Church calls for political collaboration

The Church wants to see political parties collaborating together as 'servants of one nation', especially in matters that affect society's core, irrespective of who wins the election.

In a pastoral letter, Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said both sides should promise to work together on issues such as the drug problem, young people and their future, usury, stability in marriage and protection of the family, the environment, and historical heritage.

The bishops suggested that political parties make known from now what kind of attitude they planned to adopt after the election.

The bishops said that the political reality, motivated by love towards the country, should overcome political partisanship. They also called on candidates and members of political parties, who considered themselves to be committed Christians, to influence their party from the inside.

"It should be these persons who purify their own party from any attitude that goes against the values of the Gospel, such as words that hurt, disrespect for any person whether or not involved in politics, and similar attitudes," they said.

The bishops also encouraged the Maltese to choose in a way that co-ordinated the traditional values of society, many of which had their origins in Christian heritage, with the exigencies of modern society. It should be a choice of values, as well as principles and projects.

"This has to be done without losing our basic values, such as the dignity of every person, whatever the nationality, from conception till death, and the practical protection of the values of marriage and the family. The citizen has the duty to vote with these values in mind," the bishops said.

An electoral campaign should not degenerate into attacks, even if only verbal, against persons or into a kind of behaviour that created obstacles for freedom of expression.

"It is our wish that, also after the elections, we see our people united in the search for the welfare of the country."