The different cultures between the Church and the media should never lead to a lack of a positive relationship and dialogue between the two, outgoing Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca said yesterday.

Addressing media representatives during a Mass held for them to mark the feast of St Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists, Mgr Mercieca said that the criticism the Church and the media levelled at each other should not be transformed into a lack of appreciation for their respective role or to division.

The Church believes the media has an important part to play. “But it is not easy to be an optimist…if certain sections of the media seem not to know that religion is a vital part of life,” or if they just report what suits them most, or if they are systematically negative on religious beliefs and values, Mgr Mercieca said.

The cultural changes that have taken place in Maltese society have brought with them a mixture of positive and negative attitudes towards the Church. The Church’s social role is, for example, appreciated and encouraged. But, on the other hand, the Church’s mission to promote Christ’s truth is not always popular, especially in areas where a sense of sacrifice and denial is needed.

“The Church is not afraid when it is criticised. On the contrary, the Church wants and needs to be criticised, but only if the people criticising do this with responsibility, honesty, loyalty and in a constructive manner,” Mgr Mercieca said.

What the Church wants is that its message is passed on correctly. There is nothing wrong in saying what we agree with and what we don’t agree with, but the Church’s message must be delivered in the correct way, he added.

The Church’s mission is to continue spreading Christ’s truth. The Church must also work hard to deliver God’s teachings where moral confusion is evident. Christ’s teachings never change and the Church must continue to pass it on untouched.

In this mission, the Church would like to find cooperation from the media so that people will continue to cherish Christ’s teachings, Mgr Mercieca said.

Today’s world is dominated by the media culture. For many, the media today is the main source of education and formation, and is their inspiration as individuals, families and society. This puts great responsibility on the shoulders of the media.

The truth must always be respected, he said. It is not positive that the truth is sacrificed for partisan or sectoral reasons; that honesty is put aside for the sake of one’s own interests; that what is good is ignored to satisfy one’s agenda.

Mgr Mercieca appealed to all journalists to promote and defend the truth, and give priority to human dignity, the common good, the nation’s unity, the sense of justice and solidarity, the strength of the family and the unconditional love for children.s