Bishops take exception to UN committee's pressure on abortion

Abortion is and remains the murder of innocent persons, whatever the reason behind it, the Maltese bishops said yesterday.

The bishops were reacting to a recommendation by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which last month urged the Maltese state to consider exceptions to the general prohibition on abortion.

The UN committee called on the Maltese state to consider abortion in therapeutic cases and in those instances where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

Not mincing their words, the Archbishop, Mgr Joseph Mercieca, Mgr Nicholas Cauchi, Bishop of Gozo, and Mgr Annetto Depasquale, Auxiliary Bishop, said in a statement that "Abortion is fully contrary to the law of God. It is a grave affront to God, who has absolute authority over human life".

"As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation. The inalienable rights of the person must be recognised and respected by civil society and the political authority.

"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law," the Bishops explained.

Taking all this into consideration, the UN Committee's pressure on the Maltese state to legalise abortion in certain circumstances was objectionable and unacceptable, the Bishops continued.

"We regret very much the United Nations Committee's decision to make such unfortunate pressure on our country".

The Bishops encouraged the Maltese people to remain steadfast in their appreciation and defence of human life from its conception and in their total rejection of abortion.

"We also encourage all the representatives of our people to continue not only to reject abortion without any reservations, but also to never stop pronouncing themselves in defence of life and against the killing, through abortion, of persons totally unable to defend themselves".