The recent controversy about the involvement of a prominent professor of philosophy, who is also an ecclesiastic, in planning Nationalist Party political strategy aimed at winning the next general election has re-opened the debate on the involvement or non-involvement of ecclesiastics in politics.

In the relatively distant past, involvement by ecclesiastics in politics was a common phenomenon of political life in the Maltese Islands. It was even generally accepted that ecclesiastics had the right to participate openly and actively in politics. So much so that in 1870 a referendum was held asking: "Are ecclesiastics to be eligible to the Council of Government?" Over 95 per cent of those who voted answered "Yes".

When the first general election to elect a Maltese government was held in 1921, the victorious political party, the Unione Politica Maltese, was led by Canon Ignazio Panzavecchia. It is significant to add, however, that Canon Panzavecchia declined to become Malta's first Prime Minister (then called "Head of Ministry") and it was Joseph Howard who became the first holder of this prestigious post.

One can also mention other politicians who were ecclesiastics such as Michael Gonzi and Enrico Dandria. In fact, ecclesiastics continued to participate actively in politics during the 1920s and 1930s. The first misgivings about this participation by ecclesiastics in politics came with the politico-religious dispute of 1928-32 when Prime Minister Gerald Strickland clashed with the local Catholic Church, a dispute that eventually saw both the Vatican and the British government get heavily involved in solving the crisis.

The death knell of political involvement by ecclesiastics was sounded by the politico-religious dispute of the 1960s, the effects of which are still felt to the present day. Events went so much out of hand that after the 1969 agreement between the local Catholic Church and the Malta Labour Party, there seems to have been a consensus among the public and within the local Catholic Church itself that ecclesiastics should not get involved in politics. Ecclesiastics were to carry out their duty and vote at elections but they were to stop at that.

As the years passed, however, some ecclesiastics started getting involved in politics once again. Which brings us to the important question: In the year 2007, is it not the right of ecclesiastics as citizens to actively and openly involve themselves in politics if they want to? In theory, given that we are living in an age of progress and enlightenment, I see nothing wrong in having ecclesiastics actively and openly participate in politics. In practice and given Malta's small size where everybody knows everybody else, yes, I think it is asking for trouble.

The problem lies in the fact that politics is a great divider of people. I also feel that in Malta the public is not politically mature. Thus, an ecclesiastic who actively and openly supports a particular political party will be seen by many supporters of the opposing political party/parties as an antagonist. Then, of course, many people generalise. If that ecclesiastic is against our political party, then the local Catholic Church must be against our political party, they will (wrongly) reason.

So the best thing is that ecclesiastics should not get involved in politics and should restrict themselves to voting at elections. It is very important that the local Church leaders follow a consistent policy towards involvement/non-involvement by ecclesiastics in politics. Every ecclesiastic has to follow Church policy on this issue; there can be no exceptions because that is asking for trouble.

Of course, such things as going on television and attacking the leader of a political party, as happened in the case of Alfred Sant, is behaviour that should be severely sanctioned. Such an act is the epitome of divisive behaviour, surely not in line with the role of an ecclesiastic. The recent canonisation of Dun Gorg Preca has united the nation behind the local Catholic Church and has won back for it great respect and esteem among the Maltese public. Let us consolidate this situation, to the benefit of all.

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