The recent results of the survey held by the Curia to find out how many people attend Sunday Mass must be very discouraging for the Church.

It shows that Malta is following the trend elsewhere across Europe, where Mass attendance has been on the decline too. If anything, Malta must still be the country with the highest percentage of Mass-goers.

The reason why people no longer go to Mass on Sundays is simple. I think that most of them have moved away from the Church because they no longer identify themselves with what it says and preaches.

I do understand that the Church must maintain its teachings and be consistent in so doing, but at the other end of the scale, it cannot expect the people – who are today more educated than they were 20, 30 years ago – to follow all it says without raising questions. While I believe that many still hold the Catholic faith dear, on the other hand, certain positions taken by the Church have pushed them away from it. And this is why perhaps they have opted not to continue going to Mass on Sundays.

The Church should reflect on all this because it is clear that as more time passes, more people are choosing not to go to Mass.

Paul Camilleri

Mosta