In a country where practically everyone is baptised at birth and most people are raised in the Catholic faith at least until they are teenagers, one would think that the teachings of the Church should be clear in everyone’s minds.

However, a recent television appearance by Dun Gorg Dalli on Xarabank has led to a heated theological debate in the country, which has revealed that the way Maltese Catholics have been taught and what they actually do are two very different things.

When a Catholic commits what is considered a sin, he goes to confession, is given a penance, receives absolution, and is asked to repent with the promise that he will sin no more. It is only then that he is free to receive Holy Communion. When the sin is a lifestyle choice, however, Maltese Catholics seem to be hitting a snag.

Fr Dalli’s controversial statement that he sees nothing wrong with unmarried couples who are living together choosing to receive Holy Communion as long as they have a clear conscience, caused a stir during the programme. Many were shocked by what they perceived as a contradiction of one of the basic tenets of Catholic doctrine being voiced by a man of the cloth. The ensuing debate quickly spilled over into the newspapers and online discussion boards.

As the dispute of what is and is not “allowed” continued, Malta’s bishops last week bowed to what seemed like mounting public pressure, and issued a joint statement firmly spelling things out to dispel any more confusion: “The Catholic Church affirms that those couples who live together but who are not married, should not receive Holy Communion”. The statement also added, however, that the Church still encourages these couples to continue attending Mass and that it is willing to offer any spiritual guidance needed.

Rather than calming the waters, however, this outright declaration has caused an even greater uproar, leading one to conclude that there are a considerable number of couples who have been receiving Holy Communion despite “living in sin”.

Those who have been hit the hardest by this stand seem to be separated people who are in a new relationship, but who still consider themselves to be devout Catholics.

The Bishops’ statement, however, has made it very clear that this is not being done to “punish” anyone but because the lifestyle of unmarried couples goes against the sacrament of marriage. In order to receive the Eucharist, the statement added, one must be in complete union with God and the Church.

The introduction of divorce legislation, which would allow separated people to marry their partner rather than live together, would not remove the religious dilemma which Catholics face either.

Asked to clarify whether this ‘rule’ also applies to those who were only married in a civil ceremony, a spokesman for the Curia confirmed that, “...in front of God and the Church, for Catholics, only the sacrament of matrimony is valid and civil marriage is not. As a principle, those who are civilly married (after divorce or not) cannot receive the Holy Eucharist.”

When it was pointed out that such a blanket statement could further alienate an already dwindling number of practising Catholics who still attend Mass, the Curia spokesman agreed that it would be sad “even if only one person stays away from this communion. However, the Church’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel truth, even though it is not embraced by all.”

The Malta Independent on Sunday also asked Fr Dalli for his comments, however he said he preferred to remain silent. When the Curia was asked whether Fr Dalli has been banned from speaking further to the media, the spokesman said that any communication between the Archbishop and any individual is private and confidential.

Why me?

Linda* is separated and living with her partner, and feels very strongly about this issue, because she feels the Bishops’ statement is specifically targeting only those in her situation and not other kinds of “sinners”.

“I go to Church regularly and have received Holy Communion – and I will continue do so, if I go to Church again.

“I feel the Church keeps trying to impose ‘man-made’ rules on its own with sweeping statements like these, only to be challenged with other scenarios for which they have no official stand

“I feel that this kind of statement is alienating people, which is totally unnecessary. And yet the Church continues to hound separated people who wish to start a new life, in love and respect, when all around them there are so many other types of people who ‘break’ this rule because they are not specifically targeted. What about those people who break rules/commandments on a daily basis?? For example the cheating husband/wife who plays around and never intends to leave his/her spouse for whatever reason. Shouldn’t the Church also forbid such persons from receiving Holy Communion by making a similar formal statement about it? Just because a person’s status is legalised (i.e. when they separate) this does not mean that the Church has the right to target those who are brave enough to make a change in their lives while others around them continue to break commandments. And what about those who break the commandment ‘thou shalt not steal’? Does the Church publicly denounce and forbid those who are repeated offenders?? It’s such a grey area and yet they seem to have very clear statements on one particular sector of people.

“I think there should be a lot more understanding, compassion and compromise to deal with today’s changing families. There should be more leniency and nobody should ever try to ‘play God’. Everyone will be judged by Him alone on their deathbed and each and every one of us should not be labelled or treated according to their status in life. This is not in Jesus’ teachings. If anything He says ‘Judge not lest ye be judged’.

“On a personal level, my partner and I attend Mass, but since this statement was issued, we have actually discussed how we think we would feel if we attended Mass again.  Many people know us as both being separated and we can just imagine the talk if we had to receive Holy Communion, as you know how everybody judges. I feel grossly insulted by this latest statement and am seriously debating whether to continue attending Mass anymore. As explained above, nobody is above sin; everybody is committing some kind on a daily basis. So why aren’t we all being condemned to not receiving Holy Communion? Why is this directed only at cohabiting couples? Does the Church wish to reply to this?”

*Name has been changed to protect this person’s identity out of respect for her family

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