Sunday, 20th July 2008 - 19:17CET
'Catholic faith cannot be eliminated from public debate' - Mgr Grech
Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has insisted that the Christian community must take an active role in the nation’s socio-political debate.
Delivering homily during High Mass to mark the feast of St George, Mgr Grech said Christians could contribute to the public debate on issues such as human life, the protection of the family based on a marriage which could not be dissolved, the defence of minors, freedom from new forms of slavery such as drugs, and the sort of economy which the people deserved.
Faith and politics could collaborate. Normally man used reason to establish order. But reason was often ethically blind and faith helped human reason to achieve its aims without risks, the bishop said.
It was a pity that in this country some considered religion as being a personal and private experience which should not have a bearing on public life. There was no threat to the secular state if the people expressed their beliefs in the public debate and thus contributed to political and legislative decisions, he stressed.
“The Catholic faith cannot be neutralised and eliminated from the public debate” Mgr Grech said. Indeed, it has a right, like other sections of society, to participate in it.
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Rocco Buttiglione found himself in the situation that he dug himself into, and certainly the European Union does not stand for the same principles that people like Buttiglione uphold. The EU is all in favour of everyone being accepted, of everyone being able to hold his head high, and not having anyone being put underground.
That is exactly what the EU does not want - the existence of the 'underground' where J FARRUGIA, - would send so many people. However,
I would make an exception of the 'underground' by sending this FARRUGIA there and sealing the opening!
Regarding those who had a Catholic marriage and want to opt for divorce it should be up to them to decide whether they should follow the Church's teaching or we are going to become so intollerable that once you enter the catholic church you are locke in for life? What about the priests who eventually feel that they should leave and lead a new life, the church cannot prohibit them from entering a civil marriage. Likewise in the case of divorcees the church can decide on its own affairs but at least these will have the opportunity to regularize their life in the civil society.
The case for this was made very clear years ago on this Island during the Religio-Political dispute.Some of us still carry the pain that caused and will do so to the end of our lives.
I can't accept arguments to the tune "...because the Church says so." I also cannot accept arguments on the lines of "...because some people want this and the State has to cater for everyone". In both cases the arguments are flawed as they do not have a solid basis; the arguments are emotional rather than rational.
@J Frendo:
Divorce is not only a State matter, but a Church matter as well. How can the State consider a couple divorced when the Church considers the same couple married (when the same couple opted for a Catholic marriage)? So of course the Church has its place in this debate.
It was only in 1992, over 350 years after Galileo Galilei was convicted of heresy, that the church finally admitted that he'd been right after all, so the church has something of a record of not admitting its mistakes until they become totally untenable. Yet in this instance more than in Galileo's, people's lives are being affected and they can't wait another 350 years.
EPPUR SI SCIOGLIE
In a democratic state, secular governments are elected by a majority, and that majority might have views that are similar to those of the Church or others equally valid secular arguments against divorce.
If this subject is to be discussed the most basic fundumental principles of democratic citizenship should be adopted by one and all. For such an approach to work, citizens must become aware, knowledgeable, and active in the discussions. True democratic citizenship requires more than voting for representatives. It requires using one's own mind, voice, and actions.
But I'm not surprised with this comments, after all he is part of the church who is still discrimating against women ordered priests and against the use of condoms in Africa where millions of lives can be saved.
Dear Mgr Grech, with the mediocre attendance to the church nowadays, the people's faith in you is quite obvious.
I do not think it's a question of some people being scared of the Church making its opinions heard; far from it. It is in fact a question of being scared that the Church will use such debates to try to regain the power that it once had over society, violating the separation of church and state that so many of us believe is essential to the well-running of any modern country.
The State has to cater for all people, but this does not mean that it cannot follow the teachings of the Church. For example, the Church teaches us to love one another; should the State cater for otherwise?