At a minimum, I strive to live as close as possible to the peripheries of the religion which my parents saw fit for me and my upbringing more than five decades ago.   They picked the religion which predominates on the land.   In time, I realised they had made the right choice for me.   During the passage of time I questioned, and even doubted, my religion.  I went as far as not to subscribe to stands which are promoted on different issues by the Church authorities.  Some of the teachings were and still remain, to a certain extent, beyond my grasp.  Notwithstanding, I fully acknowledge and endorse the sterling pastoral work of the Roman Catholic Church authorities, both locally and world-wide.

When compared to the 1950s and 1960s, there is no doubt that Malta has become more secular.  The clearest indication of secularism in Malta is the fact that Sunday mass attendance was, and still seems, on a steady decline.  But this should not be perceived as the gradual decline in influence of the Catholic Church in Malta.  The church authorities have not, and should not, lose their right to promote values which do not age with time, values which have remained fresh and valid since time immemorial.   

Anti-clerics argue that church authorities should be confined to the altar and the sacristy.  Others throw in the face of church authorities very serious crimes committed by men and women of the cloth.  While I empathise with the victims, these do no annul the good work of the church.  Church authorities should continue to give their opinion in all circumstances which merit their involvement.  The church authorities are key players and thus are expected to take a leading role in ensuring the safekeeping of values in the Islands.                  

However, notwithstanding that Malta is more secular, it baffles me to see so many people congregating in churches on special occasions.  Many return al buon Gesù in droves to Mass to pay their last respects to the deceased, particularly if the deceased passes away due to a tragic accident or if the person is of a tender age.  Unfortunately, some would have experienced first-hand such a sad situation, others would have followed it as a news item from a comfy armchair in their living-room.  Needless to say, there are other more pleasing experiences shared in churches in local communities; weddings and baptisms are just two.  This is not to mention the sound pastoral work done and the church activities held during the festas held in all the localities.       

What prompted me to pen this piece was the meeting held on Friday, 6 January between two high-powered delegations, one led by the Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat and the other led by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna. The purpose of the meeting was for the church authorities to present a document titled ‘Reflections of the Church in Malta’ at the beginning of Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.   

The document encourages Malta to continue to consolidate and implement the values of human dignity, democracy, human rights, justice, solidarity and the rule of law, cherished by the founding fathers of the European Union, in the areas of the six priorities adopted for Malta’s Presidency: migration, security, the single market, social inclusion, neighbourhood policy and the maritime sector.

I am certain that, notwithstanding the low-turn-out for Mass on Sundays, many still hold values which are well represented in the above mentioned document. The role played by the church authorities is pivotal in the daily lives of people.  Their counsel may not always be music to the ears of sections in our society, but luckily for the community, the church authorities are not in search to entertain or to appease people.  In a nutshell, they are not in search of votes.  Their mission is different from the one which we are accustomed to in the political arena.  This gives church authorities a privileged position in society, where they are able to promulgate their message without the need to adulterate it to make it appealing or pleasing. The church authorities therefore have the opportunity to, without fear or favour, air views and promote values that are the backbone of a democratic society which is constantly looking for a better tomorrow.                

If I may, I appeal to the church authorities to consider the dissemination of the whole document, or if this is not possible, then at least the salient points through as many available media possible to ensure that the message reaches the widest audience possible.  I am sure the report ‘Reflections of the Church in Malta’ was not penned to be shelved nor was it penned for the church authorities to enjoy a photo session with the Premier.  

The report is a powerful instrument and a beacon for the local community irrespective of which religion one subscribes to; but it is also a road map for Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union to follow.  The report is a timely road map built on sound values not clichés.   

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