Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has expressed concern at what he said was rampant ethical relativism, stressing that separating science from ethics was extremely dangerous.

"Science divorced from ethics is blind, soulless and operates without the principles that establish what's right or wrong," Mgr Grech said on Sunday during a homily at Xagħra to celebrate the feast of St Anthony the Abbot.

There were certain "thinkers" in Malta, he said, who felt that those who held Christian convictions could not be objective in their judgment - this was prejudice against the Christian faith.

Not everything that was scientifically possible meant it would benefit mankind. "Some time ago, Pope Benedict XVI told scientists that breakthroughs in bioethics should not result in a choice between science and ethics, but should be the moral purpose of science," he said.

"There are those who say that this relativism is necessary in a democracy because it guarantees tolerance and respect. However, if that were the case, the majority of the moment will become the fount of truth. History has shown this is not a good criterion to go by," he added.

"It ought to be human reason to help us discover the one truth. Part of this truth is made up of the moral principles known as the natural, moral law given to us by the Creator.

"This natural law gives us a true guarantee that the liberty and dignity of every person is respected and protected from being manipulated by somebody or by some ideology."