I refer to the interview given by Norman Vella to Stephen Calleja (TMIS, 30 May). Mr Vella, referring in particular to the programme about feasts’ reform, had this to say: “... we had the Church who wanted to have only one representative present...”.

The facts are the following. When I was approached by Peppi Azzopardi to participate in the programme, he suggested that I have with me all the members of the Council of Parish Priests. We set an appointment three days before the programme was going to be recorded.

The parish priests agreed that, apart from myself, the Archdiocese would be represented by Fr Ray Toledo (Archbishop’s delegate for parishes), Fr Eric Overend and Fr Gordon Refalo (president and vice-president respectively of the Council of Parish Priests).

We met Mr Azzopardi, who was accompanied by another person in his team (I am not sure whether this person was Mr Vella). Mr Azzopardi emphatically assured us that he wanted to produce a programme in favour of the reform. He said that I would take centre stage, and have guests both on the panel and in the audience in favour of the reform. We also had the impression that the other three Archdiocese representatives were going to have a seat on the panel. I would like to be as fair as possible to Mr Azzopardi and I declare that I cannot vouch that he had promised this. But in actual fact, three days afterwards, when we went for the recording of the programme, we felt disappointed and cheated because they were seated among the audience and the three together were allowed just a few minutes to make their contribution.

I have limited my comments exclusively to this point. Much of the rest about this programme is in the public domain.

Fr A. Gouder