It was distressing to read Daphne Caruana Galizia’s reference to the Cana Movement in her column last Sunday. She asked whether the Movement had taken leave of its senses, a question she based on reports she never attempted to verify. The reports, which I have not seen because no indication was given as to where they appeared, made the assertion that a Dr Charles Attard, the president of National Action, was “invited” to address our national conference. This is simply not true and may explain her inevitably confused and aggressive reaction.

The keynote speaker at the conference on healthy marriages, which I am glad to say was a great success, was Dr Samantha Callan Ph.D. Other speakers were Professor Charles Savona Ventura, who presented a study conducted by Discern, Rev. Dr Charles Tabone OP, Sonia Camilleri and Joe Aquilina. The event was efficiently chaired by Dr Ann Fenech LL.D.

Members of the very large audience who wished to make any suggestion or express an opinion at the end of the conference, were asked by Dr Fenech to put their names down on a sheet of paper provided for this purpose. A number of them took the opportunity to do so. Only those who did so were called by the chair to air their views. Dr Attard, a member of the public who attended, was among those who put his name down.

Ms Caruana Galizia’s concern about the Cana Movement taking “leave of its senses”, or that we are naive, or if not, that we think it “perfectly acceptable, even desirable, to be associated with a fledgling political party that preaches negative messages about women, blacks and those who have been plucked from the sea” - oh, and which is against women marrying “foreigners” and diluting “our Maltese culture”, is, I regret to say, totally and irresponsibly misplaced.

Joseph Mizzi

Director

Cana Movement