'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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Franco Farrugia
Jul 21st 2008, 16:22
It's a pity that timesofmalta.com doesn't approve of certain language, for certainly I would be much clearer as to where I would send the likes of J FARRUGIA.
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!
Anton Portelli
Jul 21st 2008, 11:20
Ms Anna Vella regarding the isue of divorce I think this is not a matter of debate or who will enter into the debate. It is a fact that In the whole civilized world only Malta is still lagging behind. This issue should be given importance for the sake of those hundreds who want to form a new stable family relationship but cannot because of the present state of affairs in Malta.
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.
Louis Genovese
Jul 21st 2008, 08:23
Well put Mr.Xuereb. It is indeed high time that the State separated itself Constitutionaly from any one Belief.All Faiths have a right to voice their opinion.What they do not have,is the right to impose their will on those who may have different religious views ,or, non at all,as the case may be.
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.
Anna Vella
Jul 21st 2008, 08:16
What kind of debate is this going to be if only those in favour can comment?
Jean Pierre Aquilina
Jul 21st 2008, 08:10
In a secular society the Church has its place in public debate. In such a debate however I believe that the arguments put forward by the Church and the State should be based on sound and solid principles which are consistent with each other. Otherwise the arguments are flawed.
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.
J Farrugia
Jul 21st 2008, 08:04
Modern persecution of the catholic faith. Look what happened to Rocco Buttiglione at the hands of the European Parliament! Those who hold catholic beliefs and ideals are simply ignored and even removed from offices. While gays and lesbians are given a tremendous welcome. This is the world going mad upside down.
Abel Abela
Jul 21st 2008, 07:33
Catholics have a right to be heard? Has anyone ELSE been heard in this bloody place? EVER?
Ramon Casha
Jul 21st 2008, 05:53
Catholics should definitely make their voices heard. At the same time I think the church itself should try listening to them rather than instructing them what to say. I remember in my duttrina class we were told that the church is composed of all its people, but that's not how the church acts. Coming hot on the heels of the announcement by the government that it would start a debate about divorce, Mario Grech's words sound like a not-so-subtle hint to Catholics that they should stick to the idea that marriage can not be dissolved. I think that most people are quite capable of looking around them, at people they know, and determine whether in practice, marriage can or cannot come apart.
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
J. Sciberras
Jul 21st 2008, 01:08
I agree that the state is secular, and that divorce may be a secular matter. But this surely does not lead to the conclusion that the Church or at least its Catholic members who are also citizens of this state, have no right to express their views on the subject.
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.
John Azzopardi
Jul 21st 2008, 00:47
The Catholic Church should address it self only to its members and leave the rest of us in peace. More important is for the Catholic Church to stay out of secular matters. Church and state must be distinct. That is the only way to move out of the dark ages.
Byron Camilleri
Jul 21st 2008, 00:44
I cannot understand how an unmarried man want to impose on anothers what to do with their private marriage. Divorce must not be discussed as a legal subject but moral. If someone don't like it, just don't make use of it but do not try to prohibit me from doing what I want to. How the hell would I effect you if I divorce? You are selfish by opposing a situation which you will never experience.
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.
Anton Portelli
Jul 20th 2008, 23:54
The Catholic Church has the right to involve itself in the lives of those who still believe in it - the "faithful". It has no right to interfere and impose its teachings on everybody in Malta. It is about time that Malta is governed by the government elected by the people and not by the bishops like in the days of the inquisition. These days have passed long ago and we are now living in the 21st century. Bishop Mario Grech, should know now how many Maltese still believe in the Catholic Church, statistics show that the church in Malta has lost a lot of "faithful", it will be better if they not interfere with the running of the country. They can preach their own teachings to their faithful but refrain from imposing it on others, especially in the debate regarding the introduction of divorce. This debate has long been awaited in Malta and it should be taken up and decided as early a possible without any interference from bishops since everybody knows their position. The "faithful" can follow the church's teaching but let others live.
André Xuereb
Jul 20th 2008, 21:39
Of course the Catholic faith has its place in public debate. I'm sure most reasonable people accept that. What I cannot accept, though, is the followers of this same faith expecting that Maltese laws and ideals should mirror the Catholic ones. In this day and age, for better or for worse, society is formed of people with different creeds and beliefs, and public debate has to include all of these.
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.
J.Frendo
Jul 20th 2008, 21:37
The state is secular. If divorce is a secular matter, the church has no place in the debate.
Jean Pierre Aquilina
Jul 20th 2008, 21:22
@Franco Farrugia:
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?
K. Pullicino
Jul 20th 2008, 19:58
Some people get scared of Catholics, for some reason, that do like everyone else and make their opinions heard.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 20th 2008, 19:49
Of course, the Catholic Church has a place in public debate - as long as it keeps its place, and realises that not everybody is its adherent and therefore, the State has to cater for all and sundry, and not follow the teachings of the Church.
Denis Catania
Jul 20th 2008, 19:27
Bishop Mario Grech is right as Catholics we do have a right to be heard. I also believe that society don't have to agree with us on all the issues.