ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The Roman Catholic Church says it is opposed to abortions as a means of dealing with the Zika virus insisting that the church does not believe in attacking innocent lives regardless of the circumstances.

“What would be advisable is that persons take the necessary precautions, because sometimes we can be less than prudent and vigilant with respect to how we conduct ourselves, especially in the face of danger,” Bishop of St John’s Basseterre, Kenneth Richards told OBSERVER media.

He said that women and men should instead follow the message of prevention and precaution as has been preached by the health authorities.

Antigua recently announced that it had recorded its first case of the mosquito-borne virus that has been blamed for microcephaly leading to babies being born with abnormally small heads.

Some countries, including those in the Caribbean, have been urging women to delay their pregnancies as a result and in some instances advocates have called for the governments to allow women to legally have abortions.

But the executive director of the Antigua Planned Parenthood Association (APPA), Lyndale Weaver Greenaway, said while abortion is a personal choice, it is not a decision her department would support.

“I think legalising abortion will not make a significant impact, because it is sort of impossible to determine whether every unborn child will be affected by microcephaly,” Greenaway said.

On Monday, the 15-member Caribbean Community launched a week of activities to highlight the impact of the Zika virus on the region.