the child is wanted, the mother is ready to fight for its life and for its rights, even when it’s still inside her womb. Why then should it be any different if the baby is unwanted? All of us, from the moment of conception, deserve a chance to live, to be born, to exist…to just be!

And what about the terminally ill, the infirm, and the disabled?

In all these cases, pro-life groups are more than willing to help promote improvements in palliative care and support for those who need it. Pro-lifers strongly oppose the deliberate ending of someone’s life. This is not because they do not care, but because euthanasia gives rise to a culture of death that makes life disposable.

It may be understandable that when a person is in great pain or is unable to look after even their basic needs on their own, they would want it all to end as soon as possible. In fact, a patient has every right to refuse medical treatment which will only serve to prolong their suffering.

But being deliberately helped to die by those who, by profession, should be saving lives is contradictory and anti-life.

And what about all the instances when euthanasia is used to solve depression? Or because something goes wrong in one’s life? Or even to take away the life of someone who is, or has become, disabled? The popular rhetoric is always “Why shouldn’t I do what I like with my own life?”

But this question completely ignores the fact that euthanasia cases represent a very small number of cases, compared to the hundreds of thousands of cherished people represented by disability groups worldwide, who are all in favour of protecting their vulnerable members.

Palmer Williams summed up the whole pro-life concept in the best possible way.

An Associate Counsel with the American Center for Law and Justice—which focuses on government affairs, sanctity of life, and international law—Williams stated:

“Above all, the pro-life movement is deeply rooted in the fundamental belief that all life, no matter how small or poor or unwanted, is worth protecting. 

Those of us who are pro-life fight for the inherent dignity within every human life, no matter what the age or stage of human development. Our advocacy does not end in the delivery room. In fact, that is only where it begins.

To be pro-life is to defend the unborn, the widows, the disabled, and the orphans, like organizations serving those with special needs or helping families adopt orphans. To be pro-life is to serve the least of these in communities next door and across oceans, like organizations who serve the homeless or refugees who have fled war zones. To be pro-life is to build institutions that promote the flourishing of all human beings.”

Source: http://aclj.org/pro-life/what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-pro-life

 

“Il-Qorti Ewropea qatt ma’ qalet li l-abort huwa dritt fundamentali tal-bniedem” – Giovanni Bonello

“Il-Qorti Ewropea qatt ma’ qalet li l-abort huwa dritt fundamentali tal-bniedem” – Giovanni Bonello

“Il-ħarsien tas-saltna tad-dritt, tal-governanza onestà, dawn huma bħal tazza sabiħa, li tista’ titkisser, tista’ ssir frakk bl-iċken nuqqas ta’ viġilanza”

Din hija silta minn dak li se jixxandar illum waqt il-programm PROFILI, hekk kif il-mistieden ta’ din il-ġimgħa se jkun l-imħallef Giovanni Bonello.

L-imħallef Giovanni Bonello se jkun  jirrakonta fuq meta kien ċkejken, kif leħaq avukat, u l-esperjenzi tiegħu fil-Qorti Maltija, u kif ukoll l-irwol bħala Imħallef fil-Qorti Ewropea. Il-mistoqsijiet se jgħinu mhux ftit biex insiru nafu aktar lill-protagonist.

Huwa fost l-oħrajn se jitratta ukoll numru ta’ temi, inkluż l-abort.

“Il-Qorti Ewropea tad-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem sal-lum qatt ma’ qalet li l-abort huwa dritt fundamentali”

L-intervista ta’ James Aaron Ellul flimkien ma’ Giovanni Bonello se tixxandar illejla fid-8.45pm fuq NET TV.

Ref: This is a www.netnews.com.mt opinion piece

Read Article – https://netnews.com.mt/2021/04/26/il-qorti-ewropea-qatt-ma-qalet-li-l-abort-huwa-dritt-fundamentali-tal-bniedem-giovanni-bonello/ 

Life Network Foundation Tells Brussels: ‘Maltese Values Are Not For Sale’ by lovinmalta.com

Lɪғᴇ Nᴇᴛᴡᴏʀᴋ Fᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ Tᴇʟʟs Bʀᴜssᴇʟs: ‘Mᴀʟᴛᴇsᴇ Vᴀʟᴜᴇs Aʀᴇ Nᴏᴛ Fᴏʀ Sᴀʟᴇ’ by lovinmalta.com

 
Local NGO Life Network Foundation has responded to comments made in Brussels that it is getting funding from extremist groups in the US, Russia and the European Union. Here is their reply in full:
 
Have you ever been placed in the media spotlight? Surprisingly Life Network Foundation featured in an article in Lovin Malta last week. Was it a commendation for our charitable work in providing emergency residency to women in need? Was it for our important and valued service to the women in crisis pregnancy by offering them emotional and financial support? The time and resources given freely by our trusted volunteers? The babies saved? Not quite.”
 
 
In an article focused on an EU Parliament committee meeting held in a far-away Brussels boardroom, Life Network Foundation – which supports the charitable women’s shelter Dar Tghanniqa ta’ Omm at Mosta – was implied to be peddling foreign interference. Nobody had asked Life Network a single question, or even invited us to contribute a comment before going to print.
 
On the other hand, the content of the article, meant to be focused on the situation in our own country, was inflated with quotes from foreign MEPs, and from English activists. Both such sources are completely detached from any form of Maltese reality.
Open Democracy, who is cited in the article as investigative journalists, are in fact a UK activist blog. Their donor list boasts a rich supply of ideological US billionaires, including the Rockefeller Brothers, the Ford Foundation, and the world-leading abortion lobby IPAS.
 
Indeed, only one lonely voice garnished Lovin Malta’s buffet of international opinion. “Doctors for Choice”, the BBC reported in January, represents around 60 people in our country. Yet they were asked to speak for us all, not “Doctors for Life”, their pro-life counterparts who have over 670 members! The cherry-picked opinion blatantly attempts to override national reality. Surely this is a bitter dishonesty hard for even the most ardent Maltese abortion-supporters to swallow.
 
It is also worth noting that the same sources who consider mainstream pro-life organisations to be “extremists” coincidentally, have themselves, a radical pro-abortion agenda to push. Labelling pro-life organisations as “extremists” is merely an attempt to discredit the position which they espouse.
 
Life Network Foundation Malta rejects vehemently any implication of financial assistance from the foreign organisations mentioned in the article published in the Lovin Malta article. On the contrary, we gratefully received a €130,000 grant from our own Maltese Government, over a three-year period, which helps in the running expenses of our maternity home and amounts to approximately €43,000 per year.
 
Like the absolute majority of our islands’ population, we think that abortion is not the best option for the mother and her preborn child. We think that Maltese women deserve better. This view resonates as an integral and widespread Maltese value. Quite unlike the views in the article attacking us.
 
Furthermore, in the small print, towards the end of the article, we learn that this particular “journalistic attack” on us is not wholly from Malta; it is, at least partly, paid for by funds from the European Parliament!
How can this be right? That Brussels is funding biased media articles designed to undermine and influence our national laws and values?
 

Printed words are cheap, but our values are priceless. Buyers beware: the Maltese people are not for sale.

 

Filmat: “Li ġejt addottata ma fiha xejn tal-mistħija; tatni ċans ieħor fil-ħajja”

Filmat: “Li ġejt addottata ma fiha xejn tal-mistħija; tatni ċans ieħor fil-ħajja”

Rasha Agius Bartoli hija żagħżugħa li bdiet tiġi ffosterjata minn familja meta kellha tliet snin, imbagħad, wara 10 snin tgħix magħhom, iddeċidew li jaddottawha. Hija tisħaq li l-fatt li ġiet addottata ma fih xejn tal-mistħija, anzi, lilha għenha, u taha ċans ieħor fil-ħajja.

Rasha rrakkuntat l-istorja tagħha dalgħodu fuq il-programm ta’ Prof. Andrew Azzopardi fuq 103 Malta’s Heart.

Tgħid li tiftakar kif ta’ tliet snin kienet għadha tgħix fi djar tat-tfal, meta darba ġiet koppja li bdiet toħroġha kull ġimgħa. Fil-ħarġiet magħhom, bdiet tara naħa ġdida tal-ħajja, saħansitra anke tip ta’ ikel li ma kinitx imdorrija bih, u affarijiet materjali oħra li ma kinitx esposta għalihom. Apparti minn hekk, bdiet tingħata wkoll attenzjoni individwali.

Meta kien isir il-ħin fi tmiem iż-żjara tagħha, kien ikollha ċerti emozzjonijiet li ma tiftakarhomx kompletament, iżda Rasha tistqarr li wriet ix-xewqa li tkun parti minn familthom.

B’hekk bdew jiffosterjawha, u damu 10 snin jiffosterjawha, sakemm il-familja ddeċidiet li Rasha għandha tkun addottata u ssir uffiċjalment parti mill-familja Agius. Hi kellha 13-il sena u turi apprezzament għall-mod kif il-ġenituri tagħha inkludewha fid-deċiżjoni. Tgħid li dan kien il-pass naturali li kien imiss, li hi riedet tkun parti mill-familja tagħhom b’mod uffiċjali.

“Ommi għamlet att minn qalbha meta tatni għall-addozzjoni”

Rasha tispjega li l-fostering ma joffrix sens ta’ stabbiltà u konsistenza. It-tfal li jkunu ffosterjati ħafna drabi jibżgħu li se jiġri xi ħaġa u jmorru lura għal kif kienu qabel. Min-naħa l-oħra, l-addozzjoni tagħtihom sens ta’ stabbiltà, ta’ familja. Tgħid li anke l-kunjom ġegħilha tħossha aktar parti mill-familja, parti minn grupp wieħed b’valuri simili. “Dik fissret ħafna għalija,” tqerr Rasha ma’ Prof. Azzopardi.

Prof. Azzopardi, li huwa wkoll id-Dekan tal-Fakultà għat-Tisħiħ tas-Soċjetà, staqsa lil Rasha jekk hi kinitx interessata fl-għeruq tagħha, li ssir taf lill-ġenituri oriġinali tagħha. Hija tgħid li għaliha kienet importanti ħafna li tkun taf minn fejn ġejja, għax tħoss li din hija parti integrali mill-identità tagħha. Fil-fehma tagħha, it-tfal għandhom dejjem ikunu jafu minn fejn ġejjin, imma hi tagħraf li dan mhux dejjem ikun possibbli.

Fil-każ tagħha, għandha relazzjoni tajba mal-omm naturali tagħha, u hi tifhem li ommha ma setgħetx iżżommha u tapprezza s-sagrifiċċju li għamlet li tat lil bintha għall-addozzjoni sabiex issib ħajja aħjar milli setgħet toffrilha hi, kif fil-fatt ġara. Tgħid li l-fatt li kellha relazzjoni tajba mal-omm naturali tagħha għenha, u sarraf f’aktar stabbiltà għaliha. Minkejja dan, xorta waħda kienet ta’ sfida għal Rasha, u tgħid li jrid ikun hemm stabbiltà sabiex, kemm jista’ jkun, ħadd ma jweġġa’ f’din is-sitwazzjoni diffiċli. Tistqarr li l-ġenituri addottivi tagħha ma setgħux imxew aħjar milli mxew magħha, għax kienu kompletament trasparenti.

“Ma naħsibhiex darbtejn biex naddotta ‘l quddiem”

Rasha ssejjaħ l-esperjenza addottiva waħda sabiħa, għaliex jogħġobha l-mod kif minn dinja hekk kbira, il-ġenituri tagħha u hi sabu lil xulxin u saru familja waħda. Skontha, m’hemmx bżonn ħabi u mistħija f’sitwazzjonijiet bħal dawn – “jien parti minn familja kif inhu kulħadd u aċċettajt il-passat tiegħi.”

Iż-żagħżugħa tant aċċettat il-passat tagħha, li hi u familtha qegħdin fil-proċess li jiżviluppaw għaqda mhux governattiva ffukata fuq l-addozzjoni, bl-isem New Beginnings Foundation. Hija spjegat waqt l-intervista li l-ħsieb warajha hu li jaħdmu ma’ persuni li għaddew minn esperjenzi differenti fil-ħajja, iqajmu l-kuxjenza bl-esperjenza tagħhom u jippruvaw jgħinu lil ħaddieħor, mhux biss fejn jidħlu fostering u addozzjoni.

Mistoqsija jekk ‘il quddiem tikkunsidrax li taddotta xi tifel jew tifla, Rasha lanqas taħsibha darbtejn. “Bla dubju ta’ xejn,” twieġeb, għaliex tgħid li llum, permezz tal-addozzjoni qed tgħix ħajja ta’ valur, ta’ tifsira u ta’ kwalità, u żgur li ma toqgħodx taħsibha biex toffri lil xi ħadd dak li ġie offrut lilha.

L-intervista sħiħa

 

 

Ref: This is a newsbook.com.mt opinion piece

Filmat: “Li ġejt addottata ma fiha xejn tal-mistħija; tatni ċans ieħor fil-ħajja”

Life Network Foundation worried about bill which may exclude ‘unborn children’, introduce euthanasia

Life Network Foundation worried about bill which may exclude ‘unborn children’, introduce euthanasia

Bill no. 198 currently tabled in parliament is “seriously preoccupying” as Government may change the meaning and substance of words like ‘person’ or ‘life’ in Article 33 of the Constitution and may exclude “unborn children” from the definition of ‘persons’, Life Network Foundation Malta said in a press release.

The Life Network Foundation describes itself as a life affirming organization, where they work to raise awareness on issues related to human life, marriage, and family based on a Catholic ethic of life.

The Bill in question states:

“Where any Act, whether passed before or after this Act, confers a power upon a public authority which exercises regulatory, supervisory, compliance, investigatory or enforcement functions to impose a civil penalty, an administrative fine or other civil or administrative pecuniary or non-pecuniary sanction or administrative measure, such a penalty, fine, sanction or measure may be interpreted as constituting a punishment of a criminal nature and the infringement in respect of which the said penalty, fine, sanction or measure may be imposed may be interpreted as substantively constituting a criminal offence subject to the following provisions of this article.”

The Life Research Unit, which is the Advisory Legal Unit within Life Network Foundation, voiced their concerns over such a bill.

“It is very worrying that this bill may go against and nullify sentences of the Constitutional Court which have established that in all the stages procedures which may lead to administrative fines amounting to thousands of Euros, citizens have the right to appear in a court of justice, rather than in front of a tribunal, officials or public corporations,” the statement read.

The foundation said that the proposed Interpretation Act, the legislator is “trying to change the meaning of the Constitution with a simple majority in Parliament instead of the required two thirds.”

This is a “highly disquieting precedent”, the Life Network Foundation said, as according to them, if such a proposal comes into effect, “a nasty precedent will have been created, whereby in the near or distant future any Government enjoying a majority of one may change the meaning and substance of words” such as ‘person’ and ‘life’.

The foundation also said that the Government “will allow the Equality Board in Bill No 97 (Equality) to inflict large administrative fines (20,000 Euros fine and penalties of 500 Euro daily) on organisations and/or institutions who are deemed guilty by lay persons nominated by government of ‘discrimination’.” They said that, as the Constitutional Court notes, only the Courts of Law can impose fines and penalties like these.

“The Constitution should remain the highest protection for the law in our country. It is very important for people to be aware that this precedent can constitute a threat to the Constitution. Therefore, we call upon all NGOs and others who are conversant with the law to express their concerns as well. We request the highest authorities in the land, including His Excellency the President of Malta to ensure that the Maltese Constitution is not undermined.”

This is www.independent.com.mt opinion piece

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2021-03-25/local-news/Life-Network-Foundation-worried-about-bill-which-may-exclude-unborn-children-introduce-euthanasia-6736232063  

Photo sourced from https://unsplash.com/@tingeyinjurylawfirm   

“Can you be an athlete? You, pregnant? You, a mother? That depends.”

“Can you be an athlete? You, pregnant? You, a mother? That depends.”

The message behind Nike’s advert mirrors the ultimate prolife slogan.

Nike released a new video advert to promote their maternity range. The message behind the advert is clear: pregnancy and motherhood do not prevent a woman from being an athlete—or, in actual fact, from following any other activity that she loves.

The message behind Nike’s advert mirrors the ultimate prolife slogan. Prolife organisations worldwide are constantly encouraging women in crisis pregnancies by stating that being a mother should not necessarily stand in the way of them achieving their dreams, whether it is to become an athlete, graduate from school, or have a career. Nike’s endorsement of this message is testament to the fact that the prolife culture in the United States seems to be gaining ground. This could indeed be life-changing for the prolife movement worldwide.

The empowering video, featuring pregnant women and mothers, opens with the questions: “Can you be an athlete? You, pregnant? You, a mother? That depends.”

It continues by defining what an athlete is: “Someone who moves; someone who gets it done, no matter what; someone who listens to her body; someone who defies gravity; someone who deals with the pain, hits her limit and pushes past it; pushing, pushing, pushing; someone who earns every single win.” Each defining phrase is backed by a resounding “You”, emphasising the fact that mothers are strong and that pregnancy is not a reason for them to quit the things they love doing. The video ends by reaffirming this sentiment:

“So, can you be an athlete? If you aren’t, no one is.”

 

Nike’s powerful advert portrays various well-established athletes—among them tennis, soccer, and track professionals—in different stages of pregnancy and motherhood. These transformative experiences and life changes may feel overwhelming to a woman, especially when she is new to them. Pregnancy can indeed be the utmost test of stamina and endurance for a woman. But, as the advert ascertains, mothers are actually much tougher than they are given credit for.

It is truly empowering to acknowledge that women can be mothers and accomplish their life goals. If they cannot, no one can!

Kont f’paniku w onestament ħsibt fl-abort

“Kont f’paniku w onestament il-ħsieb ta’ l-abort għadda min moħħi. Nixtieq ngħid grazzi lil Life Line Malta għax bis-saħħa tagħhom it-tarbija tagħna ġiet salvata!”

Din hija l-istorja vera ta’ mara li esperjenzat tqala mhux pjanata u li ġiet megħjuna minn Life Line Malta.

Nisa li jinsabu fi krizi ta’ tqala, dijanosi negattiva waqt it-tqala jew akkompanjament lin-nies li għaddejin mit-trauma tal-abort, ċemplu lill Life Line Malta fuq 20330023.

Life Line is the support and care arm of Life Network Foundation  

Bdejt naħseb fl-abort għaliex diġà kelli t-tfal

“Bdejt naħseb fl-abort għaliex diġà kelli t-tfal u peress li kelli problema tad-droga, ma stajtx inkun l-omm li xtaqt li kont.”

Din hija l-istorja vera ta’ mara li esperjenzat tqala mhux pjanata u li ġiet megħjuna minn Life Line Malta.

Nisa li jinsabu fi krizi ta’ tqala, dijanosi negattiva waqt it-tqala jew akkompanjament lin-nies li ghaddejin mit-trauma tal-abort, ċemplu lill Life Line Malta fuq 20330023.

Life Line is the support and care arm of Life Network Foundation

Life Line Malta gave me light in time of darkness

“Accidentally I got pregnant for the second time and I wanted to end my pregnancy. Life Line Malta gave me light in time of darkness.”

This is the real story of a young woman who was in a crisis pregnancy situation. She received all the help needed from Life Line Malta. Listen to her touching story!

For women in crisis pregnancy, negative pre-natal diagnoses & post-abortion healing please call Life Line Malta on 2033 0023

Life Line Malta is the support & care arm of Life Network Foundation

Bħala familja lesta biex tgħin lin-nisa li għaddejjin min kriżi ta’ tqala

“Life Network hija bħala familja lesta biex tgħin lin-nisa li għaddejjin min kriżi ta’ tqala.”

Din hija l-istorja ta’ mara li esperjenzat tqala mhux pjanata u li llum il-ġurnata tghin  nisa ohra li għaddejjin mill-listess sitwazzjoni simili taghha.

Nisa li jinsabu fi krizi ta’ tqala, dijanosi negattiva waqt it-tqala jew akkompanjament lin-nies li ghaddejin mit-trauma tal-abort, ċemplu lill Life Line Malta fuq 20330023.

Life Line Malta is the support and care arm of Life Network Foundation