Outright killing

Recently a local TV programme discussed abortion. In a free country, everybody has the right to express their views. Nevertheless, one cannot embrace and even less adopt policies, which are diametrically opposite to the dignity and value of the human person. Abortion is undoubtedly a case in point.

Irrespective of the many seemingly pragmatic arguments which liberals are presenting in their unconvincing attempt to give the impression that abortion is permissible in certain cases, the fact still remains that abortion is an abhorrent killing of human life.

The key principle on which abortion is to be outrightly condemned is precisely that human life must be respected and safeguarded entirely from the moment of conception. As a matter of fact, the instruction issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on the respect for human life in its origin and on the dignity of procreation, known as Donum Vitae, clearly says that "the fruit of human generation, from the first moment of its existence, that is to say from the moment the zygote has formed, demands the unconditional respect that is morally due to the human being in his bodily and spiritual totality. The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception; and therefore from that same moment his rights as a person must be recognised, among which in the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life" (Donum Vitae,1).

Hence, in the light of the latter mentioned principle that is found at the very beginning of the instruction Donum Vitae, direct abortion, which is an abortion that is willed both as an end or a means, goes seriously against the moral law. The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes, confirms this point: "God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes" (Gaudium et Spes, 51).

The teaching of the Church is crystal-clear on this issue. No one has the right to perform an operation to bring a pregnancy to an abrupt end. No one can claim for himself or herself the right to end prematurely a pregnancy where a fetus is criminally expelled from the womb it has every right to enjoy living in.

Of its very nature, the medical profession is called to serve life by curing it. Every doctor is well acquainted with the Hippocratic Oath. Such an oath is taken by doctors when they graduate and sets out moral and ethical obligations of doctors to their patients vis-à-vis the sanctity of human life, relief of suffering, etc. How can a doctor practise his profession in favour of death and destruction instead of saving life? How can a medical professional refer somebody to undergo an abortion?

It is sad when one thinks that the law, which from its nature is contemplated to safeguard the rights and security of its citizens, not only fails to do that, but also gives the go-ahead for such a horrible crime, which abortion surely is. The law should be the first place whereby such crimes should be effectively and permanently stopped. If a constitutional amendment would prove vital for the safeguard of future generations from this awful crime, would it not be appropriate for our politicians to join forces and together agree on that constituitional amendment?

The aim of politics is to advance and protect the integral good of society. The politician is a person who chooses and acts on policies that promote the security and development of every individual person as well as society as a whole, including the unborn citizens. Can we afford to have politicians who are in favour of abortion in Malta? Can Christians, believers of other faiths and people of good will, ever take the responsibility to elect politicians who destroy life by their policies?

It is my conviction that responsible citizens would never elect to Parliament people who will favour or vote for abortion. Malta needs politicians who embrace the culture of life and surely not those who mercilessly promote the culture of death and destruction of today's, and much more of tomorrow's generation.

The Archbishop's homily at the closure of the Eucharistic congress on June 3 was quite prophetic for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. As Mgr Mercieca rightly pointed out, moral relativism, that is when people act according to their feelings in particular circumstances, instead of following the teaching of the truth, is taking root in the Maltese Catholic society.

We, as Catholic believers, cannot remain indifferent to this. We must base our decisions on our Catholic faith and moral principles. Therefore, abortion is intrinsically wrong, since human life is brutally ended. No one has the right to play God, be it doctors, politicians, pro-choice groups. etc.

Abortion is wrong and immoral since it is opposed to life. It is an infamy because it poisons human society, and does more harm to those who practise it than to those who suffer from it. Abortion, which unjustly and cruelly destroys human life, is not only "a supreme dishonour to the Creator" (Evangelium Vitae, 3), but also "is opposed to the virtue of justice and directly violates the divine commandment "You shall not kill" (Evangelium Vitae 13).

There is no room for abortion in Malta. There is no place in our laws, hospitals and private clinics for the outright killing of innocent people.