A Journey of Faith...A Search for Truth...A Yearning for Dialogue

2012-02-01T18:13:00.001+01:00

2012-01-19T19:04:00.004+01:00

“Sometimes I feel we talk about marriage too much – neglecting other relationships which are also intimate. We shouldn’t forget those who don’t get chosen/ can’t get married. Marriage can be very exclusive.”

http://www.sundaycircle.com/2012/01/what-it-means-to-say-i-do/

2012-01-04T11:50:00.000+01:00

2011-12-27T15:09:00.000+01:00

Building bridges with a Church we strongly feel part of –

Drachma Parents

http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=137384

2011-12-17T11:08:00.002+01:00

Ibda T-Tmiem tal-Bullying from Malta Gay Rights Movement on Vimeo.

2011-12-17T11:08:00.001+01:00

Anke Int Għandek Dritt Tħoss il-Ferħ from Malta Gay Rights Movement on Vimeo.

2011-12-17T11:07:00.001+01:00

Ir-Relazzjoni M’ Uliedek Prezzjuża…Titlifiex. Ħobb. from Malta Gay Rights Movement on Vimeo.

2011-12-09T11:51:00.000+01:00

2011-12-09T11:50:00.000+01:00

www.maltagayrights.org

The Human Rights of LGBT People

2011-12-07T09:16:00.001+01:00

2011-12-02T16:18:00.000+01:00

'Christianity - The Biggest Argument for Gay Marriage'

http://bit.ly/vfkRoS

2011-11-29T09:31:00.000+01:00

2011-10-22T09:08:00.000+02:00

Sign the petition to protect Europe's Sharks!

2011-07-12T13:58:00.000+02:00

2011-07-02T20:54:00.001+02:00

LGBT groups request statement from Pope against homophobic violence - timesofmalta.com

2011-06-10T11:25:00.000+02:00

LGBT groups request statement from Pope against homophobic violence - timesofmalta.com

2011-05-31T11:11:00.001+02:00

2011-05-20T23:19:00.001+02:00

Dear Matthew,

I saw you on youtube (One News feature). I admire your courage for speaking out; maybe you also wish to be the critical voice for the gay community?

Matthew, I might come across as patronizing in this letter of mine. However, I do wish to share with you some of my thoughts and concerns.

Matthew I wish to ask you to be prudent during this journey of yours. The Christian path is life giving but also a long and difficult one. Spiritual experiences can be wonderful, encountering the living Jesus Christ is a life changing experience, but it is also a path that confronts the person with himself/herself at a very deep level too. Please be careful not to expose yourself too early, especially on such sensitive and delicate matters.

I know that as an evangelical you might not be too excited about Catholic saints, but the writings of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross can be of much help whilst threading on this path. They walked before us and their wisdom might be helpful. They both write a lot about these kind of experiences and how to manage them.

Matthew, I am going to be frank with you. I believe your love for Jesus and believe you when you claim that he has touched you profoundly. I am not so convinced of your other claims; of course I respect your opinion. However, psychological mechanisms could also be at play and have something to do with what is going on within you right now.

My main concern is that as time goes by you might have to struggle with your own sexual orientation once more. I am afraid that you might face disappointment or disillusionment, if that moment comes. Of course I might be entirely wrong, only time will tell.

Matthew I am not against you nor hate you in any way. Neither am I writing this letter to mock you. I understand your experience of being prayed over, the experience of being baptized in the spirit. They are wonderful and powerful experiences. They are also spiritual experiences that in some way place the human person in a vulnerable place; healing can be very profound but other mechanisms could be at work at the same time. Prudence and balance are your best two friends during this moment of your Christian journey. I cannot repeat myself enough on this.

Matthew I want to conclude my letter to you. I do want to tell you that if you ever need our help or support (Drachma), you are always welcome. If you ever find yourself in darkness or in conflict about this matter please do not be afraid to reach out. We will always welcome you and we can discuss faith, Christianity and sexual orientation serenely. Probably you will reject what I am going to tell you but I still wish to say it, There is Another Way! Sexual and Spiritual Integration is possible for gay Christians!

In the meantime I wish you well and may your journey lead you to well-being and life in abundance.

Yours Sincerely

Mario Gerada

Gay healing claims ‘worrying’ - timesofmalta.com

2011-05-14T11:53:00.000+02:00

Gay healing claims ‘worrying’ - timesofmalta.com

2011-05-11T10:39:00.000+02:00

2011-05-09T10:29:00.000+02:00

Introducing the Homo No Mo Halfway House from Peterson Toscano on Vimeo.

2011-05-07T12:30:00.000+02:00

Peterson Toscano - Podcast

http://anarchistreverend.com/2011/05/petersonpodcast/

2011-05-05T11:35:00.000+02:00

2011-05-03T09:56:00.000+02:00

2011-04-15T18:32:00.000+02:00

2011-04-13T09:09:00.001+02:00

2011-04-12T11:07:00.001+02:00

2011-04-09T20:23:00.000+02:00

A European Revival of Liberation Theology

http://bit.ly/fDpraj

2011-04-03T11:42:00.000+02:00

2011-04-03T11:27:00.000+02:00

Vandana Shiva : Sydney Peace Prize Talk from WisdomKeepers Productions on Vimeo.

2011-03-24T13:12:00.001+01:00

2011-03-20T10:32:00.001+01:00

Link to Full Report: http://bit.ly/eChto8

2011-03-16T11:08:00.001+01:00

2011-03-13T14:02:00.000+01:00

A Reflection by Drachma:

http://bit.ly/igVyE4

2011-03-13T13:59:00.001+01:00

A Call For Our Time: The Story of The Pachamama Alliance (2010) from Pachamama Alliance on Vimeo.

2011-03-12T19:54:00.001+01:00

2011-03-12T12:20:00.002+01:00

When are Religious Leaders and Church Hierarchy going to give these messages and prayer a serious thought?

http://www.de-vrouwe.info/

2011-03-12T12:19:00.000+01:00

Online BirdWatching is Back!

http://www.beleefdelente.nl/

2011-03-05T21:36:00.001+01:00

Vanishing of the Bees - Trailer from Bee The Change on Vimeo.

2011-02-16T11:57:00.001+01:00

2011-02-04T19:09:00.000+01:00

2011-01-28T11:02:00.001+01:00

On Including Gays

http://bit.ly/cAZ3tv

2010-12-14T16:05:00.001+01:00

2010-11-08T09:02:00.001+01:00

Desmond Tutu: 'Hate Has No Place in God's House'

Today I pray for people in Africa and throughout the world who long for freedom because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. It grieves me to be retiring at this crucial moment in history, so I write to you in this open letter, to invite you to pick up the work that remains to be done. More than 70 countries still imprison or execute gay and transgender people, and bullying and murders are all too common. This must change.

Each of you is called to respond to God's urgency for love and life. So whether you are in South Africa, the United States or anywhere else, humanity needs to accept its own diversity as a gift from our Creator. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are part of our family of God.

I have always striven for a life of love in action. Many told me to stop. They called me a communist or they told me that I might be killed. Now, I have lived long, and one choice that comes with age is how to deal with our own mortality. Should we be more careful or be more bold? Should we rest on our laurels or respond to the urgency of justice?

Boldly, I urge all faith leaders and politicians to stop persecuting people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Every day people live in fear because of who they love. We are talking about our family members, our flesh and blood, our humanity. LGBT people are in our villages, towns, cities, countries -- and our whole world.

In South African churches we have sung, "Oh freedom! Freedom is coming, oh yes, I know." We sang this chorus at the lowest points of our journey toward freedom against the racist and colonialist system of apartheid, and we still sing it to this day. Freedom is coming -- and those of us who have freedom must speak out for those whose freedom is under attack. We can and must make a difference.

"It Gets Better" (Broadway sings for the Trevor Project)

2010-11-04T15:17:00.000+01:00

2010-10-29T13:32:00.001+02:00

2010-10-24T18:36:00.001+02:00

Maltese Filigree Artist

http://bit.ly/alLj1A

2010-10-20T21:42:00.000+02:00

http://fairyfiligree.blogspot.com/2010/10/fairyfiligrees-first-anniversary.html

2010-10-16T17:33:00.001+02:00

10/10/10 - We Got to Work!

2010-10-15T08:43:00.000+02:00

Emma Watson and Safia Minney Interview for People Tree

2010-10-07T14:20:00.000+02:00

It Gets Better: Dan and Terry

2010-10-07T14:18:00.000+02:00

2010-10-05T21:55:00.000+02:00

Always Our Children from Damian Hanley on Vimeo.

2010-10-04T12:30:00.001+02:00

René Girard from Michael Sugrue on Vimeo.

2010-09-07T15:04:00.000+02:00

Check out this/these blogs:

http://henzlerworks.blogspot.com/

2010-09-07T14:45:00.000+02:00

Interview Fanny Ardant

http://webtv.coe.int/index.php?VODID=92&CategoryID=2&SubCategoryID=28&arrows=1

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story

2010-09-02T13:37:00.000+02:00

Trailer These Green Thumbs

2010-08-01T18:08:00.000+02:00

2010-05-08T10:10:00.001+02:00

The Cove PSA - My Friend Is...

2010-05-05T11:02:00.000+02:00

2010-05-03T10:01:00.000+02:00

2010-04-14T18:28:00.002+02:00

2010-04-14T11:29:00.000+02:00

2010-04-10T14:28:00.001+02:00

Should I stay or should I go?

Timothy Radcliffe

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/14543

2010-04-10T11:04:00.000+02:00

Of Peregrines, Storks & Eggs...

http://www.beleefdelente.nl/ooievaar

http://195.224.106.202/peregrine/webcam.htm

2010-04-06T13:08:00.001+02:00

Earth Hour 2010 Official video

2010-03-16T10:39:00.001+01:00

2010-03-16T09:15:00.000+01:00

GM FOOD: FACTS NOT CROPS

(Please Read & Sign)

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_health_and_biodiversity/?cl=509861684&v=5592

2010-03-15T12:35:00.000+01:00

2010-03-11T08:22:00.002+01:00

Is it Me?

Everyone wonders what they are destined for, and most realise this fact after their destiny has run its course, but what if you knew exactly where your path would take you, and what horror would lie along the way?

Would you change course or would your continue?

"Is it me?" looks at the well know Easter play, and lets you see the choices that had to be made for the those events that had changed the face of history.

Experience for youself the the passion, the fear, the belief, the doubt, the love and the contempt that those around expressed and felt simply through the knowledge of one man.

"Is It Me? " at the Carmelite Priory Mdina, March 27 - 29, at 20:00 With Steffan Cherriet Busuttil, Tyron Grima, Jean Pierre Agius, Jo caruana, Justin Fenech, Keith Pavia, David Chircop, and Wesley Ellul,
Directed by Marc Caboudin.

The play which is aimed at a small audience, will be held in the beautiful Refectory – a rare example of the Baroque concept of the total work of art, where painting, sculpture and architecture come together to create a harmonious whole.

These limited tickets are 10 euros and are available by emailing: info@carmelitepriorymuseum.com

2010-03-07T20:56:00.001+01:00

2010-03-04T11:24:00.000+01:00

Vandana Shiva on GM Food & Monsanto (in English)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oju86YIOOLI

2010-02-25T08:41:00.000+01:00

http://endoftheline.com/

2010-02-18T08:02:00.001+01:00

2010-01-26T19:06:00.000+01:00

MGRM's Press release following the National Conference on the Family - January 2010

Tue, 26/01/2010 - 15:23 — Yao

This press release was sent to President George Abela, Permanent Secretary Frans Borg and a number of local newspapers

--- MALTA GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT – 26 JANUARY 2010 - NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE FAMILY

Open Letter to President George Abela and Permanent Secretary Mr Frans Borg The National Conference on the Family entitled 'The Family... yesterday, today, tomorrow' organised by the Ministry for Social Policy was held on Saturday 23rd January and around 800 people ranging from politicians, public servants, service providers, educators, academics, and representatives of religious and other civil society organisations as well as individuals participated. The first address of the day was delivered by President George Abela. One of his first misguided statements was a definition of family that was so narrow as to exclude a significant minority. Dr Abela defined the family as a man and a woman, in a life-long commitment, linked to procreation. He also emphasised the need for both the need of a mother and a father for the family to exist. Whether intentionally or not, he therefore excluded all those married couples who could not have children including childless couples, adoptive parents and fosterparents, single parents, cohabiting couples and any children they might have, and of course gay and lesbian parents. On explaining the understanding of marriage in Maltese law the president held that this was understood to mean the natural union of a man and a woman based on the difference between the sexes. The implication is that a union between two people of the same sex is of course unnatural. Clinging to this ‘understanding’ is a failure to acknowledge that, while up to forty or so odd years ago homosexuality was deemed unnatural and a mental illness, science and research have taught us that this is not the case. Homosexuality is simply a natural and normal variant in human nature as well as in other species. While there are plenty of Countries that have failed to take on this knowledge and continue to criminalise homosexuality, we were under the impression that in line with other Western nations, Malta had actually moved on. To make matters worse the President also questioned whether children adopted by same-sex couples could lead to them suffering psychological and social harm. The President seems to once again have ignored research in this area which clearly indicates that the sexual orientation of parents has no bearing on the development of children. It is parenting qualities such as love, commitment, responsibility and the ability to provide for the needs of the child that matter. To suggest that simply for the fact of being gay or lesbian one causes harm to children is as ridiculous as stating that no harm will befall children if their carer happens to be heterosexual. His question of whether same-sex unions could possibly be called marriage is surely a moot point, since this is already the case in at least five Council of Europe Member States, namely Holland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Spain. The question is not therefore a matter of definition but of prejudice and discrimination, that is, who we choose to include or exclude as a society and on what basis. Throughout the conference, the move towards secularisation was touted as a threat to the family with the underlying message being that anyone not subscribing to Catholicism was completely lacking in any form of value system, or at the most, could only hold an inferior set of values. So much for the separation of Church and State and the notion of Universal Human Rights! All unmarried and separated parents were presented as selfish and irresponsible, parading one sexual partner after another with no thought to their children; all children whose parents had undergone a separation were presented as irremediably traumatised; the increased diagnoses of ADHD in children simply the result of unloving parents. The introduction of divorce in Malta would unequivocally lead to the conceptualisation of marriage as a loose knot that could be easily untied at the first hurdle. Forget the fact that Maltese society does not live in a bubble protected from the wider World and that the concept of divorce is with us to stay or the even more contentious reality that one only has to have the means to access it through a foreign court. The conference failed entirely to engage critically the subject matter its title portrayed. There was only one family being considered. All others were demonised and shot down a priori as was made evident throughout the day in the presentations, panels and interviews. It was in fact nothing more than propaganda for a conservative government’s agenda and the religious right that sits solidly behind it, present in full force.

www.maltagayrights.net/NFC_PressReleaseJan2010

2010-01-14T10:14:00.002+01:00

It-Torċa

2010-01-10T15:51:00.000+01:00

Id-dmir li nitkellem (it-tieni parti)

minn mark motebello

It-Torċa

Le Trio Joubran - EP Concert - "In The Shade of the words"

2010-01-02T11:16:00.001+01:00

2009-12-25T18:14:00.000+01:00

“Police raids office of ILGA-Europe’s member organisation in Georgia and arrests ILGA-Europe’s board member”

http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/media/police_raids_office_of_ilga_europe_s_member_organisation_in_georgia_and_arrests_ilga_europe_s_board_member

2009-12-18T14:08:00.000+01:00

Keep your promises to the poor!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/promises/

2009-12-17T11:29:00.000+01:00

The Detention System for Migrants is Causing Unnecessary Suffering!

Press Conference on Saturday 19th December at City Gate Valletta, to start at 10:45am.

Be there to show your stance in favour of a more humane and just policy!

While for many Christmas is a time for celebration, for the hundreds of persons inside the Detention Centres it is just another period of suffering caused by this inhumane policy. People’s liberty is being arbitrarily taken away when they are locked away for up to 18 months in small spaces, with lack of hygiene, limited access to medical care, lack of fresh air and complete uncertainty about their situation and their future. 6 NGOs (Moviment Graffitti, Migrants’ Solidarity Movement, Jesuit Refugee Service, Third World Group, Kopin and Moviment Azzjoni Xellug), will be holding a symbolic activity in Valletta. They will re-create a symbolic detention centres in which activists will sleep in solidarity with the persons inside the detention centres.

At 10:45am, all those who are critical of this detention policy are being invited to a Press Conference during which the NGOs will explain why this policy is unnecessary and unjust.

MaltaToday

2009-12-12T17:58:00.000+01:00

MaltaToday

"Pursuing peace but celebrating war"

2009-12-11T13:15:00.000+01:00

2009-12-03T09:45:00.000+01:00

To Hell with Masks: An Ex-Gay Survivor Speaks Out

http://petersontoscano.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/masks-ex-gay-survivor/

Alecos Modinos, Gay activist from Cyprus, awarded at Annual Conference 2009

2009-11-03T12:37:00.001+01:00

Part 1- Vladimir Luxuria at the Annual Conference 2009

2009-11-03T12:32:00.001+01:00

2009-11-03T11:50:00.000+01:00

The luxury of diversity

An Interview with Vladimir Luxuria (Simply Brilliant!)

www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/11/01/t14.html

2009-10-29T16:35:00.000+01:00

"Every year in the end of October ILGA-Europe hosts its annual conference.
In 2009 our annual conference takes place between 28 October and 1 November in Malta.
In this section you will find information related to our previous and coming conferences."

http://www.ilga-europe.org/europe/about_us/annual_conference/malta_2009

2009-10-25T10:37:00.000+01:00

350 owns the media today

http://tcktcktck.org/

www.350.org

2009-10-23T12:15:00.000+02:00

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD SHATTERED BY CITIZENS ACROSS GLOBE DEMANDING THAT THEIR LEADERS END POVERTY

2009-10-17T10:44:00.000+02:00

Uganda Action Alert: Dismiss the Anti-Homosexuality Bill

2009-10-17T09:48:00.000+02:00

Blog Action Day Roundup: 31,000+ posts, including the UK’s Prime Minister and the White House blog (UPDATED)

TckTckTck - I Am Ready

2009-10-15T09:37:00.001+02:00

2009-10-14T21:54:00.001+02:00

Take the St. Francis Pledge

Check out http://catholicclimatecovenant.org

You Can End Poverty

2009-10-14T12:52:00.001+02:00

2009-10-13T09:27:00.001+02:00

STOPoverty activities

Between Thursday, 15 and Saturday, 25 October several events will take place around Malta to mark International Eradication of Poverty Day.

On Thursday, 15 at 1600h ActionAid’s photographic exhibition, ‘Hunger Free Women Speak out’ be inaugurated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Tonio Borg at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This exhibition will then run from Friday, 16 to Thursday 22, October 0930h to 1600h. Admission is free of charge.

Between Friday, 16 and Sunday 18 October ‘Stand Up Take Action’ will be held in Malta and Gozo. This activity encourages the Maltese public to stand up for 1 minute to remember the poor of the world and to symbolically urge governments to keep their promises. Please send any photographs of your Stand Up and the number of people who took part to standupmalta@gmail.com.

On Friday, 16 October, World Food Day, the right to food campaign ‘Kieku l-Ikel Jitekellem’ will be launched, during a press conference. Usha Ravikumar and Kamala Narasappa, 2 Indian workers, will participate in this event, passing on a message of ethical consumption. For more information contact Ms. Natalie Grima at kkg@maltaforum.org.

On Saturday, 17 October at 2000h Theatrencore will perform Ceda l-Imbatt (in Maltese) followed by a discussion about poverty, the Millennium Development Goals and the Mediterranean region at the MITP, St. Christopher Street, Valletta.

On Sunday, 19 October from 1800h to 2000h Mr. Adrian Mamo will lead a workshop about Art Campaigning Management at St.James Cavalier. Those interested can attend this event free of charge however it is limited to 40 places. Fair Trade refreshments will be available. For more information or to apply contact Mahira Sheikh mahira0129@gmail.com.

On Saturday, 24 October Moviment Graffitti will hold their annual 'Reclaim the World' activity in Valletta. The slogan for this year’s reclaim the world campaign is "you are what you eat!" ("Ghidli x'tiekol u nghidlek x'int!").

On Saturday, 24 October at 0900h a dialogue event titled ‘Y Standup’ will be held at Attard Parish Centre. This event will involve young people in discussions on poverty issues locally, and at European and international level. The young people will be invited to discuss their commitment to reducing poverty on these different levels, while also offering possible routes for policy and action to Church and Government authorities. Young people are invited to participate in this event. For more details contact Maria C. Borg on 2148 4506 or info@kdz.org.mt

These events are planned by ‘STOPoverty!’ and its partners.

STOPoverty! Neqirdu l-Faqar Campaign is the national coalition of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) international campaign. More information about this international campaign can be found at http://www.whiteband.org%20/and http://www.stopovertymalta.org/.

www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=111&CalendarEventID=1061

RAISE YOUR VOICE and change climate change !

2009-10-11T19:57:00.001+02:00

100 places to remember

2009-10-11T19:54:00.001+02:00

Underwater Cabinet Meeting for Ocean Nation

2009-10-11T19:47:00.001+02:00

2009-10-10T10:36:00.001+02:00

World Council of Churches
5th Annual

United Nations Advocacy Week

www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/unaw.html

Migrants, too, have human rights

‘The myth according to which host countries are "victims" of migration needs to be challenged, as in fact their economies benefit from the exploitation of the migrants' work.’

Climate change: It is too late to save our island, but not too late for the world, say Pacific Christians

‘For the Pacific churches, the issue is not only political and economic, but deeply theological, ethical and spiritual. They feel that their place in God's creation is at stake. "The storms and waves eat away our beaches and as they continue they will some day eat us," said Kirata.’