Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi spoke about the importance of cherishing the gift of life and the importance of making ‘pro-life choices,’ whilst scrutinising the abortion bill during his homily on Sunday.

Galea-Curmi was celebrating mass on Day of Life 2023 at the St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

The bill, as it is now, permits abortions when a pregnant woman's life is in danger or her health is in "grave jeopardy."

However, the government said that the amendment to the wording of the bill, which will prevent any abuse, is now at its “conclusive stage.”

Galea-Curmi began the homily by expressing his sympathy for Pelin Kaya, the 30-year-old victim who was killed after being hit by a car on her birthday in Msida, on 18 January.

“How can it be that are you walking quietly and suddenly you find someone who will end your life?”

He said that one cannot help but express sadness and sympathy for the victim’s family.

“Terrible events like this should strengthen the will to protect the life of each and every one because life is priceless. Human life has the greatest value.”

He spoke about the importance of making pro-life choices to protect life from any threat. This can be done by taking the necessary measures to protect workers in the workplace, by protecting the environment, by defending victims of domestic violence, by saving anyone at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean, by creating more awareness about drugs and by supporting the weak and vulnerable.

He reminded people how a few days ago a number of people were found dead, including a baby, on a boat in Malta’s Search and Rescue zone.

He also made reference to the abortion bill and said that what is being proposed is effectively saying that it is acceptable to end human life in the womb in particular circumstances.

“This is a really important time in the history of our country, a decisive moment, where we need to make a choice: either we protect human life from the beginning, when there is already human life, or not.”

He said that when the mother’s life was at risk in the past and the pregnancy had to be terminated, this would take place and there was no issue.

“We defend the life of the mother and the baby, and we seek to save the life of both of them; but if at any time there is a threat to the mother’s life, we do what is necessary to save her life.”

He said that the main problem came with the word “health.” He said that many places around the world have shown that this word can be used to justify ending lives.

He said that protecting life from the moment of procreation was not only something restricted to the church, but it is also what science says.

He protected the church’s stance and said that just because the bible says “thou shalt not kill” this does not mean that if you are not part of the church then you should kill.

He said mentioned a political statute that says: “The health of society is seen from the progress of the weakest members.”

“And who are the weakest? They are the voiceless, vulnerable ones in the womb, those dependent on others to survive, those who are not viable for a while but become viable precisely with the support they are given.”

He took the time to thank all the people and organisations who are working to protect these unborn children, whilst also supporting women who are going through a difficult time with their pregnancy such as a miscarriage or an unwanted pregnancy.