Signs of the times

The discussion of religion in Malta is becoming more sophisticated, and at the same time more direct. To a considerable extent this is due to Discern - the Institute for Research on the Signs of the Times. The naming of the institute indicated the forward-looking mission it would follow. It departed from "yesterday", as matters of faith must do, but it is focused on "today" to see what that might suggest of "tomorrow".

The appointment of Mgr Paul Cremona to head the Archdiocese has probably added impetus to that mission. This was typified a few days ago when Discern brought over Fr Robin Gill, a theologian and an Anglican priest, to address a seminar on falling church attendances. Such Ecumenism in action is part of the vista of the institute, which brings several experts a year to share their probing views with the Maltese public.

The topic of last month's seminar was both current and hot. A Discern census on church attendance in Malta and Gozo had startled many people through a formal declaration of the extent of the continuing fall.

The main input of Fr Gill was to be expected.

By looking at church attendances in other European countries he offered perspective to the Malta census. Over a span of some 40 years, church attendance in the Maltese Islands has been comparatively around double to triple that of England and Gibraltar, along a common accelerating downward trend.

A rather forlorn note of consolation was sounded at the seminar through the observation that, at least, the bulk of those who remained churchgoers in Malta and Gozo did hear Mass more or less regularly. Both Fr Gill and Archbishop Cremona were quick to point out, albeit indirectly, that was not quite enough.

Fr Gill expressed the conviction that churchgoing, more than religious belief, fostered and sustained a distinctive culture of belief and values. The stress on a distinctive culture is understandable. One wonders, however, whether that is the most important issue.

It is a sign of the times that many among those who do not go to church regularly or at all maintain a belief in God as they conceive Him. A silent spiritual belief may not be distinctive. It does not externalise belief, like churchgoing does when it is not mere habit, or show.

But the spiritual link with the Maker cannot ever be underestimated. Archbishop Cremona said it was important for people to establish the kind of relationship they wanted to have with God.

That is another strong sign that is far deeper than the ready smile Mgr Cremona offers as a gift to others. He stressed upon his appointment his recognition that ours is now a pluralistic society. That placed the position of the Church in social perspective - she can state her rules but cannot impose them as of old, though her members remain bound by such rules.

His assertion at the Discern seminar of the individual's role to establish for themselves - and not just be told - the relationship they wanted with God breathes fresh air into the spiritual reflections one may be inclined to make from time to time.

The Archbishop pointed out that a person who went to church once or twice a year was not really committed. Not committed - one would think - to churchgoing, but not necessarily uncommitted to one's relationship with God.

The issue was committing oneself to having a proper relationship. That does not exclude a relationship of the heart and the mind between one and his Maker.

That is not to minimise or diminish the value of externalising the relationship through churchgoing. Just that, I would suggest, the overriding importance lies in having the spiritual link with Him, trusting with due humility in His understanding and love.