Bishops welcome bioethics regulation

The Maltese bishops have welcomed the efforts being made to introduce a law regulating the area of bioethics.

"In the discussion on when, exactly, human life begins, there are still people who raise doubts as to whether human life starts the moment the spermatozoon penetrates the ovum or later when the fusion between them occurs," said a statement signed by Joseph Mercieca, Archbishop of Malta, Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, Nicholas J. Cauchi, Bishop Emeritus of Gozo and Annetto Depasquale, Auxiliary Bishop of Malta.

"We, bishops, feel the need to reiterate the official and clear stand of the Catholic Church: The moment the spermatozoon penetrates the ovum is when the existence of a new human being begins."

The bishops' statement said this teaching of the Church was officially confirmed in the Pontifical Academy for Life's Final Declaration issued on March 23 at the end of its 12th General Assembly.

The academy is composed of academics, experts in the subject, chosen from different countries and religious denominations.

"When one takes into account the way technology of assisted procreation has developed, one feels it has become very important that, also in our country, this technology is regulated by a law which protects the rights of the newly conceived, which leaves no room for actions that go against the dignity of man and against the function and rights that God gave to the family," the bishops said.