Now just picture the scenario. My wife and my cousin spent a terrific half an hour at the Carmelite Priory Museum and Church in Mdina last week. The gentleman at the entrance there was extremely kind and helpful.

We then decided a quick prayer at the Cathedral would be in order, just before we had a cup of coffee at the Xara Palace Hotel.

My cousin was in a hurry, since he was due to leave for Holland the following day. We arrive at the Cathedral and find signs directing us to the Museum, in order to get tickets to enter the Cathedral and the Museum.

When we got there we explained that we wanted to enter the Cathedral, just to say a prayer. We all knew the Museum inside out and did not wish to go there.

The chap at the counter said that was not possible. However, he said he could direct us to other churches where we could go and pray.

I explained to him that that was not necessary, since I was born and bred less than a mile from the Cathedral. We specifically stated that we just wanted to say a short prayer.

“Not possible,” we were told. The only way we could pray was to buy the combined ticket which included visiting the museum.

My question to the Church authorities is this, “Is this not going completely contrary to Christ’s teachings in the New Testament?”

I quote from Matthew 21.12-13: “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.”

No comment.

Colonel Dr Raymond Bencini

Zebbug