Church to air spots on television

In an attempt to drive its message home, the Archbishop's Curia yesterday launched a series of spots and features to be aired on the three main television stations.

But the Curia ruled out that the Church would have its own television station "for the time being".

Speaking at a news conference, Fr Nicholas Cachia, chairman of the Media Centre, said the first of the 30-second spots with the theme Valuri Nsara (Christian Values) will go on air on November 17.

The first series of spots, which will focus on the issue of tolerance, will run until November 30.

The second series will deal with the subject of 'service towards others' and will run between December 15-31.

Between January and June, a total of 26 features, each six minutes long, will be aired. Subjects to be tackled include respect, love, usury and reckless driving.

Four production teams, made up of a scriptwriter and a producer, were engaged to work on the features.

Fr Cachia thanked Public Broadcasting Services, Super One and Net TV for accepting to air the spots at different times during the day.

The Curia announced the setting up of a TV unit last June to put up television productions. An editorial board was formed under the chairmanship of Fr Cachia, with Victor Formosa as coordinator, and Fr Joe Borg, Manni Spiteri, and Georg Sapiano as members.

Fr Cachia explained that a report on the viability of the unit would be drawn up in June.

He said it was important for the Church to use all means of communication to get its message across, adding it was "high time" to tap this medium.

Asked whether such an initiative would lead towards a Church television station, Fr Cachia said that for the time being the Curia felt it was better to spread its message by collaborating with established TV stations.

"But if the circumstances change, we cannot exclude this possibility in future."