Cherishing Life

In their Pastoral Letter on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Maltese Bishops referred to the protection of life at every stage, and to the improvement of its quality in every aspect. The Bishops shed light as to what extent the Christian should keep himself informed, following which he is to take a conscious decision with regards to any medicinal products that may terminate life at the beginning of conception. With  regards to euthanasia, the Bishops emphasized that every Christian should stand firm in the their belief that “life does not depend upon how healthy a person is, or how satisfied he is with the quality of his life”. They reiterated that society should display “its merciful face” by improving medical services which serve to alleviate pain, rather than offering death as a solution. In a tangible way, the Archbishop announced that the Church in Malta, together with the Hospice Movement, will be opening Dar il-Ħniena (House of Mercy), a new residence that will provide high quality services specializing in palliative care to terminally ill patients. The Bishops’ also appealed to all Maltese and Gozitans to strive so that no person will be forsekan in his or her illness or chronic condition. Click here to read the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter.