Editorial
Out with the old, in with the new
The speech Archbishop Paul Cremona made at the Synod of Bishops held in the Vatican may not have gone down well with a number of people in the Church in Malta. Indeed, whispers of criticism were apparently overheard in sacristies and in the corridors of important offices. Archbishop Cremona was evidently not impressed and, in fact, he shared the same thoughts with the public at a press conference he addressed in the Curia just after his return from the Synod.
On both occasions he did two things. He made an analysis of the outdated model of the Church many Maltese subscribe to and then proposed the way forward.
In the words of the Archbishop, many Maltese Catholics adhere to an outdated model of the Church and of its relationship to society. Many Maltese Catholics live in a past that no longer exists. They are nostalgic. They live in fear and shock. Their attitude is "a stumbling block" to the programme of new evangelisation.
Archbishop Cremona did not mince his words:
"Many of our faithful still live in nostalgia of and compare the present situation with the model of the Church that was present 30 to 40 years ago. Since the Church has not remained in a privileged position as it was then, they live in an atmosphere of shock when the Church, or its pastors, are challenged. Often they stand in fear of speaking openly before this, many times, hostile culture."
The Archbishop's analysis of the situation propelled him to propose a new model for the Church:
"We have to propose a new model of the Church and the model which corresponds most to today's reality is the primitive Christian community as it is described in chapters two and four of the Acts of the Apostles and brought to life in the other writings of the New Testament. We have to compare the Church today to, and shape it on, that community."
Archbishop Cremona is proposing a Church which is more charismatic than institutional. This is a Church close to the people who are protagonists of pastoral action and not objects of the pastoral plans worked out at the centre. In the new model, the people are not just counted; they count. They act and not just obey. As Archbishop Cremona said in the press conference mentioned above, the Church should be made up of small communities where the Word of the Lord and the Breaking of the Bread could be shared through the personal experiences of those who had encountered the Lord.
The Archbishop is already putting this model into action. He is more present among his flock than among officials at the Curia. He is present in the hearts of people more than he is present in the heart of institutions. He listens. He cares. He instils enthusiasm.
Some may mistakenly accuse him of lack of leadership, while he is proposing a new style of leadership.
The nostalgic Catholics criticise the new style and model. But it is welcomed by those Catholics who enthusiastically live the present moment and are full of hope for the future. Even unbelievers are likely to, whether already or eventually, find themselves able to communicate with such a Church whose strategy is dialogue instead of the imposition of sins.
Archbishop Cremona should move forward undeterred.
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Colin McElhatton
Nov 12th 2008, 09:47
It comes as no revelation that the Church has lost a great deal of the influence it enjoyed over temporal matters. Yet I refuse to believe that man has stopped asking the fundamental existential questions that have plagued his thoughts for eons, questions that have led him to contemplate among others the Christian mysteries of faith. The Church needs what Archbishop Cremona stated, namely to transcend the old way of doing things and bring the reality of Christian faith to modern day man. Participation during mass as hinted by some of the contributors is valuable but I feel that we tend to lose ourselves on the superfluous while disregarding what matters. Singing pleases the Lord but too much of it can get into the way of celebrating Mass. I seriously doubt that the overwhelming majority of church-goers really understand the prayers that make part of the whole experience that is Mass. Taking the celebration of holy mass as a real community of Prayer would go a long way toward bringing contemplation back into the practice of our faith; serious contemplation rather than just paying lip service.
frendo george
Nov 11th 2008, 19:55
It is not clear how the editorial concluded from H.G. the Archbishop's quoted remarks that His Grace is opting for the "charismatic" church rather than the "institutional" one. I feel that that such sweeping statements do not do justice to the "forma mentis" of the Archbishop, and the matter which is being treated. Also, such statements, which of their nature are divisive without being in any way illuminating, are hardly conducive to serious, in-depth study which could provide a truly comprehensive proposal. Thank you.
Vincen Zerafa
Nov 11th 2008, 14:40
I agree with the Archbishop's views.
Change is hard. Especially when trying to change mentalities which have stood for decades, even centuries. Does that mean that we do nothing? Ofcourse not, it is our duty to go into our society and spread the gospel, the Good News!
Keep it up and God bless you and your vision!
Victor Muscat
Nov 11th 2008, 12:53
The congregation should be encouraged to take a more active part in the liturgy. Singing during Mass should not take place while the priest is saying mass.... eg during the offertory where are 2 beautiful prayer to which people should answer to. The prayers that the congregation is supposed to take part should not be said in a loud voice by the priest... (He should at least turn off the mic.)
I cannot understand why we are not able to encourage people to answer in a clear voice .... ( most people do not even answer "Amen" when the priest hands them the Host)
Paul Xuereb
Nov 11th 2008, 12:23
The Archbishop's words merit deep reflection. The new church model he is proposing is, to my mind, the only way forward. Thank God, I have participated in this model for 25 years together with my wife, forming part of a small Community where we share the Word of God and celebrate the Eucharist in an authentic way, based on the first chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. I can therefore say from experience that the Archbishop's stance is truly providential. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide him along this way.
David Wain
Nov 11th 2008, 10:02
I agree with Achbishop Cremona that the Church does not enjoy the privileged position it enjoyed in the past, with this being merely a statement of fact.
However he would have shown a better grasp of the basic tenets of a western democracy had he stated that the Church SHOULD NOT enjoy such a powerful and privileged position in a modern democratic society. Instead he has plunged the Church into this persecution mentality, where every criticism, although "accepted", is viewed as a hostile, intimidatory affront. And here we are talking about the sort of criticism which is taken "on the chin" by everyone else.
One must ask whether the Church really changed its mentality or whether it merely taken stock of reality!