The continuity between an embryo and an adult human should be considered before one decided on the freezing of embryos, Archbishop Charles Scicluna said today.

Speaking on RTK radio, he said that although no abortion was committed when embryos were frozen, a percentage of embryos died in the thawing process. Moreover, embryos used for research were butchered.

This, he said, created major dilemmas.

To understand the Church’s position on the freezing of embryos, he said, one should imagine himself now and understand that he was once an embryo. This showed continuity.

On in-vitro fertilisation he said the Church believed children should come from the expression of love between the married couples and whatever could assist the marriage act was welcome.

However, IVF separated conception from the marriage act because this took place in the petri dish.

The state had to come up with a law and up to now this was aimed at protecting the embryo and copied the principles of nature as much as possible.

Statesmen, he said, had to come up with a law which was the least damaging.

Speaking on priest abuse, he appealed to all people who may have suffered abuse to speak up to avoid others being placed in the same situation.