Politics with a Christian outlook

With tears in my eyes, I read what Dolores Cristina had to "say" about the recently deceased Karl Chircop. To all and sundry I must declare that the former was not putting on a "show" in writing about the untimely demise of Dr Chircop for the benefit of readers of The Times.

Mrs Cristina was the first person to write to me personally after my beloved mother passed away. Although we might have had or might have in future many a heated debate concerning our different principles, I know with certainty that Mrs Cristina's heart is in the right place.

The late Dr Chircop will always be remembered for his sense of humility, fair play, a man who never forgot his roots, but most of all a person who never treated people as small fry, only to be treated as his equal when election time was round the corner.

Mrs Cristina's remarks about the sense of animosity there "should" be among Nationalist and Labour MPs reminded me of a time when a fellow Labour supporter asked me point blank why I was going to such trouble to help a person in hospital when the latter had Nationalist tendencies. For once, in my life, I was left gaping, simply at a loss for words.

The idea that there should be a cold war between Labour and Nationalist MPs, coupled with Labour supporters and Nationalist ones, is totally preposterous and I am simply devastated to learn that people such as these do exist. When the then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami had to undergo a serious operation some years ago, I am not ashamed to say I offered my daily Mass for his health.

Lest we forget, before our political tendencies, we are first and foremost a Catholic country. Faith makes a Christian, life proves a Christian, trial confirms a Christian and death crowns a Christian.