A few days ago I accompanied a near relative who was in Malta for a day’s tour, to visit St John’s Co-Cathedral.

We went trough the main door but were abruptly stopped by a woman usher as Holy Mass was being celebrated.

What does it matter, I said, we will sit down say a prayer; then once the Holy Mass comes to an end we could go around the Cathedral

“No you cannot go in, you have to wait until 9.30am and then pass through the side door in Republic Street,” we were told.

A little after 9.30am we did as instructed. At the entrance through the side door there was a queue of people, whether tourists or not I cannot say. As we stood in the queue a friend informed me that there is a shorter queue for individuals (not groups).

We went there but I was surprised to notice that all those people in the queues were there to pay an entrance fee of some e7. I was not aware of the position as I had not been to Valletta for a couple of months.

In front of the cashier I was ready to pay the fee for my relative.

“No”, I was told, “even you have to pay in order to enter the Co-Cathedral”. I pointed out that I am Maltese living in Malta, and moreover I am over 80 years old.

No matter. I was asked to pay. I protested and even showed my “Kartanzjan”. No deal. I pointed out that, my relative, a niece, was over 60 too. As I continued to protest that it was an abuse to make me a Maltese pay to enter the church, I was finally told to pay a reduced rate for both of us.

To cut a long story short, I paid our dues. On entering we were offered the use of the “multilingual guide”. Obviously I did not need it but my niece used it.

It is reasonable to pay a fee to use the “multilingual guide” but it cannot be accepted that a Maltese resident whatever his age has to pay for entering the church.

And this is not all. The same story was repeated when we went to visit the Mdina Cathedral. However as I was there alone to explore the position, I was let in but I was warned to say that I was there to pray if someone checked with me.

As a last remark, I happened to be in Valletta a few days later and I tried to enter alone into the Co-Cathedral. I was again stopped. As I was alone and explained that I was Maltese living in Malta, I was allowed to get in.

I have visited St Peter’s Basilica and other Rome Basilicas, Notre Dame and the Sacré Coeur in Paris, St Gudule in Brussels and I was never asked to pay a cent. There are trays for voluntary donations but no compulsory fee.

Have St John’s co-Cathedral and Mdina Cathedral been turned into a profane museum?

F. Farrugia

Ta’ Xbiex