Pensions and the common good

It does indeed seem that Archbishop Mercieca makes his best speeches during the Mass of the Holy Spirit at St John's Co-Cathedral to mark the opening of a new Parliament.

At the Mass marking Parliament's opening on October 24, 1998, Mgr Mercieca stressed in his homily that "the Church cannot fail to take an interest in politics as an active means to lead civil society towards the common good".

He added that one of the most important challenges was that the true political leader needed to place the common good at the top of everything, whatever the circumstances. The common good, he said, should never be replaced by some other interest.

In his homily during Mass of the Holy Spirit marking the opening of Parliament this year, on May 24, the Archbishop spoke very well, and at length on the European Union. Mgr Mercieca also urged MPs to work for the common good saying this was a guarantee of unity, prosperity and well being, stressing clearly that common good had to come before the interests of any person or grouping:

"Those who have the responsibility to take important decisions for the country should be ready to sacrifice and risk themselves and their interests for the common good." On this point the Archbishop could not be clearer. The common good also implies that Government and Opposition definitely need to put their heads and energies together. While they had different roles, they had the common purpose of serving the country. For them this is a privilege and a responsibility. There cannot be one without the other.

One major challenge to Government, Opposition and all social partners today is represented by pensions, now and in the years to come.

This is also a thorny problem that is causing headaches to politicians abroad and there is a growing consensus that this is a problem whose time has come and as such it has to be tackled sooner than soon.

As Minister John Dalli made it very clear on April 29, there was no time to waste with welfare reform and he felt it his duty for the common good for the people that he "intended to take stock of the situation and map out a way forward by the end of May". He also referred to the pensions problem as a "time-bomb which had been lain shelved for several months".

In his interview with The Times, the Finance and Economic Services Minister said: "The proportion of people aged over 60 was expected to grow from 16 per cent to 24 per cent by the year 2020. It is estimated that the pensionable aged population will exceed 100,000 by 2025."

One was pleased to hear from Minister Dalli himself that the sustainability of pensions was at the top of his agenda. He also questioned the effectiveness of the National Welfare Reform Commission, appointed by the government to analyse the overall situation on current and prospective pensions financing, adding: "We have wasted five years. The commission tried to do something but the interest groups stultified the process because they did not find a national basis to go forward." What a pity! What a shame!

All those responsible for this vital reform should reflect in depth on the homily of Archbishop Mercieca at St John's and strive hard to find a common platform for the common good. The social teaching of the Church also imposes a responsibility on the Church authorities themselves.