So the government has now hurriedly started a ‘consultation period’ to “listen” to what stakeholders have to say about the proposed postponement of local council elections to 2019. Initially, it gave the impression that it was only mooting the idea on the premises that people are fed up of electoral campaigns and it would be cheaper to hold local elections with the European elections. It soon became evident that the government had already decided on the matter when negative views started being expressed by many quarters, primarily by the Opposition, the government started talking of consulting about the matter.
Sorry to say, this government cannot be trusted. Neither can it be believed. So far it has not proved an exemplary government when it comes to spending public funds. It has splashed thousands of euro in wages paid to family, friends and those who backed it on its way to the seat of power. It has shown and is still showing that it treats the country as if it were its own rather than ours (remember Taghna Lkoll?).
The process that has just been kick-started is nothing but a farce. The government should have the decency to tell us what its real reasons are. Does it want to postpone the local elections to increase the chances of a defeat for those who want to abolish spring hunting? Does it want to avoid the risk of drubbing in local council elections where people find it safer to send a message of protest to government? Maybe it wants people to believe that it is and will remain a strong government which is ready to play around with democracy in order to preserve power.
Church leadership
To say that for the past weeks the local Catholic Church leadership was under a bright spotlight is an understatement. Let’s not mince words: Mgr Paul Cremona’s leadership of the local Church has been questioned. Prominent members of the local Church decided to discuss this subject in public, opening themselves up to criticism. They defended their action by saying that this discussion goes a long way to show the openness of the Church in discussing such subjects. One of them, Fr Joe Borg, wrote a very strong article attributing his and his colleagues’ position to the love they have for the Church something which, Fr Joe claims, is also appreciated by the Archbishop. Meanwhile, a group of lay people will be organising a solidarity march in the coming days as a show of solidarity with Mgr Cremona.
It’s not my intention to associate myself with one side or another. However, personally I find nothing wrong in having a discussion of this sort within the Church. As long as this discussion is accompanied with love and respect towards the leadership of the Church, such a debate only shows that the Catholic Church is alive and kicking. As Archbishop Cremona rightly pointed out, his intention is to continue to serve unless the Pope decides otherwise.
Undoubtedly, the Church in Malta and the Universal Church will continue to be faced with many challenges in the years to come. It needs to be prepared for turmoil, tsunamis and earthquakes. It needs to retain its appeal to people not by compromising principles but by communicating the teachings of Christ in the most effective manner. It also needs to keep up the good work it is doing in many areas, particularly in the social field.
Naming and shaming is not always right
From the reaction of many of those who blogged under a story published by the on-line media last Wednesday, it is evident that many believe we may be going overboard when reacting to stories of alleged child abuse. The case in which a member of the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) was accused of “playfully lifting the boy out of the sea and held him tightly against his body, including the genital region” left many asking where all this will lead us one day. Will there come a day when no one will risk giving up one’s free time to teach, work or take care of children?
It does not mean that when such allegations are made they should not be investigated. This should have happened even in this case. But to expose a person at such an early stage of investigations, naming him and labelling him a paedophile, verges on the absurd. This could ruin this person for the rest of his life, irrespective of whether he is found guilty or not. Sometimes I wonder whether things are done genuinely or for some other reason. No one is above the law and whoever commits a crime should pay for it. But paying a high price before facts are even established is very unfair.
Charlò Bonnici is a Nationalist Member of Parliament