Position Papers

Embryo selection is discriminatory and undermines dignity of human life

Position paper on the amendments to the Law on IVF

11/06/2022

The amendments to the IVF law undermine the dignity of embryos as they will allow embryos with specific genetic disorders to be frozen forever. Furthermore, through these amendments, a discriminatory choice will be made between which future baby will live and which will be frozen on the basis of their genetic condition.

This was stated by 35 multidisciplinary experts, including experts in medicine, science and embryology, in a position paper that has been prepared as part of a wider discussion that ought to be held as part of the Parliamentary debate on the proposed amendments to the Embryo Protection Act… Read more »

Building on what is good rather than promoting harmful substances

Statement by MCYN on the Cannabis White Paper

12/05/2021

The Malta Catholic Youth Network (MCYN), an entity of the Archdiocese of Malta which works with young people, published a position paper as part of the Government’s consultation process regarding the White Paper “Towards the Strengthening of the Legal Framework on the Responsible Use of Cannabis”.

MCYN, which represents more than a 100 youth groups and which has consistently supported recreational activities which aid the young person’s development and community building, is against the use of any psychoactive and/or harmful substance, whether it be legal or not… Read more »

Position Paper on the Equality Bill

12/03/2020

The Church is one among several organisations that have a stake in what the Equality Law shall be requiring for the implementation of equality across practically all areas of social life. It has focused on matters that are very closely related to its mission, because it believes that religious freedom, as a universal human right, should not be unduly restrained as a result of an inadequate understanding of the principle of equality… Read more »

An opportunity to revitalize faith in the European Project

The Archbishop presents the Government of Malta a Church report on the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU

06/01/2017

  • Click here to download the Reflections of the Church in Malta for Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.

    “Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union offers our nation the opportunity to give a strong impetus to revitalizing faith in the European project. We augur that Malta will continue to consolidate and implement the values of human dignity, democracy, human rights, justice, solidarity and the rule of law cherished by the founding fathers of the European Union, in the areas of the six priorities adopted for its Presidency: migration, security, the single market, social inclusion, neighbourhood policy and the maritime sector.”

    This was the message conveyed by the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr Charles J…

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The Church’s concern about certain provisions of the Equality Bill

October 2016

07/11/2016

  • “The Church is against every form of discrimination and for this reason supports the EU Directives which promote equality and prohibit discrimination, which the Government intends to bring together in the Equality Bill.” Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna made this comment during a meeting with Minister Helena Dalli when he presented her with a copy of the Position Paper on the Equality Bill prepared for the Church…

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Position Paper on the Bill on Conversion Therapy

February 2016

01/02/2016
  • The legislation, which is being proposed on the affirmation of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, is apparently seeking to protect a category of people who may find it hard and painful to come to terms  with their condition as being different from that of their peers or the rest of the population. An analysis of the provisions of the Bill, however, shows that everyone in practice will be hindered from having free access to professional guidance, advice and any other therapeutic help that may be appropriate and needed  with respect to one’s sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression…

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Position Paper: “Embryo freezing is scientifically unnecessary and unreasonable”

November 2015

15/11/2015
  • “The prevailing scientific data and the results obtained from local IVF treatment to date demonstrate that the introduction of embryo freezing in Malta is scientifically unnecessary and unreasonable”. This is one of the main conclusions of a group of experts in the field of clinical medicine, law, psychology, social policy, family studies, disability studies, philosophy and theology, commissioned by the Maltese Episcopal Conference to prepare a study on the changes that the Government is apparently preparing to introduce to the Embryo Protection Act (2012)…

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Position Paper: “Embryo freezing is scientifically unnecessary and unreasonable”

13/11/2015

“The prevailing scientific data and the results obtained from local IVF treatment to date demonstrate that the introduction of embryo freezing in Malta is scientifically unnecessary and unreasonable”.

This is one of the main conclusions of a group of experts in the field of clinical medicine, law, psychology, social policy, family studies, disability studies, philosophy and theology, commissioned by the Maltese Episcopal Conference to prepare a study on the changes that the Government is apparently preparing to introduce to the Embryo Protection Act (2012)… Read more »

Position paper on the decriminalisation of the public vilification of religion and of pornography

August 2015

07/08/2015
  • Position Paper on the decriminalisation of the public vilification of religion and of pornography. CLICK HERE to download the full document.  This document was presented this morning by Arcbishop Charles J Scicluna and Bishop Mario Grech to the Hon. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during a meeting held at Castille. The document was prepared by an ad hoc group of experts that was set up by the Bishops in order to contribute to the discussion…

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Position paper on the decriminalisation of the public vilification of religion and of pornography

07/08/2015

  • Position Paper on the decriminalisation of the public vilification of religion and of pornography. CLICK HERE to download the full document. 

    This document was presented this morning by Arcbishop Charles J Scicluna and Bishop Mario Grech to the Hon. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during a meeting held at Castille. The document was prepared by an ad hoc group of experts that was set up by the Bishops in order to contribute to the discussion…

    • Read more »