Church directives

Many Christians today forget that the Church, for the past 2,000 years, had to trod a precarious pilgrimage of human sinfulness, beginning with the abandonment of the Apostles at the time of the crucifixion. Being the Body of Christ, the Church constantly gets renewed by its founder.

Unfortunately, modern intellectual Christians are quick to denounce the Church as being out of touch with modern times, irrational, intolerant, superstitious, male-oriented and much more. It is not the fault of Vatican II that some may have got a wrong definition of primacy of conscience.

The Catholic Catechism makes it clear that conscience must be informed and moral judgment must be enlightened. It has to be upright and truthful... it can never reject authoritative teachings...

It is also a lifelong task... An educated conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace... It should be assisted by the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.

The Code of Canon Law can help people, especially those consecrated to God, to know their place in life.

When the bishops spoke about the spirit of the Church directives, they were talking about what priests should or should not do. In the editorial (May 12) it was stated: "How exactly does the Church in Malta plan to address the issue? The faithful deserve an explanation". It is claimed that the bishops' statement leaves much to be desired.

How quickly people forget the past. When bishops used their full authority, they "caused" division. They were accused of interfering with politics and people's freedom of exercising their rights. The bishop is the shepherd of his whole flock, black sheep and white alike. The people know how their bishops feel. If there are those "who suffer from an identity crisis... or refuse to show obedience to the bishops" it is not to the bishops or the people they have to answer but to the "one who it is they serve and why".