Activities Marsascala was unable to hold

I refer to the report in The Times (July 24) regarding the Curia intervention in activities organised by the Marsascala Shop Owners Association and the Marsascala local council.

The report gave the impression that Fr Martin Micallef accepted our invitation to talk. When I personally called him last Sunday at 7.30 p.m., Fr Micallef refused to meet and discuss. I asked him to meet for a number of times and I also repeated the comment that "the Church does not want to meet with us". His only answer was to write to the Vicar General.

I was very shocked and disappointed by the tonality and the attitude the parish priest decided to adopt when he realised it was the association on the other side of the phone. My surprise is also due to the fact that both as an association and also myself personally have always collaborated with the ecclesiastical authorities.

Furthermore, on Monday morning, at 9.30, on the suggestion of the parish priest, we delivered a letter to the Vicar General on the matter. In spite of explaining that the matter was urgent and despite the fact that the activities were supposed to be held on Thursday, the Curia has not as yet replied.

As an association, we understand, respect and agree with the aims behind the regulations the Curia has issued. However, such regulations were not aimed at controlling tourism activities but were meant to ensure proper and just entertainment befitting the village feast. The Curia has no right to use the much-loved village feasts to intimidate commercial and tourism organisations and local councils not to hold any activities.

If the Curia had accepted our invitation to talk and discuss, it could have realised that such activities are in no way linked to the village feast. However, the association and myself were simply intimated by its representatives.

The association and the local council have cancelled the activities notwithstanding the financial implications. The decision has been made in view of the respect that the association and the local council have for the residents of Marsascala who look forward to the village feast. However, the association will no longer collaborate or cooperate with the Church or the Archbishop's Curia until circumstances change.