Editorial

At a time of growing affluence, at least in the developed world, it is easy to conclude that one no longer needs spiritual guidance or sustenance. One turns to God and religion only in time of need!

Such a conviction inevitably leads to loss of spiritual and moral values and what is termed relativism, namely that one is not bound by universal moral truths - such as those taught by the Catholic Church - but only by social, cultural or personal circumstances. Thus there is no longer the need of faith and trust in God becomes man today can provide for everything.

We are therefore witnessing a moral degeneration of Western society, to which Malta and Gozo have not been immune. Declining church attendance is only one symptom of this moral decline and reflects the "time of decadence" we are living through.

Gozo's Bishop Mario Grech, in his homily on the feast of the Assumption last Wednesday, dwelt on corruption and decadence. "A mind which does not have a proper knowledge of what is true, is a deficient mind. To overcome this decadence we should be more familiar with the Word of God," he stressed.

Mgr Grech condemned "certain writings and deeds which reflect a corrupt heart because instead of unity they lead to division. This is why we need an inner transformation." He could not have hit the nail on the head better when he observed that ethical and moral relativism was gaining the upper hand because God is being marginalised, abused and even killed off, if this was possible. This is affecting behaviour in all human activities: in one's relations with society, with other individuals, at work, or in the locality.

Those who think they could do without God in their lives turn to other religions and philosophies, Bishop Grech remarked, and he strongly criticised those who use religious feasts for their own partisan ends, exaggerated parish rivalry and festa celebrations which have often been turned into pagan rituals: "Others who think they have undergone a spiritual experience in the Catholic Church suffer from religious corruption so much so that certain religious activities and rituals have become corrupt and have lost their spiritual authenticity."

It is nothing short of scandalous, in fact, that outdoor festivities in honour of Our Lady or a patron saint often degenerate into a pagan orgy of blaspheming, drunkenness, rowdy behaviour and insults - if not worse - directed at rival supporters. It is not unusual, in fact, for a fervent festa supporter to blaspheme against the same saint whose statue he would have applauded moments before.

Bishop Grech noted that this moral degeneration - certainly not limited to festa celebrations - is not only affecting individuals but also families. Today the family is under unprecedented attack. In many Western societies, the traditional family - husband, wife and children - is struggling to survive and preserve its unifying identity against other forms of "family": a man and woman living together without any formal commitment, adulterous couples, or even two persons of the same sex who have been given the right to "marry" and even to adopt children.

Under the onslaught against family values, the number of marriage breakdowns in the Maltese Islands, has multiplied in the last ten years, with more and more children being born out of wedlock.

If individuals and families are corrupt, this is also reflected in our social structures, Bishop Grech observed in his homily, adding that this should cause great concern.

Even the natural environment is being spoiled and corrupted, the Bishop of Gozo went on. There is the need, therefore, to defend it. However, he criticised the double standards regarding environmental protection. While certain building development, including hotels and other projects, is given the go-ahead without much ado, he said, whenever an application is made for the building of a retreat house, a cemetery or some other project to make the church more accessible, the Church is accused of being against the environment.

Nevertheless, he appealed to parish priests to ensure that any project they propose does not harm the environment, and to abide by the laws of the land and by any instructions received from the authorities whose duty it is to see that no-one harms our environmental heritage.

The natural environment, after all, is given by God to man to enjoy, and not to corrupt or degrade. Environmental protection, too, is a moral value which must be upheld.