Gozo Bishop urges Christians to contribute to political debate

Joe Zammit

Jan 29th 2009, 20:42

How intelligent and wise has Mgr Mario Grech been when he encouraged all of us to take an active part in political debates! Yes, dear bishop, we listen to you most heartily. We take an active part in all social and political and religious debates and discussions for our own benefit. We live here for some time. But we live here to please God and to help others to please God as well. Pleasing God needs denying ourselves; but this is possible by God's grace. So we spread the teaching of the Catholic Church as the Mystical Body of Christ and echo her teaching in all debates that we take part in. And the impact is there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear!!

Joe Xuereb

Jan 28th 2009, 22:25

There is the belief that one is conceived, one lives, one dies. And that is it in a nutshell. Strong and very, very plausible. But humbling, humiliating and human.
Then there is the other belief. One where one is conceived, is born and lives by the diktats of an obscure book from an even more obscure authorship. Welcome to the world of obituaties, Masses for the dead, cadavere praesente or not, depending on the timing. And prayers for souls, futile imprecations as it is always assumed that they sit at the righthand of God regardless of the texture of their life on earth. And promises. Vainglorious promises. And so this is the Land of Nod. And the Land of Nod it shall remain. And totally implausible.
The first, the plausible option, terrifies people. In their arrogance they prefer the promise of eternal life. And in so doing, they deprive themselves of really living and having a shot at the real life they will ever have. They cannot imagine a life outside this implausible comfort zone. Thye are well and truly stuck.

Joe Zammit

Jan 27th 2009, 17:40

From what I can gather the number of churchgoers in Malta and Gozo is again on the increase. This is showing not only on Sunday but also during the week. That was the comment I passed to my friend yesterday, a week-day, when we saw the visible increase in number for Mass. We continue to pray, work and help all men to encounter Jesus, really present in the Holy Eucharist. The Catholic Church is for all men and women. That's why the Church of Christ is called Catholic = Universal = for one and all. First the members of this Church were called Christians at Antioch, then St Ignatius of Antioch called the Church Catholic. This was still during the persecutions. And she showed how Catholic she was. The Roman Empire ended and the Catholic Church continued to spread far and wide. The very centre of the persecutions, Rome, became the centre of the Catholic Church.

Joe Zammit

Jan 27th 2009, 17:31

Two years ago a whole Orthodox parish in Rumania turned Catholic after some miracles that occurred following prayers to Padre Pio of Pietralcina. This happened only two years ago. All the people are still alive. The miracles have been recognised by one and all, especially by medical doctors. This is the beauty of the Catholic Church. God is still working miracles in her to show that she is the one true Church of Christ. And miracles in our Motherly Church occur regularly from time to time. These are facts. Only narrow-minded persons don't accept them. The wise acknowledge them and convert.

Joe Zammit

Jan 27th 2009, 17:19

God is still working and converting people. These people are normal people with a sound mind. So much so that, by God's grace then, they convert others. Take St Paul. Christ told him through an angel that he had to come to Malta to convert us. He came, he put the foundations of the One Christian Catholic and Apostolic Church in our islands. And the Church is still going strong. There were some narrow-minded who, poor fellows, thought that the Catholic Church in Malta and Gozo would come to an end. They ended and the Church is still among us, enlightening us our daily private and public life.

Joe Xuereb

Jan 26th 2009, 22:58

Joe Zammit. I find your theories - sorry no, not theories, you only deal in hard facts - about how conversions happen - inner voices, visions, and so on.............and on.......and on some more. You do realise don't you that in the modern age, all these phenomena are investigated and are strongly suspected of being symptoms and manifestations of schizophrenia and other mental disturbances. They did not know much if anything about this two thousand years ago. Certainly they vocabulary did not exist in spite of Latin (and Greek being around. Words were there but not the concept. Of course Latin (and Greek) words are all over the place. But they are merely concoctions. Mental illness in ancient time was often seen as a sign of incredible strength and fortitude of character. We have been paying the price ever since.

Joe Zammit

Jan 26th 2009, 21:16

What is noteworthy is the fact that Mgr Mario Grech is loved and respected by the great majority of Gozitans. He loves all Gozitans, also those who may be at loggerheads with him. By time and by God's grace, love attracts love and love begets love. We have to understand Mgr Grech's message in the context of his other messages, in the context of his fruitful pastoral care and in the context of what he has already achieved for the good of all Gozitans.

Joe Xuereb

Jan 26th 2009, 18:31

quote: 'it is worrying if a Christian does not distinguish himself with his lifestyle, in a bid to conform'. ?? Is this really what Mgr. Grech said or is it just inaccurate reporting?
quote: 'since the fusion of faith and reason was disintegrating'. This is more straightforward, just about. I do not know of a time, in my lifetime or through history books, when faith and reason WERE integrated. I think Mon Seigneur decides which words and phrases look impressive and goes for them. Very 'incauto'.
And the jewel in the crown viz. the pope recognising the IMPORTANT (thank heaven for small merceries) distinction between politics and religion but adding - wait for it! - the importance of being aware of the irreplaceable function of religion (I guess that means having faith).
Nice article, erudite even. But this one, being this one, pulls it apart.

David Seychell

Jan 26th 2009, 17:33

@Mark Ellul

"By saying that you are not Catholic, that means nothing."

No that's not it. If you read what Mr Farrugia told me you will realise that in that context it made a lot of sense. He implied that I was a hypocrite because what I said goes against the spirit of catholicism. I showed that that couldn't be because I am not chatolic in the first place.

"They just want the Church to stop instilling in politicians and countries further hatred against them."

Can you please give some examples?

Mark Ellul

Jan 26th 2009, 05:54

@ David Seychell - You simply fail to understand the whole issue of what homosexuals are asking. Homosexuals don't want to change the Church. They just want the Church to stop instilling in politicians and countries further hatred against them.

By saying that you are not Catholic, that means nothing. There are non-Catholics who are much, much more forward in their gay-bashing than others.

Gays do not need converting.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 19:40

It is interesting to note that in the experience of conversions you are always told that what seemed impossible before the conversion became possible after its happening. Normally, when a person is living in sin, he thinks that a life pleasing to God is not for him. But, when God's grace touches him deeply, he realizes that, with this grace now, his will power is capable to win all temptations and all occasions of sin. There can be no conversion without God's grace. God is ready to give his grace to all those who ask it from him. I can say that with God's grace in us the whole of hell is afraid of us and cannot do us anything.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 19:28

The message of Christ is one of love, of freedom and of joy. This is the same message of his one Church he set up, the Catholic Church. How marvellous her message is to all of us! The more we meditate it, the more fruitful it will be to us and to society as well. It is our duty as Catholics to spread the teaching of our Mother Church. By God' grace our word will be fruitful. Christ's message asks of us to deny ourselves. How easy it is to deny ourselves by God's grace! And the more we deny ourselves, the happier we are because the more pleasing to God we shall be. Our positive life will consist of doing God's will for his glory and for our own good. Blessed are those to whom Christ can say: This is one of my brothers or sisters in whom I am well pleased! This is possible.

wally vella-zarb

Jan 25th 2009, 19:23

@ David Seychell

"It is useless to try to save those that DON'T want to be saved."

So why don't people like Mr Zammit kindly leave us in peace? Apart from the amusement factor, that is?

David Seychell

Jan 25th 2009, 19:05

@Franco Farrugia

"Truly well-said. Like a true ... Catholic! Congratulations."

To be honest I'm not a Catholic. My religion is Reason not Faith. Nonetheless I respect the Church because I share with it the same values and understand the philosophy behind its teachings. The point, in my previous comment was that by saying 'going to save the lost sheep', Christ meant to say to save them spiritually, that is, CONVERT THEM, and NOT let this one sheep convert you instead. The Church tried to convert the gays, but some of the gays want the Church to accept for example same sex marriage which goes strongly against the Church teachings, i.e. they want to convert Church and not vice versa.

Franco Farrugia

Jan 25th 2009, 18:11

@ David Seychell - DEAREST Mr Seychell, brother in Christ! Truly well-said. Like a true ... Catholic! Congratulations.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 17:17

Christ said to the Apostles and their successors: Whoever hears you, hears me, and whoever does not hear you, does not hear me. So hearing the word of our bishops is equivalent to hearing Christ's words. Besides, the conversion of Malta and Gozo to Christianity in the Catholic ( = Universal) Church was part of of God's providence. The angel told St Paul: IT IS NECESSARY that you come on an island to convert it to Christ. We are still enjoying the salvific fruit of our conversion to Christ. By God's grace we will preserve this faith till the end of time.

David Seychell

Jan 25th 2009, 17:10

@Franco Farrugia

"Where is Bishop Grech following Christ's message about leaving the ninety-nine sheep and going off to look after the one lost?"

The problem is that the "one lost' sheep DON'T want to be saved. Hence it is futile to risk the life of the 99 sheeps. It is useless to try to save those that DON'T want to be saved.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 17:00

The Catholic Church is in no way afraid of persecutions. Persecutions strengthen her because Christ, her founder, is always with her and will remain with her till the end of time. Those who persecute her will die, and the Church will still move on for the salvation of humanity. The Church has the duty of spreading Christ's message to all men. She is doing it and will continue to do it. In the history of the Catholic Church there have been many who persecuted her and then, by God's grace, converted and became staunch preachers of her word. Thank God, Malta and Gozo form part of the Catholic Church.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 16:55

St Paul tells us clearly that the Church - one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic - is the mystical body of Christ. You cannot be with Christ and not with the Church. Christ founded one Church and gave her, and only to her, the means of salvation. When Christ appeared to St Paul on his way to persecute the Church, he asked him: "Why are you persecuting me?" Christ and the Church are one. In this vision, then, Christ sent St Paul to the Church - to Ananias - to tell him what to do. Mgr Grech is right in sending fervent members of the Catholic Church in homes: exactly, as Christ had said: leaving the 99 to save the lost one.

M Grima

Jan 25th 2009, 16:27

Church and State must be separate. Minority rights are to be respected by the State. What the Church does is it's own business. I demand the right to divorce and the right to a civil partnership with a same sex partner if I so choose.
When all is said and done these are minor issues which can be dealt with easily. They do not hurt nor impose on anyone . Mr Zammit and his ilk can carry on with their own lives and I with mine. Sooner it is done we can carry on and argue the really serious issues.

The political parties should be concerned.There are only 1500 votes which separates them and there are more than that cohabiting or gay in this island to make a difference next time round.

Franco Farrugia

Jan 25th 2009, 16:13

Mario Grech: 'Whoever does not accept Christ's teachings should be honest with themselves and excommunicate themselves from the Church," he said.'

Where is Bishop Grech following Christ's message about leaving the ninety-nine sheep and going off to look after the one lost? Disgraceful words, coming from a Bishop!

Charles Sammut

Jan 25th 2009, 14:55

"Whoever does not accept Christ's teachings should be honest with themselves and excommunicate themselves from the Church,"

I beg to differ.

Many people have faith in Christ's teachings but not in those of the Catholic Church which the bishop represents. The Catholic Church does not have a monopoly over Christianity.

Therefore is is possible to excommunicate oneself from the Catholic Church and remain a Christian. Many would probably even see this as an enhancement of their Christianity.

And since they would still be worshiping the same God (as they themselves put it), there is nothing wrong in it. After all, Muslims and Jews also worship the same G_d. So where's the problem?

Franco Farrugia

Jan 25th 2009, 14:52

@ Mgr Grech: 'Whoever does not accept Christ's teachings should be honest with themselves and excommunicate themselves from the Church,"

With all due respect, Bishop ... and I don't know how to put it milder ... it's none of your business! That's between myself and God, and you, a mere human being like myself, do not enter into the equation.

Jeffrey Hargreaves

Jan 25th 2009, 13:45

With commentators like Joe Zammit and others of that ilk the Church has an uphill struggle not to win souls, but to stop itself from losing them.

As for the Bishop,let me just tell him that the Church is as far away from the teachings of Christ as it can possibly be and if he cannot see that,then it's no wonder that people are leaving by the droves. Sending preachers to each persons home as he plans to do smacks to me of a typical authoritarian attitude which is bound to backfire badly. Malta and Gozo are small Islands,memories are long and vengeance perceived or otherwise is not far away. What people tell you face to face is very often different from what they will do.You cannot hope to win souls by putting a gun to their head. The Church by it's dismissive attitude to the burning issues of the day has lost all moral credibility.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 13:19

Normally, a conversion takes place step by step. But there are also cases of sudden conversions. In the latter case, normally God makes use of one of the following means. Of course, these means are not exhaustive. God is infinite in his means. These means are: 1) a vision; 2) a strong spiritual attraction; 3) reading of one’s heart by someone else. This normally takes place not by seeing anything written on the heart but by telling the person what you have on your mind. This infused knowledge is placed in you by God; and 4) an internal locution, where you hear an internal voice. You don’t hear it by you physical ears but internally. In all occasions, after the conversion the converted person is led by God to the Catholic Church to be told what to do to strengthen his conversion.

Anton Portelli

Jan 25th 2009, 12:36

`.....excommunicate themselves from the Church´ said Gozo Bishop.

This is the way that the Gozo Bishop is adopting to follow Christ's teachings about tolerance, love, and above all helping those in need and trying to get those who were scared away from the church back to the flock.

Indeed in a short time he will be preaching to empty ailes!!!!!!

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 12:11

We have to read Mgr Grech's today message in the light of his other recent messages. Christ sent his Apostles and their successors to convert all nations. St Anthony and St Vincent Ferrer converted thousands of heretics. Two years ago a whole Orthodox parish in Rumania turned Catholic following some miracles that occurred after prayers to Padre Pio. God is still ready to convert individuals and groups of people. How convinced are we about this?

wally vella-zarb

Jan 25th 2009, 12:06

"should be honest with themselves and excommunicate themselves from the Church,"

And why should they bother? People who do not agree with the rules of the church tend to just ignore it and get on with their lives. There is no real need to formalise their decision.

If, in the absence of a formal self-excommunication, the church continues to count them amongst its 'flock', under the tenet that 'once a catholic, always a catholic', that is the church's prerogative. Perhaps it is a way of keeping the membership numbers (artificially) high? Either way it only concerns the church and does not really bother the people who decide to opt out and ignore it and its prelates.

Life goes on, regardless.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 11:45

Conversions are always possible, both conversions from a sinful life to a holy life and from a holy life to a holier life. We are now celebrating the conversion of St Paul. In the 2000-year old life history of the Catholic Church we have had also conversion of masses of people. St John Marie Vianney arrived in Ars and found only two families that went to church. Through his prayers, sacrifices and hard work succeeded to turn all the families into practising Catholics. St Francis of Sales had fewer than a 100 practising Catholics out of 25000. In a short time, by God's grace, he succeeded to turn almost every one into a practising Catholic. All conversions are brought about by God, but God wants us to cooperate with him in this matter as well.

Steve Calleja

Jan 25th 2009, 11:40

`.....excommunicate themselves from the Church´ said Gozo Bishop.

Are we going back in history to the era of `id-Dnub il- Mejjet`????? come on! peope are not ignorant as they were back in the 60` and 70` !!!!! If the Church will take this path once again, it will be on its wn this time!

Churc = Nationalist Party....and wonder to whom the Bishop was talking to about this! Just have a look at the picture!

Ivan Attard

Jan 25th 2009, 11:09

He said people should not be disheartened that the Church was no longer one for the masses, but was becoming a minority, adding metaphorically that a bit of salt went a long way to enhance the taste of food.
"Whoever does not accept Christ's teachings should be honest with themselves and excommunicate themselves from the Church,"

....Talk like this from the Gozo bishop makes me think that it will only be a matter of time until he will be speaking to empty church aisles. I recall that Jesus asked of the church to reach out for the lost soul - even to the risk of abandoning the rest of the herd to achieve this. What mocking words indeed to those who feel on the wayside of christianity for various causes. They are indeed very sad words.

Joe Zammit

Jan 25th 2009, 09:57

I would like to publicly thank our dear bishop of Gozo, Mgr Mario Grech, for encouraging us to take an active part in all debates relating to our social problems. Of course, there is nothing new in his message, but it is still a timely one. A Catholic is catholic always and everywhere. A Catholic is always fresh. A Catholic is dynamic wherever he is. A Catholic is Christ-like. Christ lived among people: in the temple, in the synagogue, in streets, in public squares. Let us imitate Christ and follow Mgr Mario Grech's message and be up and kicking out of love for God, for our families and in the public interest.