From Prof. J.A. Muscat

A number of letters have recently appeared in the press denouncing the holding of graduation ceremonies at the old university church in Valletta. They argued that as the university is a State institution, it should not hold a prime event in a building that is a temple of a particular faith.

The question arises, is the Republic of Malta a secular or a confessional state? The Constitution of the Republic of Malta states that the religion of Malta is the Roman Catholic religion. It goes on to affirm that everyone is free to practice whatever religion he or she chooses, so long as this is not in contravention of the Laws of Malta.

This position implies that the Republic of Malta is not a wholly secular state. It is also a fact that in other states in the European Union there exists an established church and the head of that state is also the head of that church. It is therefore not anomalous that the highest law of the land should regard the Catholic religion as the paramount religion of our island state.

In fact, it is hard to conjure a wholly secular or a wholly confessional state in Europe or anywhere else.

The Catholic religion is entrenched in our constitution. It is inextricably woven into our national identity and there is no reason why we should shy from being witness to its public presence.

A graduation ceremony should not be regarded simply as an occasion for a student rag. It is a milestone in the lives of thousands of young men and women and, like a marriage ceremony, there is no more fitting place for its celebration than a church.

Prof. J.A. Muscat

TA’ XBIEX