• We, the Bishops of Malta and Gozo, together with many fellow citizens who believe in the value and the dignity of life, irrespective of the beliefs they embrace, wish to express our concern regarding the Judicial Protest filed by the Fondazzjoni għad-Drittijiet tal-Mara, for the legalisation of the morning-after pill.

    We are aware and appreciate that many Groups and Organisations and many other individuals who still believe that the dignity of human life should be protected and  safeguarded from the moment of conception, have already voiced their consternation in this regard.

    We would like to make it clear that we wholeheartedly appreciate those efforts in our society that seek to ensure the respect and constant promotion of the role and dignity of women. At the same time, however, we are also in favour of the rights of the person in the womb who, although voiceless, deserves to have his or her right to life protected forcefully. Therefore, we vigorously affirm that the legalisation of this pill, which in many cases cause abortion, should not be bound to the rights of women or merely with their reproductive health.

    The question of the beginning of a new life always includes several other more serious and delicate issues. If we ignore them, we would be undermining the most sacred values which render society and our co-existence more worthy of humanity.

    Our strong sense of humanity, and the determination to continue safeguarding in our nation’s culture the protection of the dignity of every human life from conception, should unite us when faced with such an issue.

    Our core issue remains the moral fibre of our society; without it we would be dismantling not only what we have received, but also we would end up by not having anything to hand down to future generations.

     
    ✠ Charles J. Scicluna                                                                   ✠ Mario Grech
         Archbishop of Malta                                                                     Bishop of Gozo