From Ms J. Refalo

Mr Farrugia’s letter “Now the cat is really our of the bag (TMIS, 28 October) emits an aura of prejudice, unfounded assumptions and arrogance! He seems to consider himself some Sherlock Holmes who has solved the great mystery of who is causing the rift in Victoria! And he lays the blame on Rev. Dr Joe Vella Gauci! But, my dear Holmes, your conclusion - almost libellous in itself - lacks the “elementary, my dear Watson” reasoning!

First, Rev. Dr Joe Vella Gauci has never said or done anything to rouse up his followers. You make it sound like he goes up on the pulpit preaching revolution! Unless you can make a specific reference to where/how or when he did or said anything to defy the Curia, then just sit back and watch TV in your home in Pieta and do some research before you write! The first three letters of the word “assume” is no coincidence!

Second, oh I know! You are going to say Rev. Dr Joe Vella Gauci is the troublemaker for not bowing down humbly to the all-supreme Bishop! In your words, he didn’t follow the rules of the club! Well, didn’t it occur to you that if he is appealing to Rome, which is superior to our Bishop, it means the Vatican has the “machinery” and the “club rule” that allows him to appeal. If it is difficult for you to understand, what I am saying is Rev. Dr Joe Vella Gauci is following your club rules and you ought to be ashamed of denying him his fundamental, human rights!

You say the Church is not a democracy, but that shouldn’t exclude diplomacy, which you and our dear bishop seriously lack! You both seem to have a cowboy “Git outta Dodge before sunset” attitude! Have you ever seen The Good, The Bad and The Ugly? I know who is playing the parts; do you?

Can you explain why the Bishop has never answered any of the accusations of partial treatment! Rev. J Farrugia’s tenure at St George ended last Sunday; would it have killed the Bishop if he had allowed Rev. Dr Joe Vella Gauci to continue his for an equal period of time instead of telling him to “git outta Dodge” at a moment’s notice?

Many others would like to express their support for Rev. Dr Joe Vella Gauci, but as Dr Alfred Grech said in his letter, they are afraid to for political reasons! It is a shame because Rev. Dr Joe Vella Gauci had treated his parishioners and church helpers like no other. He made sure his choir members got paid, he held numerous parties, most notably the ones at La Perla restaurant in Marsalforn! But alas, just like St Peter - he followed Christ for years and broke bread with him, but on the night when the Lord needed him most, he abandoned and denied his friend and lord! A friend in need, is a friend indeed!

YouR Excellency: he who wants to be first, must come last! When the Lord washed his apostles’ feet, he washed them all equally! There is no shame in consulting and in admitting mistakes - Pope John Paul II did it many a time, and look how respected he was! To err is human, to admit it is humane!

Joanna Refalo

VICTORIA