Aġġornament 2 – Aktar reazzjonijiet għall-manifest: “Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa” Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew – 25 ta’ Mejju 2019 Mill-Moviment ta’ Kana, Catholic Voices Malta u l-Kummissjoni għall-Ġustizzja u l-Paċi

 

David Stellini – PN

“Wara li xtarrejt fid-dettall il-proposti mressqa, b’wiċċi minn quddiem nagħti l-appoġġ u l-impenn tiegħi favur il-manifest elettorali mressaq mill-Moviment ta’ Kana u Catholic Voices. Filwaqt li nemmen fis-sovranità tal-liġi u r-rispett lejn kull reliġjon, inqis il-proposti mressqa minn dan il-moviment bħala mnebbħa minn prinċipji ta’ etika u morali u rispett lejn il-bniedem, li huma fil-bażi tat-twemmin politiku tiegħi.

Il-prinċipju tas-sussidarjetà, ir-rispett lejn l-ambjent li jdawwarna u r-rwol tal-familja bħala l-pern tas-soċjetà huma tliet aspetti fundamentali li għandhom ikunu fiċ-ċentru tal-ħidma Ewropea.

L-Unjoni Ewropea wasslet għal bosta kisbiet kbar għaċ-ċittadini tagħha, iżda forsi fl-aħħar snin xi kultant iddevjat mill-għeruq tagħha. Nemmen li l-UE għandha terġa’ tfittex x’kienu dawk il-prinċipji li wasslu biex wara gwerra mdemmija bdiet proġett tant importanti u fejjiedi: prinċipji bħall-koeżjoni soċjali u l-ħidma biex ħadd ma jibqa’ lura. Hi din l-Unjoni Ewropea li rrid nara, u l-Unjoni Ewropea li se naħdem għaliha jekk inkun elett.

Dan hu għaliex lest nikkommetti ruħi li jekk niġi afdat mill-poplu Malti u Għawdxi, se nkun qed nara li dawn it-tnax-il prinċipju jkunu dejjem fl-isfond tal-ħidma tiegħi.

Roberta Metsola – PN

Grazzi tal-email tagħkom. Nixtieq nassigurakom napprova bis-sħiħ il-manifest u ser tkompli inkun iggwidata minn dawn il-valuri u prinċipji ġenerali f’kull deċiżjoni li nieħu, kif għamilt għal dawn l-aħħar snin.

Roselyn Borg Knight – PN

Grazzi talli qsamtu dan il-manifest miegħi.

Jiena qrajt il-manifest tagħkom u nagħti l-appoġġ sħiħ tiegħi għalih. Nieħu din l-opportunità biex nirringrazzjakom għax-xogħol tagħkom.

Robert Micallef – PL (kumment fuq Newsbook)

Il-manifest tal-għaqdiet Kattoliċi f’Malta ma rċevejtux izda għadni kif qrajtu issa. Niddikjara li naqbel mal-punti msemmija fil-manifest u se nkun qed navvanzahom fil-ħidma politika tieghi.

L-ewwel grupp ta’ reazzjonijiet

Numru ta’ Reazzjonijiet għall-manifest: “Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa” Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew – 25 ta’ Mejju 2019 Mill-Moviment ta’ Kana, Catholic Voices Malta u l-Kummissjoni għall-Ġustizzja u l-Paċi

Il-Manifest isibu hawn

Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa, Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew 25ta’ Mejju 2019

Update 2 – Further reactions to the Manifesto “Rebuilding community in Europe” A manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019 Promoted by Cana Movement, Catholic Voices Malta and the Commission for Justice and Peace

Further reactions received from Candidates to the MEP elections for the Manifesto: “Rebuilding community in Europe”, a manifesto for the European Parliament Election of the 25th May 2019.  Promoted by Cana Movement, Catholic Voices Malta and the Commission for Justice and Peace.

David Stellini – PN

Having reflected in detail the proposals you put forward, with pleasure I give my support and commitment in favour of the electoral manifesto put forward by the movement of Cana and Catholic Voices. While I believe in the sovereignty of law and respect for each religion, I consider the proposals put forward by this movement as inspired by ethical and moral principles and respect for human dignity, which are the bases of my political beliefs.

The principle of subsidiarity, respect for the underlying environment and the pivotal role of the family in society are three fundamental values that should be at the centre of European action.

The European Union has led to many major achievements for its citizens, however in recent years the EU has somehow deviated from its roots. I believe that the EU should re-look at the principles that emerged after the war and led to a very important and fruitful project: the principle of social cohesion and ensuring that nobody is left behind. It is this European Union that I want to see, and the European Union I will work for if elected.

This is why I am willing to commit myself, that if trusted by the Maltese and Gozitan people, I will see that these twelve principles are always in the background of my work.

Roberta Metsola – PN

Thank you for your email. Please rest assured that I fully endorse the manifesto and will continue to be guided by these overarching values and principles on every decision that I take – as I have done for the last years.

Roselyn Borg Knight – PN

Thank you for sharing this with me.

I have read through your manifesto and I support it. I take this opportunity to thank you for your work.

Robert Micallef – PL  (comment on Newsbook)

I did not receive the manifesto of the Catholic organisations in Malta, however I have just read it now. I declare that I agree with the values mentioned in the manifesto and I will progress these values in my political work.

For the first group of reactions received press here

A number of reactions to the Manifesto “Rebuilding community in Europe” A manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019 Promoted by Cana Movement, Catholic Voices Malta and the Commission for Justice and Peace

The Manifesto press here

Rebuilding community in Europe, a manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019

Catholic Voices Malta welcomes the arrest of the suspected murders of Lassana Cisse

Statement

Catholic Voices Malta welcomes the arrest of the suspected murders of Lassana Cisse

Catholic Voice Malta welcomes the news of the arrest of two soldiers suspected with the murder of Lassana Cisse, an innocent migrant killed in Hal Far in a shooting which also left two other migrants injured last month.

Catholic Voices Malta thank the police force for their work in identifying the perpetrators of this horrible crime.

It is worrisome that the only apparent reason why Lassana was specifically targeted and murdered was the color of his skin. We condemn this racially motivated crime and hope that more is done to develop a culture that in the words of Pope Francis “Welcomes, protects, promotes and integrates migrants and refugees”.

We take the opportunity to remind ourselves of the important speech given by Pope Francis’ for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees in 2018.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2017-11/pope-message-world-day-of-migrants-and-refugees.html

A number of reactions to the Manifesto “Rebuilding community in Europe” A manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019 Promoted by Cana Movement, Catholic Voices Malta and the Commission for Justice and Peace

A number of reactions received from Candidates to the Manifesto: “Rebuilding community in Europe”, a manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019.  Promoted by Cana Movement, Catholic Voices Malta and the Commission for Justice and Peace.

(in the order received)

Micheal Brigoglio – PN

I fully endorse your manifesto.

Carmel Cacopardo – in the name of AD

I thank you

The Alternattiva Demokratika manifesto has been issued some weeks ago and you can find this here link: http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/2point3/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/AD_Ahdar-ir-Risposta.pdf

Arnold Cassola – Independent

I note the points that you have emphasised and quote a verbatim: ” Europe needs to rediscover its common identity and be protective of persons, families, and cultures, especially the poor and most vulnerable. We need MEPS that promote the founding values of the EU, committed towards human dignity for all, subsidiarity and active citizen engagement.

Families and demography need to be placed at the centre of mainstream European politics, especially young families. We need MEPs that promote Life from conception to natural end, that address the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and foster a culture of integral ecology. We also need MEPs that work towards a renewed effort to find effective and shared solutions concerning migration, asylum, integration and demography.”

I consider myself a lay politician and that there should be a clear political separation between religion and state.

However, when I read the points you listed, I nearly surprise myself in finding that I wholly agree with all of them. This means that when one looks at the common good there is little difference between secular people and Catholics.

Therefore, I openly acknowledge that in the European political group that I will associate myself and work with I will endeavour to promote these mentioned objectives, including the few ones that most of the political group to which I will belongs are not in agreement with me.

In fact, my purpose is to form part of the Greens, as an independent, on the agreed condition that on issues of conscience (e.g. abortion; surrogacy) I will be free to work and to act according to my conscience and views, independent of the views and will of most of the Group.

Godfrey Farrugia – In the name of PD

Thank you for the document.

PD is built on the values of the Maltese and Europeans. We will continue working to strengthen them.

Felix Busuttil – PL

Thank you so much for contacting me – I do come from strong Catholic backgrounds. I myself for two years have had serious intentions to become God’s servant and wish to remain so – in my faults and in my doubts, I have strong faith in humanity and wish to see God placed one more within the realms of politics. I uphold your manifesto and can only wish love, respect, dignity and life for all.

Keep up the good work.

Peter Agius – PN

I strongly appreciate the initiative you have taken which in my opinion is an original contribution to how we can apply Christian values in politics at European level.

I agree without reservation to the 12 values that you presented and that I have reflected upon in detail. I also appreciated the perspective applied in the case of children’s education and the digitalisation that I am sure will be the challenges of the future.

I also believe that we need to apply more effectively article 17 on the freedom of conscience and this actively rather than in a passive manner.

I also believe that we need politicians who make it clear that their political engagement is guided by Christian values. This I have made clear myself on several occasions and in the priority points (that I have called results) of my programme, if elected.

The Manifesto

Rebuilding community in Europe, a manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019

Numru ta’ Reazzjonijiet għall-manifest: “Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa” Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew – 25 ta’ Mejju 2019 Mill-Moviment ta’ Kana, Catholic Voices Malta u l-Kummissjoni għall-Ġustizzja u l-Paċi

Ir-reazzjonijiet li waslu minn numru ta’ kandidati għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew għall-manifest: “Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa”, mill-Moviment ta’ Kana, Catholic Voices Malta u l-Kummissjoni għall-Ġustizzja u l-Paċi.

(skond l-ordni li waslu)

Micheal Brigoglio – PN

Jiena nendorsja l-manifest tiegħkom kompletament.

Carmel Cacopardo – f’isem l-AD

Nirringrazzjakom.
Il-manifest ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika li issa ilu xi ġimgħat ippubblikat issibu hawn : http://www.alternattiva.org.mt/2point3/wp-ċontent/uploads/2019/03/AD_Ahdar-ir-Risposta.pdf

Arnold Cassola – Independenti

Qiegħed nara l-punti li enfasizzajtu u nikkwota verbatim: “L-Ewropa teħtieġ li terġa’ tiskopri l-identità komuni tagħha u tħares lill-persuni, familji u l-kulturi, speċjalment lill-fqar u dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli. Aħna neħtieġu MEPs li jippromwovu l-valuri li fuqhom twaqqfet l-UE u li jkunu impenjati lejn dinjità umana għal kulħadd, sussidjarjetà u impenn attiv taċ-ċittadini.

Il-familji u d-demografija jeħtieġ li jitpoġġew fiċ-ċentru tal-politika Ewropea, speċjalment familji żgħażagħ. Aħna neħtieġu MEPs li jippromwovu u jipproteġu l-ħajja mill-konċepiment sat-tmiem naturali tagħha, li jindirizzaw il-bżonnijiet tal-aktar persuni fqar u vulnerabbli, u li jaħdmu favur kultura ta’ ekoloġija integrali. Aħna rridu wkoll MEPs li jaħdmu favur sforz ġdid biex jinstabu soluzzjonijiet effettivi u komuni dwar il-migrazzjoni, l-ażil, l-integrazzjoni u d-demografija”.

Jiena nqis ruhi politiku lajk u sekulari li jemmen li għandu jkun hemm separazzjoni netta bejn politika u reliġjon.

Madankollu, meta naqra l-punti tagħkom elenkati hawn fuq kwazi nissorprendi ruħi kif naqbel magħhom fit-totalita’. Dan ifisser li meta wieħed iħares lejn il-ġid komuni ftit ikun hemm differenza bejn lajċi u kattoliċi.

Għalhekk, jiena nafferma bil-miftuh li fil-grupp politiku Ewropew li nassoċja ruħi miegħu naħdem biex jitwettqu l-għanjiet hawn fuq imsemmija, inkluzi dawk il-ftit li l-maġġoranza tal-grupp li jien nappartjeni għalih ma tkunx taqbel magħhom.

Infatti, il-hsieb tiegħi hu li nifforma parti mill-Grupp tal-Hodor, bħala Indipendenti, bil-kundizzjoni maqbula mill-bidu li fuq kwistjonijiet ta’ kuxjenza (ez. abort; surrogaċy) jien inkun liberu li naħdem u naġixxi skont il-kuxjenza u l-fehmiet tiegħi, indipendentement mill-fehmiet u mir-rieda tal-maġġoranza tal-grupp.

Godfrey Farrugia – F’isem il-PD

Grazzi ferm ta’ dokument.

Il-PD hu mibni fuq il-valuri Maltin u Ewropej. Inkomplu nahdmu biex insahhuhom.

Felix Busuttil – PL

Grazzi ħafna tal-kuntat li għamiltu miegħi. Jien ġej minn sfond Kattoliku qawwi. Jien stess għal sentejn kelli intenzjonijiet serji li insir qaddej ta ‘ Alla u nixtieq li hekk nibqa. Fin-nuqasijiet u d-dubji tiegħi, għandi fidi qawwija fil-umanità u nixtieq nara lil Alla jerġa jipoġġa fir-realita tal-politika. Jiena nikkonferma il-manifest tiegħkom u nixtieq biss l-imħabba, ir-rispett, id-dinjità u l-ħajja għal kulħadd.

Żommu l-ħidma tajba

Peter Agius – PN

Naprezza ħafna li kellimtuna u li ħadtu din l-inizjattiva li fil-fehma tiegħi tati kontribut oriġinali għal kif nistgħu napplikaw il-valuri nsara fil-politika fuq livell Ewropew.

Naqbel bla riserva mat-12 il-valur li xtarrejt fid-dettall. Naprezza wkoll il-perspettiva applikata anke filkaz tal-edukazzjoni tat-tfal u d-digitalizzazzjoni li ċert li ser ituna sfida akbar fil-gejjieni.

Nemmen ukoll li jehtieg nimbuttaw b’aktar sahha l-applikazzjoni tal-artikolu 17 dwar il-liberta tal-kuxjenza b’mod attiv u mhux biss passiv.

Naħseb i importnait li jkollna politiċi li jagħmluha ċarali huma ispirati u gwidati mill-valuri nsara fil-politika. Dan għamiltu ċar anke fil-punti ta’ prijorita’ (qed insejħilhom riżultati) tal-programm tiegħi jekk niġi elett.

Il-manifest

Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa, Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew 25ta’ Mejju 2019

Premiere in Malta of the documentary ‘Benedict XVI, in Honor of the Truth’, CAK Conference Hall, 1 June 2019 at 7.00 pm.

 

Saturday, 1st June 2019, Rome Reports in collaboration with Catholic Voices Malta and CAK will be airing the documentary ‘Benedict XVI, in Honor of the Truth’.

The 48-minute documentary seeks to answer the question in many people’s mind as to why Pope Benedict XVI resignation five years ago, the first Pope to present his resignation in 700 years. Was it the coming to the fore of the sexual abuse cases by priests or the butler stealing the Pope’s confidential documents?

Rome Reports seeks to answer this question through the study of documents held by the Vatican archives and a series of interviews with people close to Ratzinger and witnessed closely the most significant moments in the life of the pontiff’. These include Ratzinger’s brother, Georg Ratzinger; the former spokesman of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, and other close collaborators, such as Cardinal Cristoph Schönborn and his assistant Stephen Horn.

The documentary will be part of a Cineform that will be followed by a round table discussion with Antonio Olivié the director of the documentary; Alessandra Dee Crespo the chancellor of the Regional Appeal Tribunal, Luca Caruso, biographer and the director of Communications of the Ratzinger Foundation and André P. De Battista, a political researcher and columnist. An interview with Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna who worked closely with both Pope Benedict will also be aired during the forum.

The documentary was produced by Rome Reports an independent television agency, in collaboration with TV2000, the Joseph Ratzinger Vatican Foundation, and sponsored by the Ramón Tallaj Ureña Foundation. It has versions in Italian, Spanish and English and has been distributed in more than 10 countries.

The Cineform will be held at the CAK Conference Hall, Sommier Street, Birkirkara on the 1 June 2019 at 7.00 pm.

Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa, Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew 25ta’ Mejju 2019

“Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa”
Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew     25 ta’ Mejju 2019

Ispirati mid-dikjarazzjoni tal-Isqfijiet Ewropej “Nibnu mill-ġdid il-komunità fl-Ewropa”, il-Moviment ta’ Kana, Catholic Voices Malta u l-Kummissjoni għall-Ġustizzja u l-Paċi qed jipproponu dan il-Manifest ta’ 12-il prinċipju gwida għal votanti Kattoliċi fl-għażla tal-kandidati ta’ preferenza tagħhom għall-elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew li ġejjin. Aħna nappellaw ukoll liċ-ċittadini biex jinvolvu ruħhom f’dan il-proċess politiku importanti u jużaw il-ħsieb profond tagħhom meta jivvutaw fl-elezzjoni Ewropea 2019.

L-elezzjonijiet tal-Parlament Ewropew mhumiex elezzjonijiet lokali iżda elezzjoni Ewropeja. Mhux vot ta’ fiduċja fil-Partit fil-Gvern jew xi Partit fl-Oppożizzjoni. Il-vot tagħna se jmur għal kandidati individwali, partiti politiċi lokali iżda wkoll gruppi politiċi Ewropej li se jifformulaw il-valur, il-policies u l-azzjonijiet Ewropej.

Bħala ċittadini aħna mitluba nagħmlu dixxerniment dwar kif
•  il-kandidati li qed nivvutaw għalihom,
•  il-partit politiku lokali li se jirrappreżenaw, u
•  il-grupp politiku Ewropew li se jkunu parti minnu
fil-manifest elettorali tagħhom jirriflettu l-valuri u l-policies li nixtiequ naraw fil-bini tal-Unjoni Ewropea ta’ għada.

Aħna imħeġġin li ma naqgħux fit-tentazzjoni ta’ partiġjanniżmu insulari, jew li nivvuttaw biss għal partit mingħajr ma naħsbu fuq l-għażla tal-kandidat. Aħna neleġġu individwi li se jirrappreżentaw partiti, iżda aktar minn hekk, jirrappreżentaw lilna u l-valuri tagħna. Aħna għalhekk inħeġġu lill-votanti tagħna biex jeżerċitaw id-drittijiet tagħhom u jistaqsu x’inhi l-pożizzjoni tal-kandidati fuq dawn it-12-il tema importanti li se jiddefinixxu l-impenn personali tagħhom fuq livell Ewropew la darba jiġu eletti.

Aħna għandna l-obbligu wkoll li nħarsu lejn il-manifest elettorali tal-Gruppi Parlamentari Ewropej rispettivi u niżnu l-għażliet tagħhom fil-konfront tal-valuri u l-policies li nixtiequ naraw jitwettqu.

L-Ewropa teħtieġ li terġa’ tiskopri l-identità komuni tagħha u tħares lill-persuni, familji u l-kulturi, speċjalment lill-fqar u dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli. Aħna neħtieġu MEPs li jippromwovu l-valuri li fuqhom twaqqfet l-UE u li jkunu impenjati lejn dinjità umana għal kulħadd, sussidjarjetà u impenn attiv taċ-ċittadini.

Il-familji u d-demografija jeħtieġ li jitpoġġew fiċ-ċentru tal-politika Ewropea, speċjalment familji żgħażagħ. Aħna neħtieġu MEPs li jippromwovu u jipproteġu l-ħajja mill-konċepiment sat-tmiem naturali tagħha, li jindirizzaw il-bżonnijiet tal-aktar persuni fqar u vulnerabbli, u li jaħdmu favur kultura ta’ ekoloġija integrali. Aħna rridu wkoll MEPs li jaħdmu favur sforz ġdid biex jinstabu soluzzjonijiet effettivi u komuni dwar il-migrazzjoni, l-ażil, l-integrazzjoni u d-demografija.

Dr. Arthur Galea Salamone President Moviment ta’ Kana, Tonio Fenech – Koordinatur Catholic Voices Malta u Daniel Darmanin President Kummissjoni għall-Ġustizzja u l-Paċi

 

Il-MANIFEST

“Nerġgħu nibnu l-komunità fl-Ewropa”
Manifest għall-Elezzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew     25 ta’ Mejju 2019

 

Jien inħaddan dawn il-prinċipji fundamentali li ġejjin li se jiggwidaw l-azzjonijiet u d-deċiżjonijiet politiċi tiegħi la niġi elett fil-Parlament Ewropew.

Dinjità umana għal kulħadd

Id-dinjità umana hi xi ħaġa li ma tistax tittieħed. Kull persuna għandha valur inkondizzjonali, li jixraqlu rispett kbir u għandu jkun ħieles minn kull tip ta’ skjavitu’, manipulazzjoni u esplojtazzjoni. Jien se nippromwovi għażliet u policies li huma bbażati fuq ir-rispett totali tad-dinjità tal-bniedem.

Sussidjarjetà

L-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej għandhom jieħdu passi attivi favur l-involviment personali u kollettiv taċ-ċittadini kollha f’djalogu ta’ vera, kreattiv u rispettuż u jagħmlu l-almu tagħhom biex ma jimponux deċiżjonijiet unilaterali.

Identità komuni

L-UE teħtieġ li terġa’ tiskopri l-valuri li kellha meta twaqqfet, l-identità komuni u l-valur tas-solidarjetà, hekk kif tfittex li terġa’ tagħti ħajja lir-rabtiet soċjali li jeżistu bejn u fost il-pajjiżi u l-popli. Jien se naħdem għal UE li tħares il-familji, dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli u l-kulturi.

Għaqda fid-diversità

L-għaqda fid-diversità timplika regoli komuni li jħarsu l-ħarsien leġittimu u l-promozzjoni tal-libertajiet permezz ta’ prattiċi demokratiċi li jsostnu l-kontabilità, it-trasparenza u implimentazzjoni xierqa tas-Saltna tad-Dritt.
Djalogu mal-Knejjes u l-komunitajiet reliġjużi
Skont l-Artikolu 17 tat-Trattat dwar il-Funzjonament tal-Unjoni Ewropea (TFEU), jien se naħdem favur djalogu aktar profond mal-Knejjes u l-komunitajiet reliġjużi.

Familji żgħażagħ

Iż-żgħażagħ Ewropej għandhom ikollhom rashom mistrieħa u megħjuna biex ikunu f’kundizzjoni li jiffurmaw familja. Regoli u prattiċi favur il-familji għandhom ikunu żviluppati fqu livell tal-UE biex jakkumpanjaw l-iżvilupp integrali uman tal-persuni, familji u komunitajiet. Il-benesseri tal-familja umana hi marbuta ma’ Unjoni li taħdem favur ekonomija bbażata fuq is-suq soċjali. Il-familja għandha tkun il-punt tat-tluq li fuq bażi tiegħu għandhom jinħadmu l-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, biex ikun faċilitat il-ħin flimkien fost il-familja u biex jinħoloq bilanċ xieraq bejn il-familji u l-ħajja tax-xogħol.

Demografija

Id-demografija għandha terġa’ tikseb prominenza fil-politika tal-UE. It-tnaqqis fir-rati ta’ twelid fl-Ewropa għandha tkun indirizzata permezz ta’ inizjattivi konkreti li jibdlu l-andament attwali.

Id-dritt tal-ġenituri li jedukaw lill-uliedhom

Jien nikkommetti ruħi li niżgura li l-UE tipprovdi edukazzjoni xierqa għat-tfal u ż-żgħażagħ tagħna. Fil-programmi kollha tagħha l-UE għandha tirrispetta u tippromwovi d-drittijiet tal-ġenituri li jedukaw lill-uliedhom f’konformità mat-tradizzjonijiet kulturali, morali u reliġjużi tagħhom, skont il-Konvenzjoni tan-NU dwar id-Drittijiet tat-Tfal.

Ir-rispett tal-Ħajja mill-konċepiment sat-tmiem naturali

Jien nikkommetti ruħi li nirrispetta d-dinjità ta’ kull persuna umana, fil-fażijiet kollha tagħha mill-konċepiment sal-mewta naturali. Jien se naħdem biex ninkoraġġixxi policies u l-aqwa prattiċi li jipprovdu attenzjoni speċjali għat-tfal, qabel u wara t-twelid, kif ukoll lill-ommijiet kif ukoll lill-familji adottivi jew dawk li jipprovdu foster care. Nikkometti ruħi li nopponi kull tentattivi ta’ leġislazzjoni Ewropea li timponi l-abort fuq xi Stat Membru jew pajjiżi oħra.

Migrazzjoni, ażil u integrazzjoni

Jien se naħdem favur sforz ġdid biex jinstabu soluzzjonijiet effettivi u komuni dwar il-migrazzjoni, l-ażil, l-integrazzjoni u d-demografija. L-integrazzjoni mhix biss għall-persuni li jidħlu fl-UE, iżda wkoll għall-ċittadini tal-UE li jmorru pajjiżi ieħor li mhux tagħhom. Filwaqt li għandhom japprezzaw t-tħassib mill-aspett ta’ sigurà tal-Istati Membri, dawn is-soluzzjonijiet m’għandhomx ikasbru r-rispett tad-Dinjità Umana. Jien se naħdem favur strateġija b’saħħitha u kreattiva biex jinstab bilanċ xieraq bejn il-ħarsien tad-drittijiet taċ-ċittadini tal-UE, biex tiġi żgurata viabilità demografika u sostenbbiltà kulturali għall-Ewropea, filwaqt li niżguraw li l-migranti jkunu megħjuna u aċċettati.

Ekoloġija integrali

L-isfidi ambjentali u ekonomiċi ma jistgħux jinfirdu minn xulxin. Ir-raġuni għaliex l-ambjent sejjer lura mhix it-tkabbir tal-popolazzjoni iżda pjuttost il-konsumeriżmu eċċessiv u l-inġustizzji soċjali globali. Il-qerda tal-ambjent taffettwa bl-aktar mod negattiv lill-ifqar persuni. Bħala l-ħlejjaq li għandna r-responsabbiltà li nħarsu l-ħolqien ta’ Alla, aħna nikkommettu lilna nfusna li nippromwovu azzjonijiet li jpoġġu l-umanità u n-natura f’armonija. Jien se nistinka biex nikkontribwixxi għal politika Ewropea li tagħti għażla preferenzjali lill-fqar, solidarjetà lil dawk l-aktar vulnerabbli, il-ġid komuni u responsabbiltà interġenerazzjonali għall-ekoloġija tagħna.

Id-diġitalizazzjoni għas-servizz tal-poplu

Li nieħdu kontroll lura fuq ħajjitna quddiem ir-realtà tad-diġitalizazzjoni timplika deċiżjoni li jwasslu biex l-ekonomija u l-finanzi jservu aħjar lill-persuni, speċjalment l-aktar vulnerabbli. Id-diġitalizazzjoni għandha impatt fuq kulħadd u kull ma nafu (il-futur tax-xogħol, il-ħarsien tad-dejta personali, l-użu differenti tal-inteliġenza artifiċjali). Jien se naħdem favur il-ħolqien ta’ policies li jiżguraw li t-teknoloġiji emerġenti jħarsu ċ-ċentralità tal-persuna umana u biex dawn l-iżviluppi pożittivi jintużaw fi ħdan qafas etiku b’saħħtu.

Rebuilding community in Europe, a manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019

“Rebuilding community in Europe”

A manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019

 

Inspired by the declaration of European Bishops statement “Rebuilding community in Europe”, Cana Movement and Catholic Voices Malta supported by the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Malta propose the following Manifesto of 12 guiding principles that Catholic voters should look for in selecting their preferred candidates for the upcoming European Parliament elections. We also call on all citizens to engage in this important political process and exercise their discernment when voting for the 2019 European elections.

The European Parliament elections are not a local electoral contest but a European one. They should not be perceived as a vote of trust or distrust in a Party in Government or some Party in Opposition. Our vote will be cast for individual candidates, local political parties but also European political groups that will shape Europe’s values, policies and actions.

As citizens we are called to discern the extent to which:
•  the candidates we are voting for,
•  the local political party they will represent, and
•  the European political Group they will form part of
in their manifestos reflect the values and policies that we aspire to see shaping the European Union of tomorrow.

We are also encouraged not to fall into the temptation of inward looking partisanship, or to merely vote for a party without discerning the choice of the candidate. We elect individuals who will represent parties but more importantly, represent us and our values. We therefore encourage voters to exercise their rights and question candidates on these 12 important issues that will define their personal engagement at a European level once elected.
We are also obliged to look at the manifestos of the respective European Parliament Groupings and weigh their choices in line with the values and policies that we would like to see promoted.

Europe needs to rediscover its common identity and be protective of persons, families, and cultures, especially the poor and most vulnerable. We need MEPs that promote the founding values of the EU, committed towards human dignity for all, subsidiarity and active citizen engagement.

Families and demography need to be placed at the centre of mainstream European politics, especially young families. We need MEPs that promote and protect life from conception to its natural end, that address the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and foster a culture of integral ecology. We also need MEPs that work towards a renewed effort to find effective and shared solutions concerning migration, asylum, integration and demography.

Dr. Arthur Galea Salamone – Chairman Cana Movement, Tonio Fenech – Coordinator Catholic Voices Malta and Daniel Darmanin – President Commission for Justice and Peace

THE MANISFESTO

“Rebuilding community in Europe”
A manifesto for the European Parliament Election 25th May 2019

I embrace the following fundamental principles that will guide my actions and political decisions once elected to the European Parliament.

Human dignity for all

Human dignity is something that cannot be taken away. Each and every person has unconditional value, worthy of great respect and should be free from any form of slavery, manipulation and exploitation. I will promote options and policies that are shaped by the total respect of human dignity.

Subsidiarity

European institutions should take active steps to favour the personal and collective engagement of all citizens in a true, creative and respectful dialogue and endeavour not to impose unilateral decisions.

Common identity

The EU needs to rediscover its founding values, common identity and value of solidarity, as it seeks to revitalise the social links that exist in and amongst countries and peoples. I will work for an EU that is protective of the families, the most vulnerable and of cultures.

Unity in diversity

Unity in diversity implies common rules that account for legitimate protection and promotion of freedoms and liberties through democratic practices that exemplify accountability, transparency and a just application of the Rule of Law.

Dialogue with Churches and religious communities

In line with Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), I will work towards a more meaningful dialogue with Churches and religious communities.

Young families

Young Europeans need to feel reassured and supported to be in a condition to form a family. Family-friendly rules and practices should be developed at the EU level to accompany the integral human development of persons, families and communities. The well-being of the human family is linked with a Union that fosters a social market economy. The family should be the starting point from which working conditions are designed, to facilitate family time together and create the right balance between family and working life.

Demography

Demography needs to regain prominence in EU policy. The decrease of the European births rates need to be addressed through concrete measures to change current trends.

The right of parents to educate their children

I undertake to ensure that the EU provides the appropriate education for our children and youth. In all its programmes the EU should respect and promote the rights of parents to educate their children in conformity with their cultural, moral and religious traditions, in line with the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.

Respecting life from conception to natural end

I pledge to respect the dignity of every human person, at all its stages, from conception to natural death. I will work towards encouraging policies and best practices that provide special care to all children, before and after birth, and to the mothers as well as foster care families and adoptive families. I pledge to oppose any European legislative attempts to impose abortion on any Member State and other countries.

Migration, asylum and integration

I will work toward a renewed effort to find effective and shared solutions concerning migration, asylum, integration and demography. Integration is a matter not only for people entering the EU, but also for EU citizens moving to a country other than their own. While appreciative of security concerns of member states, these should never trample upon the respect of Human Dignity. I will work towards a bold and creative strategy that seeks the right balance between protecting the rights of EU citizens, ensuring demographic viability and cultural sustainability for Europe, whilst ensuring assistance to and acceptance of migrants.

Integral ecology

Environmental and economic challenges are inseparable. The cause of environmental degradation is not population growth but rather extreme consumerism and global social injustice. Environmental degradation effects worst the poorer. As stewards of God’s creation, we commit ourselves to promote actions that place humanity and nature in harmony. I will strive to contribute towards a European policy founded on the preferential option for the poor, solidarity with the more vulnerable, the common good and the intergenerational responsibility for our ecology.

Digitalisation at the service of people

Taking back control of our lives in the face of digitalisation implies decisions to make economy and finance better serve the people, especially the most vulnerable. Digitalisation has an impact on all and everything we know (the future of work, protection of personal data, the multiple uses of artificial intelligence). I will work towards the creation of policies that ensue that new emerging technologies preserve the centrality of the human person and channels these positive developments within a solid ethical framework.

Can Nationalism and Globalisation live together? By Tonio Fenech for Catholic Voices Malta

Flemish nationalists attend a protest against Marrakesh Migration Pact in Brussels, Belgium December 16, 2018. Jacket reads “Right, without complexes”. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

While Theresa May and Westminster continue haggling towards a Brexit outcome, the world is awakening to growing nationalistic sentiments. Easy to brush such sentiments as extreme, however it would be wrong to forget that these are born many times from genuine political disappointments and fears, that mainstream politicians prefer to forget.

The global capitalist economic system that globalisation produced failed many people miserably. Those who saw globalisation as a means towards international economic equity and the eradication of poverty, forget that liberal free market thinkers were never concerned with such ideals.

While the global economic model has been left to evolve at its own accord, into an economic system that Pope Francis described it fruits as “Killing”; the EU sought a different path advancing the values of peace and solidarity, and a more social market model, despite some mistakes.

The global economic system remains globally unchecked despite its grave failings. Its fruits include huge income disparities between countries and societies and the culmination of the global economic crises of 2009 that devastated the lives of millions of people around the world.

The price for liberal economic globalisation was also the globalisation of liberal moral philosophies that watered down national cultural values. Despite popular unhappiness, many saw this as the consequential price to pay for the promised economic wellness. However, the global economic crises left many short changed.

Rising global economic disparities, global warming and regional conflicts are fuelling mass migration. Economic failure and unemployment, the weakening of cultural identity and values, compounded with mass immigration is causing a perfect storm, that may not end well.

Globalisation is not the making of some international organisation lurking in the background trying to create a new world order or a super transnational state as some like to conspire. The historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century rightly points out that globalisation is the baby of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb.

The first world war did not manage to create a new order because it was more of the same at a bigger scale. The history of mankind was built on tribal wars seeking to extend borders and command greater political and economic influence. Hiroshima changed it all. Peoples now feared the war that would effectively annihilate them completely. Hiroshima awakened Governments to the reality that only peace and cooperation would deter global nuclear destruction. Transnational and global institutions were created such as the UN, the EU, NATO, the Warsaw Pact and so on. Meanwhile the US, Russia, China and other less trustworthy countries build their arsenals. Those who cry US, Britain, Malta first, forget that without a strong system of international cooperation nobody escapes nuclear destruction. 75 years from the Second World War, global cooperation, despite its shortcomings managed to avert the third and final global war. We cannot go back.

While nuclear weapons are harmless if they remain locked in an arsenal and level-headed politicians refrain from pushing the self-destruction button, globally we are facing an equally series threat to humanity’s survival, the threat to our ecology. We are all pressing the self-destructive button with our indifferent or denial of the ecological collapse that surrounds us. While the older generation worries about its pensions, the younger generation worries about the environment and what will remain of it.

The enormous quantities of waste and poison we are dumping is changing the composite of soil, contaminating our food, water and our atmosphere. Rivers, lakes and oceans poisoned with plastics and fertilizers used in over farming. We are losing more natural habitats and seeing the extinction of many animals and plants. Despite all the promises, global emissions are still rising; deserts are expanding, forcing migration to northern cooler regions and ice-caps disappearing, making oceans rise, sinking human coastal habitats, also forcing migration.

The world’s addiction to fossil fuels, like all addictions is bring humanity’s destruction. While nuclear war is a potential, ecological destruction is happening. Can any country stop this ecological time bomb alone? Individual, community, national efforts are important, but no country can save the planet alone. Countries need to look beyond national interests. Let’s take global warming; warmer temperatures make hot regions deserts and cold regions more pleasant. From a national interest view point a colder country is not concerned with CO2s emissions as global warming is suiting it. This country however then cannot protest that people in the hotter regions want to migrate to that country when their home is now in a desert. Without a global and transgenerational perspective our selfishness and national interests will breed the global ecological collapse a not so distant future generation may not survive.

Technological disruption is the buzz word of the modern world. Technological disruption can however also become the next human existential threat. If the global community treats technological evolution with the same laissez affair attitude that it treated the global economic evolution, the risks of an AI “being” going for it alone will not be movie fiction for long. While today various countries impose ethical restrictions especially in the biological sphere, like not allowing EU scientists to genetically modify human embryos, who is stopping the likes of China or Japan from doing otherwise. If some development confers an economic or military advantage to the country that makes the discovery others will follow suit, they cannot be left behind. Today disruptive technologies such as AI and bioengineering are moving towards changing the very nature of humanity and possibly creating a new more powerful specie. What we create may not be as benevolent to its human creator as we might wish. This should come to no surprise; we have not been so benevolent to our own Creator. If mankind fails to impose globally accepted ethical standards, Dr Frankenstein is waiting in the shadows.
While remaining proud of our national identities and history, the world needs to transcend former divisions and collaborate genuinely to forge a common destiny. I am not advocating for a super global government. However, the major challenges the world is facing are global and therefore require global solutions.

We need a different model of globalisation, one founded on values, the concept of a family of nations, to harness the global economy into promoting economic equality and social justice, adopting global social cohesion policies that address the challenges of migration through meaningful economic and ecological interventions like create work opportunities for peoples, in their own villages and cities and reversing global warming. We need multilateral structures that avoid pressing the button of nuclear self-destruction and ensure that technological disruption remains at the service of humanity, rather than at its destruction.

Can Nationalism and Globalisation live together? They cannot afford otherwise.

Tonio Fenech is a member of Catholic Voices Malta

This article appeared on the Newsbook Blogg https://www.newsbook.com.mt/blogg/2019/04/29/can-nationalism-and-globalisation-live-together/?lang=en