The Maltese Bishops have expressed regret over the adoption by the European Parliament of the report on sexual and reproductive health and rights which, among other things, recommends the legalisation of abortion in all European Union member states and candidate countries.
"We fully agree with all that has been stated by the Secretariat of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) in the statement issued immediately after the European Parliament adopted the said report with 280 votes in favour, 240 against and 28 abstentions," Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale and Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi, said in a statement.
The motion says that abortion should be made legal, safe and accessible to all. It also recommends that governments should strive to implement a health and social policy which should lead to a lower incidence of abortion.
"Along with the COMECE Secretariat, we regret in particular that the report calls for abortion to be made legal and for the abortive morning-after pill to be made more widely accessible in all the European Union member states and accession countries."
The bishops said the Church teaches that human life begins at the moment of conception and that the author and master of life is God alone. The Church also insists that abortion is wrong because it instantly destroys the right to life of an innocent human person.
"This in no way diminishes the Church's full support for women's fundamental human rights, including the right to live in dignity and security."
The EU does not have the power or the responsibility to oblige member countries to legalise abortion or to take measures related to the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare.
"As stated by COMECE, these issues remain the exclusive competence of the member states. However, as also explained by COMECE, while this principle is also recognised in the first paragraph of the report, it is contradicted in the rest.
"Like COMECE, we feel that it is regrettable and inappropriate that the European Parliament should seek to influence the policies not only of member states, but also of accession countries, in an area for which it has no responsibility."
The bishops noted with satisfaction the Maltese government's assurance that it will continue to show its determination to reject abortion always and that Malta will continue to be a strong voice against abortion also in international fora.
"The respect and love our people have for the value of life distinguish us as a nation and is to our credit. Our people should continue to insist on their stand against abortion, whatever happens."