Updated | Women’s confederation irked by Gozo bishop homily on abortion

Abortion is murder, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said in a reiteration of the staunch Catholic doctrine precept. But in the same breath he pointed out that while medical treatment for mothers which indirectly puts the unborn child's life at risk may be ethically permissible, the abortion of a foetus is not acceptable.

In a homily in Gozo dedicate to the celebration of the Catholic day for international women's organisations, Grech paid lip service to the progress on women's rights in the fight against domestic violence, but in the same breath expressed concern at attempts to "equate the protection of human life from conception, to a violation of women's rights."

He was referring to human rights advocated ICJ (International Commission of Jurists), which last year recommended the decriminalisation of abortion in Malta.

Grech pointed out that the UN declaration on the rights of the child says: "Whereas  the child, by reason of his physical and  mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and  care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth."

"Abortion is murder. Who carries out abortion, shoulders grave moral responsibility. When a pregnant mother is seriously ill and requires medical treatment which could indirectly put the unborn child's life at risk, the treatment is ethically permissible as long as all options to protect the mother and the child are explored. The direct killing of children in order to save the mother is never acceptable."

Grech also thanked the Labour Party and the PN for consistently opposing abortion and being pro-life.

MCWO reaction

In a reaction, the Malta Confederation of Women's Organisations hit out at the homily, expressing concern at Grech's statement that abortion to save a mum's life is never acceptable. "We believe that the life of the mother is at the very least as valuable as the life of the unborn child, but such statements suggest otherwise," spokesperson Kate Bonello Sullivan said.

"One should keep in mind that under such tragic circumstances the persons involved, especially the mother, need our full and unconditional  support. Such categorical statements can only bring added pressure and problems to those concerned.

"Much more emphasis should have been made on the fact that life-saving medical care to the mother is ethically acceptable, even if it indirectly harms the foetus. This gives a more humane face to the church and our society."

Bonello Sullivan said that the initiative by Catholic home Dar Guzeppa Debono to pray for babies at risk of abortion, should also include prayers for the life of mothers at risk.

ICJ report

In its report, the ICJ had recommended the decriminalisation of abortion and that Maltese women should have access to safe and legal abortions in situations where their life or health may be at risk "or where respect for the right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment so requires."

"Considerations of this kind are unacceptable because they focus on pseudo women rights and completely disregard the human right to exist from the moment of conception. Humans, born or unborn, have a right to life. The weaker the human being is the bigger the responsibility of society to protect the human being."

Malta's Criminal Code prohibits the termination of pregnancy, specifying that both women who procure miscarriages and medical professionals who perform or assist them may be held criminally responsible.

The terms of the law do not envisage any exception and as a result even abortion for therapeutic purposes, such as to save the life of a pregnant woman, is subject to this prohibition.

The ICJ had noted that these provisions undermine Malta's compliance with its obligations to ensure women's enjoyment of the rights to life and highest attainable standard of health, and freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as enshrined  in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the ICCPR,  the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Convention against Torture.

In October last year, the death of Savita Halappanavar at University College hospital in Galway, Ireland become the focus of international debate and protests over Ireland's strict laws on abortion.

The 31-year-old died eight days after being admitted in hospital when she was 17 weeks pregnant. Her husband claimed that a doctor, named at the inquest in Galway as Dr Katherine Astbury, told him that a termination which could have saver the mother's life could not be performed because "this is a Catholic country."