Abortion is illegal and that is how it should remain – it is nothing less than murder, former Labour Deputy Speaker Carmelo Abela said yesterday during a pro-life manifestation at the St John’s Co-Cathedral Oratory.

During the celebration, organised by the Malta Unborn Child Movement on the occasion of pro-life day, Mr Abela said parents were obliged to do their utmost and protect their offspring from the moment of conception.

Society and the state were also duty-bound to support mothers during their pregnancies and help them provide a good quality of life to their newborns. Mr Abela appealed for better sexual education and regulations to protect pregnant mothers at work.

Health Minister Joe Cassar, present for the celebration, expressed his satisfaction that Malta “at last” had a law that assured that every baby was protected from the first moment of life.

Referring to the Embryo Protection Law, he said no law was enough and people needed to be personally engaged in protecting life.

Paul Vincenti, president and founder of the Gift of Life Foundation, also appealed for the protection of life, insisting that both major parties should not only declare they were in favour of life but show this in practice.

The pro-life manifestation was held following Mass celebrated by Archbishop Paul Cremona, who appealed for the protection of life from conception till death.

Respecting life went beyond law. Dignity was granted to humans by God, and if someone took the right and liberty of other people’s lives in his hands, this dignity would suffer, he said.