The right to life is the first and foremost fundamental human right, the Archbishop’s Curia said in a statement issued shortly after a press conference given by abortion doctor Rebecca Gomperts at Castille Hotel in Valletta.

The statement, which was signed by Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, made no reference to Dr Gomperts’ visit to Malta.

The bishops said they felt the responsibility to remind people that the Catholic Church respects and protects life from the moment of conception, so abortion is morally wrong, since only God has the right over human life.

They appealed to the general public “to pray to God to continue to treasure the gift of life and help those who have had, or are considering having, an abortion”.

The Curia also appealed to members of medical profession and paramedics to carry out their mission in favour of life in a loyal manner.

“Abortion is not a choice. It is murder. It is not a right. It is denial of a right. It is not beneficial to society. It is harmful to human beings and to civil society,” said the bishops, appealing to those who are true Christians to embrace this truth to the full.

In a separate statement, the Conference of Maltese Religious Major Superiors, which gathered for an annual formation seminar, said: “Like Dr Gomperts we reserve the fullest respect for human rights, including freedom of speech and information, as well as women’s rights for their health and dignity. Dr Gomperts deserves our full respect as a human person and as a woman. We fail however to see why this same respect should be denied to human life, at whatever stage of development or growth.”

Dr Gomperts has come to advocate the choice to kill one’s own child, the statement said, continuing “our choice is to allow people to be born first, so that they can indeed enjoy the God-given ability to choose life instead of death”.

The Conference of Maltese Religious Major Superiors concluded by saying that it considers the life of mothers and their children as equally precious and sacred. Both start their existences in the same way.