CNE’s podcast: Is abortion “inevitable” in Malta? Praying for coalition talks in Austria; Will Netanyahu be arrested in Poland? Gender-neutral families in Lithuania, and Thursday church in Sweden instead of Sunday
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European Union
NewsRound Europe is CNE’s news podcast. It has a bulletin with some remarkable news topics from the European continent. At the end, we have a question-and-answer session with a colleague about an article.
Is abortion "inevitable"in Malta?
The leader of the pro-life movement in Malta, Myriam Debono, says the legalisation of abortion on the island is “inevitable”. At this moment, Malta is one of the two EU countries where termination of pregnancy is forbidden. The only option for abortion is when the mother’s life is at risk.
During a television interview, Mrs Debono says she is opposed to abortion, but nobody will be able to stop the move in the other direction. “If we study the developments even in other countries, they began with 100 per cent being against it.” She thinks this is the same as euthanasia in most countries. “The most important thing is that there is a discussion.”
She thinks that the best way to go forward is having a referendum. She expects that in the long term, there will be support for abortion in Malta.
Prayer for coalition talks in Austria
The Secretary General of the Austrian Evangelical Alliance, Oliver Stozek, has called on Christians to pray for the formation of a new government in his country.
On January 6, President Alexander Van der Bellen tasked Herbert Kickl, leader of the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), with forming a government. This came after failed coalition talks between the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), and the liberals.
The FPÖ came out as the strongest party in the elections last September.
Stozek urged Christians to pray for the government, referring to 1 Timothy 2, which calls for prayers for rulers and authorities. He also encouraged participation in the Evangelical Alliance’s week of prayer that actually started this Sunday.
Stozek did not comment on party politics, emphasising the Alliance's non-partisan stance and urging Christians to examine a party's ideology and values before forming opinions.
Will Netanyahu be arrested in Poland?
The European Coalition for Israel (ECI) strongly condemned the idea from the Polish government to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The suggestion was to do this if Netanyahu attends the 80th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation on January 27.
The organisation –which consists mainly of Christians—sees this suggestion as f form of modern antisemitism by equating Jews with Nazis, suggesting Jews are as responsible for genocide as others.
ECI’s Tomas Sandell criticised the situation, highlighting that it overlooks the ongoing trauma of Jews, especially after the Hamas attack on October 7 2023, and undermines Israel’s role in protecting its own citizens.
Protests against Poland’s decision are already underway, with former American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris announcing he will not attend. The controversy further strains Polish-Israeli relations, which are already complex due to historical tensions.
Sandell urged Poland to apologise and reinvite Netanyahu, warning that failing to do so would damage international law and justice.
Protection of minor against same-sex exposure in Lithuania?
Lithuania’s Constitutional Court has ruled that a law banning public information about same-sex relationships is unconstitutional. Such a law was introduced in 2002 to protect minors and to promote traditional family life.
The court found that the law violated children’s freedom of thought and their right to understand family diversity.
This decision followed a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights in 2023, which also found the law discriminatory. The court emphasised that “family” should be understood as a gender-neutral concept, not limited to marriage between a man and woman, and that children should not be shielded from learning about diverse family models. It also recognised childhood as a constitutional value that should foster development, including the understanding of family diversity.
Article 38 of the Constitution of Lithuania states that the family should be the basis of society and the state. Furthermore, the state has the obligation to protect family, motherhood, fatherhood, and childhood. Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman.
The Constitutional Court does not directly address this passage in the Constitution, which the LGBTQ community sees as discriminatory. However, it is clear that the ruling opens the door for further legal challenges related to LGBTQ rights and family equality.
Will church on Thursday attract more than on Sunday?
What can we do as a church when the people are too busy to come on Sunday? The church in Fliseryd in the southeast of Sweden has decided to move its Sunday services to Thursday evening. The aim is to attract more churchgoers.
Recent Sunday services have seen as few as 15 visitors, so the church is trying something new. Magnus Johansson, the church leader, said they hope this change will break the current trend.
The new Thursday services started last week and will be tested throughout the year before evaluating the results.
The church received special permission from the Diocese, making it one of the first congregations to get such approval.
Some congregation members are excited about the change, while others are upset by the loss of Sunday services.
The decision to choose Thursdays was based on the church already holding activities like choir rehearsals and breakfast gatherings on that day. However, Sunday services will still be held during major Christian holidays.
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