Calling on society to respect the rights of the unborn child, Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday compared the present culture to the Tower of Babel, a biblical symbol of the folly of human ambition.

"Material considerations and egoism sometimes take preference over the child in a mother's womb... Do we want our society to be stained with the blood of the unborn child," Mgr Cremona asked the congregation at the Mosta parish church.

Mgr Cremona, together with parish priest Fr Mario Tong and the College of Parish Priests, concelebrated Mass to mark Pro-Life Day and during the homily meditated on excerpts of the pastoral message, which he wrote together with Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

The Movement for the Rights, Protection and Development of the Unborn Child, which is made up of 44 organisations, held a series of events around Mosta, culminating with messages in front of the Monument to the Unborn Child.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, Labour justice spokesman Anġlu Farrugia and other representatives.

Stressing that life began from the moment of conception, Mgr Cremona said there was the need for a new evangelisation and a solid catechesis to ensure that faith was not merely an outer shell but a profound belief.

"Faith is like a pair of spectacles we wear to see the world. We need the strength to walk away and accept that not every lifestyle is compatible with a Christian life," he said.

Malta was proud to defend life and should not follow the path of other European countries where abortion had been legalised. "Let us find happiness in being different and defend life," the Archbishop said.