Editorial

Each year, as the Church celebrates Charity Day, it tries to raise awareness about this indispensable core value of the Christian faith.

Too often, charity tends to be reduced to alms giving, that is, to sending a donation in cash or in kind to a charitable institution or to people in need. However, charity is much more than that. It is that aspect of love that describes God's unconditional and selfless love for us which, in turn, invites us to reciprocate and break out of our self-centredness, thus transforming ourselves into agents of disinterested concern and support for our neighbour.

Charity is demanding as it goes beyond the mere ephemeral, emotional feelings of concern and sympathy for the disadvantaged that can be felt strongly or otherwise.

As Pope Benedict XVI confirmed in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est: "The entire activity of the Church is an expression of love that seeks the integral good of Man". With this in mind, organised charity has been the hallmark of the Church from its inception as it is considered one of its essential activities.

Even here in Malta, despite its shortcomings, the Church has tried to live up to its credo and has a rich tradition of service to the underprivileged, boasting a rich history in its organisations, associations and religious orders that are committed to fight poverty, disease and lack of education both here and overseas. On a per capita basis, the Maltese are one of the most generous in offering monetary support for such worthy causes.

Since the last century, charitable activity has been accused of trying to replace society's vocation to struggle for the establishment of social justice. It has been accused of being an excuse for the powerful and better off to retain the status quo and evade a just social order.

Undeniably, there is some truth in this accusation. Yet, the Church, through her social doctrine, also expects her members to face their inescapable responsibility to be concerned and involved in political development that strives to address injustices in every form. It is made eminently clear that charity does not exonerate the lay faithful from fighting injustice. No self-respecting Christian can abdicate his accountability, each according to his ability and social status.

The seeking of the common good and eradicating the root causes of injustice and all conditions that scar human dignity will always concern the Church at every level.

Justice and charity complement each other in reaching out to the numerous complex situations that drag people down. The state should respect the principle of subsidiarity and also support the Church in its charitable services which, after all, go a long way to meet the needs of refugees, the elderly and so many other people in need. The state must acknowledge, and, where feasible, sustain, all those who commit themselves to better the lot of the unfortunate and the disadvantaged.

Although Malta is spared the dire situations of misery and poverty that afflict so many other countries, it has its share of problems. Every particular era has its own. The gradual but relentless breaking up of the family, the drama of coping with the chronically and incurably sick and handicapped, drug addiction and the destitution of refugees places enormous strains on the fabric of the community.

Charity Day this Sunday is a timely reminder for us to be aware of the ideals of our Christian vocation. It should enable us to look beyond our immediate narrow interests and realise that there is more to charity than just giving material aid.