‘My Staff Bought Them Baby Milk’: Minister Michael Falzon Plays Down Rift With Pro-Life NGO
Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon has sought to play down suggestions of a rift between the government and leading pro-life NGO Life Network.
Addressing Parliament yesterday, Falzon insisted the government has a great relationship with Life Network, a NGO which runs Dar Tgħanniqa ta’ Omm, a Mosta home that provides aid and refuge to pregnant and new mothers facing financial difficulties.
“The first time I found out about Life Network, they invited me over to their place, and for the sake of privacy and decency that others don’t have, I went by myself without any cameras or anything,” he said.
“Life Network told me that they want to raise awareness and I told them that I visited them unaccompanied as a sign of respect.”
Falzon said that soon after his Ministry found out about Life Network, staff from his secretariat dipped their hands into their own pockets to buy them baby milk ahead of Christmas.
“Don’t portray us as the devil,” he cried out. “The Opposition Leader boasted that he once visited Life Network’s premises but I visited them on numerous occasions.”
He added that the government provided significant financial aid to Life Network in recent years – rising from €35,000 in 2020 to €41,000 in 2021 and €57,000 in 2022.
Life Network last weekend co-organised a massive protest in Valletta against a proposed abortion bill that would allow doctors to terminate pregnancies to safeguard the mother’s life or health.
Its CEO Miriam Sciberras gave a speech to the crowds, urging the government to retract the bill and warning that the vast majority of abortions in the UK take place on health grounds.
“Could death possibly be the only solution you can offer us? Is it that hard to safeguard mothers and the right of babies to be born at the same time?” she questioned.
“Could the people possibly remain passive when faced with a proposal that could terminate pregnancies of up to nine months? We passed laws to protect so many marginalised people and groups. We protect the environment, animals, turtle eggs… are our unborn children not valued as much as a turtle egg?”
“From the bottom of my heart, I urge the government to amend this bill and to remain firm, as its predecessors did, when faced with pressures from overseas, where life has lost all its value.”
Cover photo: Left: Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon, Right: Life Network CEO Miriam Sciberras addressing a protest last weekend (Photo: Life Network)
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