‘Protect life from the beginning until the end’ - Archbishop

Archbishop Charles Scicluna today urged the Christian faithful to protect life from the very beginning until the very end.

Scicluna’s comments come against the backdrop of a pro-life demonstration and a Church-endorsed petition against the introduction of embryo freezing. In its position paper published in November, the Catholic Church, which is headed by Archbishop Charles Scicluna, clearly pronounced itself against embryo freezing by insisting it was “scientifically unnecessary and unreasonable,” while the Cana movement, the Church’s marriage promotion group, said the implementation of embryo freezing will lead to the introduction of abortion.

Moreover, despite denying using abortion to shore up support against embryo-freezing, pro-life group Life Network Malta – one of the principal groups campaigning against the re-introduction of embryo freezing as part of IVF services offered in Malta - have warned that any amendments to the Embryo Protection Act would “objectify life” and used as a pretext to introduce abortion in Malta. And in a recent rally, the human rights group insisited that any proposal that may endanger the life of embryos should be refused as this would lead to abortion.

On his part, the Archbishop himself has been more subdued to the ongoing controversy and moral dilemmas surrounding embryo freezing, and in a brief and thinly-veiled reference to the issue, he told those present at the Curia this morning to defend human life.

Flanked by Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona, the Archbishop told those who turned up at the Curia to receive Christmas greetings, to forgive and to take the first step.

“If there is someone whom you have not talked to in a while or in situations where there is pain or conflict, do not be afraid to take the first step,” he said.

The Archbishop also urged married couples to steer away from conflict.