Speaking at the feast of Our Lady of Ta Pinu, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech seemed to have joined what looks like being a growing industry within the church – that of belittling those who tend to disagree with the church authorities.

Such was a top cardinal’s recent condemnation of ‘chatterers’ with regards to the growing amount of stories about paedophilia within the church.

Speaking at Ta Pinu, Mgr Grech was reported to have said it should be of concern to society that it was witnessing an ‘existential void’ which was being reflected in personal life, the family and society.

An effect of this existential void were pessimism and frustration. He said that politics was a noble art and society should give due recognition to politicians. But sometimes, the messages and examples set by some politicians showed a lack of high ideals which should be an inspiration to the people. Some legislative proposals regarding human life, marriage, the family and social justice confirmed this void.

The void of values was also being held among some who worked in journalism. Journalism could be very useful but sometimes the media was used to spread rumours, sow division, manipulate mind and character assassination. This too created an existential void.

There were also empty vessels in the Church. The authentic Catholic gave his contribution for a more humane society, but this was not reflected when the people of the Church were filled with ‘trash’ instead of with Christ and His teaching.

Recent surveys have shown that among the classes of people who are mistrusted by the people of Malta are politicians and journalists. Priests on the other hand are widely respected. So it would seem that the bishop is piling more opprobrium on politicians and journalists from the height of his moral ground. For good measure, he also condemns some voices within the church.

To speak from within the media we are all too aware of the pitfalls that the daily grind of bringing news to the people entails, including the dangers of simplification, ill-information, bias, and worse.

There are fault lines and faults within the media which must be of concern to the whole of the country and which must be addressed. Fortunately, there are courts of justice and the greatest tribunal of all – public perception.

To join in the condemnation, even if a qualified one, would seem to add to the general mistrust of the population. To which one must ask: Cui prodet? If the media is at fault for sowing doubt, is not sowing generic doubt about the media be equally damaging?

Mgr Grech was equally, if not more, scathing about politicians. The words as reported seem to reinforce a perception gained from earlier public statements and sermons by the bishop – that even discussing let alone approving ‘legislative proposals’ (what legislative proposals, we do not know of any yet in the actual state of affairs) regarding human life, the family and social justice, is a sign of ‘empty vessel politicians who have lost their high ideals.

We all know that the coming times will be times of great public discussions in our country, an era of discussions that entail great dangers for our democracy and national life. For too long, fear of such a confrontation has led us to sweep everything under the carpet, which only made the problems worse.

If now, and we say this with all seriousness and responsibility, bishops will be led to shooting from the hip in this manner, this can only make things much worse.

Let there be discussions and open ones without moral pressure or sermonising condemnations. Let each side express its views and let each side learn to respect the views of others, and ultimately let the people and its representatives take the decisions they believe are the best for the common good.

It is only the people and its representatives that decide what the common good for the entire country is. Religious leaders are free, and as the Constitution says, are obliged to give their views and teachings but the country is telling these religious leaders that at the end it is the people who decides.

To push things further will bring the dangers closer and make them bigger.