Archbishop's parting shot: Christ's teaching does not change

"The teaching of Christ does not change. It is there for always. The Church does not have the right to and cannot change it according to the mentality or the culture of the time and the place."

These were the words of Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, speaking yesterday during his last official appointment - a Mass for journalists on the occasion of the feast of their patron saint Francis De Sales at the Catholic Institute in Floriana.

"The Church's mission is to convey the teaching of Christ as it is... And on this mission it hopes to find the cooperation and help of the media so that the Maltese would continue cherishing the teaching of Christ, which is always actual and relevant," Mgr Mercieca insisted.

In today's world, many are those who deny the specific truths of the Christian faith, as well as those who are strongly promoting the wrong idea that there is no truth that man has a duty to find, but just opinions.

The culture of the Church and that of the media are different and sometimes strongly contrasting, but these differences and difficulties that arise should never put a stop to the friendship and dialogue between the two, Mgr Mercieca said.

He told the congregation that criticism - in good spirit and seeking out the good - should never turn into a lack of appreciation or separation between the Church and the media.

However, it was not always easy to be optimistic about the positive influence of certain sectors of the media if these appeared not to know the vital work of religion in the life of man, and only conveyed what they wanted to and what suited them of the Church's teachings, or spoke in a systematically negative manner about religious beliefs and values.

In the cultural mess that was growing in Malta, Mgr Mercieca said there was a mixture of positive and negative attitudes of the media towards the Church and its teachings; negative in particular, where a sense of sacrifice and denial was required.

The Church was not afraid of, or annoyed by criticism, the Archbishop stated. On the contrary, it wanted and needed criticism as long as it was responsible, honest, loyal and constructive.

"There is nothing wrong in discussing and showing where we agree, or not, particularly in a pluralist society. But at least, the Church's word has to be conveyed in the appropriate way."

Today's world was dominated by the language and culture of the media, which put a major responsibility on the shoulders of journalists, Mgr Mercieca said.

It would not be good if the truth, or what was for the benefit of everyone, were sacrificed for some partisan interest, he continued.

Mgr Mercieca appealed to journalists to be courageous promoters and defenders of the truth, and in their commitment, to prioritise the dignity of man, the highest common good, unity among the people, a sense of justice and solidarity, the strength of the family as an everlasting experience of love and life, and the unconditional care of children despite any sacrifice that it involved.