Nadur Carnival controversy: Nine to be taken to court

Why the law should protect the church by any means? How are these connected together? Or since they are both institutions they tend to give a helping hand for each other?

As regarding to the Carnival period there should be no boundaries or limits on how one prefers to exhibit himself. If people get offended by seeing someone wearing a costume of a “rising christ” they should not attend to these activities in the first place.

In my opinion the church should not emphasise on control at this stage of humanity, instead it may appreciate that humanity is continuously evolving thanks to Science and Technology. People nowadays prefer to broad their perspectives in contrary to what the church educates. Old dominating tools such as “faith”, “beliefs” are useless for most of any smart human being living nowadays.

To Dr. Francis Saliba I was never offered the option of 'affirming'. As for ignoring looks of people (i guess you are referring to looks given when eating chocolate or meat) it is not always easy for everybody to do so. Yes of course, I do ignore them, however, that does not mean that never irritate or offend.

@MPMeli
You can always "affirm" instead of taking an oath on the crucifix. You can always ignore the looks and comments of ill informed people - if they really happen.

I feel offended when they make me kiss a cross every time I renew my Id card.

I feel offended every time I receive bad looks and nasty comments when enjoying a chocolate or a juicy steak during Catholics' Lent.

So... I hope this list will serve as food for thought to those who try to interfere with the lives of others who feel offended THROUGHOUT the year, in a country that seems to be becoming more and more fundamentalist by the second.

To J. Farrugia (1 day, 9 hours ago) - How dare you call foreigners 'idiots'? Is this what your religion has taught you?

Dear all,
I really think we should start learning how to laugh at ourselves!
So, were people offended by these costumes?

Well I will speak about how I have been offended:

I feel offended whenever a Catholic tries to convert me (in vain) to his/her religion even when asked to stop trying. I feel it is disrespectful and an insult to my devotion to rationality.
Can I take them to court?

I feel offended by the fact that I was brought up in a society that made people force me to attend mass even if I didn't want to.

I felt offended - not just as a woman but mostly as a human being - when through a letter, an archbishop claimed that nowadays families are disintegrating because women are forgetting their 'real' duties and are choosing to go out to work instead.

I felt offended - although I follow no religion - when from the pulpit, during a Catholic mass, a priest told us to beware of Islam, and that Catholicism is better than all other religions.

(cont.)

the time passes the more this island is becoming a joke.this year i didnt attend the nadur karnival.which i have visited more than once and i can proudly say it blows malta won out of the water in creativity of individuals.so what if these people dressed up as members of the parlament or of the bible.then they should stop the renactments of good friday and any other reglious act.they should stop people dressed up as knights in valletta!they arent real knights.they should stop the local actors dressing up as police...they arent real police but they can potray themselves as such on screen but these youngsters cant dress up as something they would like for an evening.i was gonna dress as the joker this year.thank GOD i didnt,the local authorities might of taken action against me for scaring people of making a mockery out of the late heath ledger.why doesnt this priest just lighten up and see the funny side of the story.its just carnival.

Quote: Dr Francis Saliba (1 day, 12 hours ago)
@SVella
It is not the Church that needs protection. It is the minimum standard of decent civilized behaviour whereby a vulgar minority should not be allowed to provoke the majority of citizens and to mock the official religion of the Republic's Constitution under the pretext that anything goes during Carnival in Nadur.

@Dr Saliba

Can you guarantee me that you have never offended someone in your life? I'll give you a hypothetical situation were I get offended by any church outdoor activity because it goes against my religion. Are you telling me that you have the right to offend while I don't on religious matters just because I don't form part of the catholic majority (yet)?
Freedom of speech allows the use of satire and mockery of public persons and organisations. What it does not allow is instigating hate and abuse of said persons.
The carnival is one place where this kind of behaviour should be encouraged, where people learn to laugh at themselves for one day. The rest of the year we can go back to being serious.
PS I really regard Festas as offensive.

Rodnick Abdilla said that people are leaving the Church due to its 'outdated' policies and for being obstinate.That's only your impression,my friend.You know perfectly well,as reported in the news item here above,that the Police issued a statement immediately after the joint statement from the Bishop of Gozo and the Archbishop of Malta,stating that several people will be arrainged to Court,while others were booked for contraventions during Carnival. The truth is that the Nadur residents were DEMORALISED in the face of no action being taken over the years, repeatedly, after they filed in a police report on the obscenities taking place during Carnival! What happened this year was that the Church had the courage to speak on behalf of these residents, and, consequently, those who thought that their obcene and disrespectful behaviour will continue passing along undettered year in year out, turned their guns towards the Church and accused it of being outdated in its policies! Let me tell you who is outdated, Rodnick. Outdated are all those who boast of things which they should be ashamed of! Outdated are all those who think that they can transform a civilised society into an anarchic one, just to suit their own gratifications!

Freedom of expression is NOT absolute.This is why some people blogging here will never get across their point that there's nothing wrong with Carnival being an occasion giving a concession to all those who want to express themselves in whatever way they want, without any concern to the way that their behaviour impinges upon society.This is why LAW exists,so as to ascertain that the limits to freedom of expression are adhered to.Freedom to express oneself exists only within the limits of RESPECT,which apparently does not exist in some people's vocabulary. I can do whatever I want as long as I do not limit other people's freedom. Thus it is totally RUDE, to say the least, that some, to defend the behaviour of those who broke the the law, are telling other people to stay away if they dont' like it. These people can produce endless comments in the blogs, but they can rest assured that the bishops did perfectly well to draw the authorities' attention, particularly the police, that they have the duty to enforce the law. The Church has not only the right, but the DUTY to speak on these issues. Respect others if you want to earn respect!

@ Evarist Saliba. Your argument iswell put, very plain and clear. The problem is, once read in the context of your not-so-secret-agenda, it all falls apart at the seams.
On a lighter note, because retention of humour is crucial think (it is an English thing, silly!), Should females fake offence that the clergy have hijacked their attire in their persistence to wear dresses? Except that women nowadays in steamy Malta, often opt to wear hot-pants.
Now skimpy hot-pants and hairy legs? No thanks, I'd rather do coffee (it's a London thing).
'

@ P. Grima. I am at a loss to know how to resppond. You have either entirely misunderstood my comment or as likely, you have some difficulty concisely expressing your ideas. Can you again put it plainly, in words I can understand please. Thank you.
@ Pat Camilleri. When someone, IN A CARNIVAL SITUATION, decides to dress (or undress) as Jesus Christ, it is he (could not be a she as anatomically inaccurate) and only he who knows his intent. Maybe his agenda WAS to underminde your religion. Who knows? Who will ever know? One thing is for sure. It is dangerous to imprison anyone purely for what may have gone on through tsaid felon's mind. You, as onlooker, could opt to see this as mere food for thought. At least it would ensure the elastic of your knickers would remain aligned (you sound like the kind of person who would be familiar with the expression 'getting one's knickers in a twist' meaning, to get upset over nothing. Not being patronising, never let it be said, but simply mindful that English is not Malta's first language and many readers might not be familiar with said expression. Sensitivity needs must.you'll appreciate.

I think Governent should have a step back and leave everything to the church to take care of our country .

Mamma Mia kif idejquk f kull sugett li hawn irridu id dahlu dembom. mhux jindunaw li in nies qed tabanduna knisja ghas supervja u ideat antikwati li ghandom ?

The law governing this case has been in existence, AND RESPECTED, for long decades, and the public has been enjoying carnival thoughout.

Now, a group of people, NOT FROM NADUR, or any other part of Gozo it seems, have allegedly decided to contribute to that town's carnival by defying the law.

Can anyone honestly claim that these people have contributed one iota to the merriment of the occasion? In defence of this group one contributor has gone so far to advise us that "no one is forced to attend such an activity". So, we have to stay at home while those who want to amuse themselves by make fun of the religion of the overwhemling majority of the Maltese have the freedom to roam our streets.

This is not a case of the police taking instructions from the bishops, but of the police being reminded of the law and their duty enforce it.

@ John Lauri
You may not realise how true it is that "Malta = Mid-dawl ghad-dlam". We are entering an age of moral darkness if we abandon all restraints on human behaviour in the name of freedom to offend and shock in the pursuit of self gratification.

children wearing as soldiers and policemen at the valletta carnival wil be taken to court?

Youths should get the message. Respect other people and do not hurt their feelings otherwise face discipline. It's nice to see that once in a while someone acts to keep disciplie in our society. We fill our youths minds with rights, rights, rights from when they are born and nobody explains to them their duties. Next year people will think twice before hurting other people's feelings. Why is that bad? There are so many costumes you can wear that hurt nobody. Maybe next year it would be more funny if these people dress up as themselves.

@-Joe Xuereb -

"to the vast religious number clamouring that sex is for procreation....."

You are so wrong. That is not what the Church says. Please, do yourself (and us) a favour, at least be well informed before you hit the keyboard.

A secular state should be on the agenda of any government in power. Only then we will progress as a society and outgrow this childish mentality.

I challenge anyone to deny the fact that many a catholic has ridiculed other faiths, even in public, with sure knowledge that no action would ensue. Ex: Yellow sticker above your door bell, anyone?

Such impetus to attack other faiths while feverishly defending one's own, is actually fuelled by the church itself by way of its many mantras in particular "salvation may only be attained through Christ.”

Would anyone be arrested if Buddha, Mohammed, Zeus or what have you was portrayed, maybe even ridiculed, in public? And yet I'm sure there are minorities in Malta who would take offence. It's undoubtedly wrong to ridicule when unprovoked but I find it disgustingly wrong to adopt double standards.

Truth is, the church is steadily losing its undeserved respect, mostly attained through centuries of totalitarian tactics, and the sooner it is thrown off the high pedestal, the quicker new life will be injected in this country.

The powers that be know this, hence the fuss and sense of urgency.

@ Daniel Jackson

Come off it, it was a midnight Carnival and an adult environment. And lets face it, they weren't THAT large !!

What next, arrest people for being stupid?

I think its great to see our Bishops so forceful in their quest to ensure that the laws of the land are observed by all.

Back in 1999, the church set up a commission to investigate child-abuse allegations at Lourdes home. Initial findings reported that claims were unfounded. In 2006 another commission found that allegations were true, but the 'numbers were not that many'!! Anyhow
the Bishops basically said 'Sorry guys', and that was that!

Why did Church authorities not ask the Police Commissioner to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice?

Now our Bishops are pressing for criminal action to be taken against these Jesus imposters, who in my view ought to get no more than a slap on the hand, otherwise the local Church authorities may risk being labelled a bunch of Pharisees.

And if my knowledge of the New Testament serves me correctly, Christ Himself had a particular disdain for this lot didn't He?

'Do as I say, But don't do as I do.' No wonder Chruchgoer numbers dwindle by the Sunday.

Well done.It was a most offensive sight. Offending the official religion of these island by parading dressed as Jesus and the apostles is against the law. If you don,t like it leave.If you stay you have to abide by the laws of this land.There are plenty of countries where it is permissible to do most things. Here it is not. Just leave.I await to see what comes out of this.The behaviour was disgusting. This is an attempt to undermine our religion.

so we can arrest all those comedians who make fun of various religions and ways of life?

"without permission, or against the prohibition of the respective authorities, worn any civil, naval, military or air force uniform, or any ecclesiastical habit or vestment." i saw around ten young ladies dressed up as policewomen but with shorts skirts and wielding handcuffs at me. so these girls will be arrested too?

come on!!

so if I dress up as BUDDHA, A HINDI GOD or any other deity am I breaching the law? or is this law enforced only when 'our' religion is 'ridiculed'?? Wheres the freedom of speech!? Bishop- get a grip and drag your church to 2009!!! its called FUN!!! YOU SHOULD TRY IT SOMETIMES!!!

What's so amazing about this story, almost everyone knows that the church always interfere in nearly everything (even things out of their competence). Then if the matter is something about their institutions, well than you can imagine !!!

For example last month in Italy, L'Osservatore Romano (The Vatican newspaper) attacked the Director and TV host of Sanremo Paolo Bonolis only because some songs in the competition contained some HEAVY words (for them) and he was blamed because he allowed them to partecipate. Maybe they need to learn the meaning of the word DEMOCRACY !!!

Or again, on a bus there was an advert paid by the Atheist community in Italy and had to be removed in a couple of days because of the church's pressure on the Authorities, the reason was that the advert was DISTURBING THE CATHOLIC PEOPLE. And what about the other non-catholic people, is their believing inferior ?

Then if these things still happen in Italy, YOU CAN'T BE AMAZED OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE (IN MY OPINION WE'RE ABOUT 100 YEARS BEHIND ITALY, AND TO CONFIRM THIS TRY TO COMPARE THE TV PROGRAMS)

cont./ Simon J. Aquilina. A girl in UK who gets pregnant and gives birth is a tragedy for obvious reasons. And yet, looking at it obliquely, to the vast religious number clamouring that sex is for procreation.....it begs the question. Why/how did the much vaunted Nature allow the physical possibility for such a young girl to fall pregnant and indeed give birth to a child. Something does not add up.
Never mind the arraignment in Court of the infamous nine. Before the year is out, we may yet witness the killing of the goose that lays the golden egg (turkey for Christmas, lamb for Easter and goose for Carnival. Geddit?!). A Court in Gozo could well decide the demise of the famous crowd-pulling Carnival. It wll be hoped that a straightforward case such is this can indeed be settled in a Gozo Court without having to resort to Courts across the Malta Channel for a solution. I am not holdng my breath.

Surely the best, the only way, to deal with this situation is for oneto be atheist. This would render irrelevant this charade. I do not do Carnivals (huge events in London). Not my thing dressing up. Others naturally are free to indulge. If they break the law (and this one is only man-made), let them pay the price. I may not be able to get them off the hook but they'd have my support. Meanwhile, I can watch this sorry state from the wings, bemused and detached. It affects me not at all. Maybe it's a London thing. We do coffee but not religion.
I have noticed at close range - people watching is a great London pastime over the years and the location of that great educational institution that is Speakers' Corner, where else! - some belief systems do appear not to allow much leeway for humour, certainly not the spontaneous guffaw type. I wonder if the Maltese, traditionally always ready to smile, are being prepared for adoption for one of these belief systems, where a whiff of alcohol will land one in a hot toddy. cont./

I am content within myself,in the sure knowledge that everything I stand for Mr Zammit is against.It reassures me and gives me courage to carry on.With his every utterance I am reassured that I am as far away from the wickedness he utters on every subject as i possibly can be.

Unfortunately not everything I blog to this newspaper is published,nor is everything published as I would like it to be or as i is written. If it were Mr Zammit and his ilk would know exactly what I and I know many others, think of them.

It's just not enough for Mr. John A. Zammit. He wants vengence, the proverbial pound of flesh. Dug even deeper into the law to find an even more contorted article that would impose a bigger punishment. Fantastic Christian spirit Mr. Zammit.

Seems like turning the other cheek and love thy neighbor are rather lost on the Bishops right now.
Just another sign that the intolerance that pervades Islam is being mirrored by the Church. The Christian Taliban are on the rise.
What is next? Compulsary fish on Fridays? Is Lent to become a Chrisitian Ramadan?

Henry the 2nd had the right idea when he said 'Who will rid me of this turbulant priest'

Bil-Malti nghidu taqtaghlu l-ghatx bil-perzut. How come that they are not being charged under article 163 of the Criminal Code i.e. vilification of the Catholic religion, but with a much minor charge. Is this another charade from the Commissioner of Police? Has the Office of the Attorney General been consulted before it was decided which charges were to be issued? Or those concerned happen to be some blue-eyed boys? Theyway that the charge is being worded more probalble than not they will be acquitted as dressing up as Jesus and the apostles is not ,in my opinion, considered to constitute an ecclesiastical habit or vestment.

Well done to the authorities!

Many people were very vulgar during this carnival too, like wearing large fake penises on carts, these people should be arraigned.

Eccesiastical clothes should be respected not 'carnivalised'. There are lots of other things you can dress as at carnival!
@those that complained,
The LAW is the Law, after all.

@Karen Caruana

Quote: Why is the bishop of Gozo so upset about people dressed up as priests or Jesus & the Apostles? In England there are parties where invitees have to be dressed either as pastors or as bunny girls.

I will tell you its because the bishop dreams of taking Malta back to the 1709s when the Church ruled the Island.

'Silly' does not even start to describe his stand.

This reminds me of.....

" NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms - Oh damn!"

You can even watch it here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSe38dzJYkY

..oh damn! they're wearing religious costumes too. Will the police be dispatched to the U.K. to fine them as well ?? Maybe we should even set up our local version of the Mutaween (Saudi religious/cleric police) whilst we're at it.....

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words or costumes will never hurt me", to paraphrase a popular English saying.

Since when is a perceived 'insult' a crime? What may be an insult to one, may be the truth to another. This is pure 'Shariah" and should have no place in a Judeo-Christian cutlure such as Malta.

What a waste of the Police Force, Court time and taxpayers' money, all in the service of Religion, that monolith of mumbo-jumbo based on unproven and unprovable 'facts' which they call 'faith'. By the way, I have some 'snake oil' for sale that will cure all ailments if anyone is interested.

Bells, do disturb people? Why don't you come at Zebbug especcially in summer. You cannot leave a window open...not with the sound of a bell from the parish church, for that gives peace to the soul but to the parties organized in the limits of Zebbug or at a pub in the centre of Zebbug...till 4am.

I heared that in Nadur, was like Corinthus during carnival. Nadur in Carnival especcialy during the night was an immoral village...and I think this was not an exageration.

No, you cannot do what ever you like...that is not freedom but abuse of freedom

Mr CORDINA and others, with all due respects this is not about beards and cloths wear but about 'qzizijat' of certain persons hanging with male private part models 6 feet long and acting as 'apostles with Jesus!' And they just strolled around infront of everybody including young children! I am not a devot christian but surely will not accept something ruthless like that.

remember the fuss the danish cartoons created some months ago? are we that different?

don't think so. we're governed by christian fundamentalist. fullstop.

Just when the church is facing problems to get followers back to Church, the bishop of Gozo (the same person who said homosexuals should be excomunicated) decides to throw this rant at Nadur Carnival.

Ban those nuns and those priests for abusing of children and for hitting them in orphanages, mela people dressed up for Carnival. This year Malta seems to be going back to the times of the Apostles, banning theatre productions and now THIS.

Ridiculous.

Ouch! This ruined my plans for next year for me and my girlfriend to dress as Jesus and Mary Magdalene!

@ Simon J. Aquilina
Let's agree that if the law is there, it should be enforced! However, we must also agree that the law should be applied equally to all.

Here's the catch.

Article 338 (n) of the Malta Criminal Code states that it is contravention for any person to "wear a mask in any public place or disguise himself". This is considered a Contravention against public order, punishable by means of a fine or detention.

So, let's be equal.

The police should also arraign all those dressed up as a Spiderman, The Scream or a goat.
They should also keep a close eye on the forthcoming Good Friday Processions, in case anyone dressed up as Moses, Barabbas or a Roman is in breach of said article.

Just to prepare for the next carnival, how does this actually work? If I’m wearing a beard and 1st century Middle East clothing then I become an Apostle or a Biblical star? I guess that the church and/or police should give some guidelines of how not to resemble biblical figures!! For next year I really hope that Christ et al. do not come to the Nadur carnival, however if they do come they better dress in 21st century clothing or they will all be arrested.

If I played my CD player at a loud volume and disturb a neighbour the police would be asked to take action.

On the other hand every Sunday (the day appointed by our Lord as the day of rest) I cannot sleep past 5 am because of the deafening church bells. My writing to the church about this did not even credit an acknowledgment. This bell ringing is illogical... it was invented centuries ago when peasants did not have clocks. Nowadays it is just atrocious disturbance of peace for hundreds of people. Yet the bishops don't mind this.

Don't let me start on the so called religious feasts which force me to leave my village for a week to avoid the pagan excesses all supposedly fueled by love of some saint. My doorstep becomes a latrine, the streets are covered by filth including that of bowels and the blasphemy one hears is frightening. Yet last week the Church (not a band club ... but the church) knocked on my door and asked me for a donation for 'il-festa'.

@Andreana Vella

Auto da fe=Burning at the stake..yeah, yeah imma upside down and not before slow torture on the rack eh?.

A comment to both bishops. I hope that you take the same stand on all our village so called religious festas. I am sure that you will find much more that hurts our catholic values in these occassions. Drugs, sex, blasphemy and mayhem. Not even the police can interrupt these individuals. It is high time that the church comes out to rectify the situation. Re the nadur carnival, the acts I show were truly deplorable and hard especially on the young children around the area.

@ Joe Fountain
What is an auto da fe?

Why is the bishop of Gozo so upset about people dressed up as priests or Jesus & the Apostles? In England there are parties where invitees have to be dressed either as pastors or as bunny girls.

The idea behind Carnival is to have the time and space to say what cannot be said in more sober days but what has to said at some point.

@Anthony Saliba
I hope the Police Commissioner checks that the police officers on duty were real ones and not guys dressed up as policemen, lol.

Can you dress as a dove? Or is that mocking the Holy Spirit?

When I was a little girl, my daddy used to tell me that if I cried when other children did something that bothered me, they would enjoy doing it even more.

All this hysteria and offence-taking about the Nadur Carnival will only encourage people to be more provocative next year and to have even more fun doing so. I know I will!

It's just a question of finding a legal way to do so.

@ Simon J. Aquilina

You are right in saying that this law has been there for a long time. Most probably it dates back to the 17th century when the knights still ruled the island!

Next thing we'll hear is the complete ban of Carnival !!! Whatever next !!!

@ PAUL LOMBARDI

I agree with you however both restrictions are stupid! We ended up with carnival floats that only depict stupid grotesque characters instead of floats making fun of what politicians and famous individuals. Now we cannot even dress what we want. I had higher hopes for the new bishops in Malta however they have been a disappointment so far! The Iranian regime is amateurish in this respect!

One more thing. I think that this morning i'm going to hand over my nephew to the police because he wanted to wear the costume of a soldier and unfortunately I decided to buy him one :( I'm sorry guilty as charged! And I might also hand in my friends daughter (aged 5) coz she wanted to wear the costume of a nun! Shame on her! I dont know where she gets these perverse ideas from!

Nispera li issa anke il-kummissarju jitlob lil pulizija u surgenti kif wkoll lis-supretendent li kien responsabli minhom fil-karnival tan-nadur biex jirrispondu ghaliex kienu qed jaraw li qed tinkiser il-ligi u ghalqu ghajnejhom.Dawn li kisru il-ligi kull hadd rahom ma ghandiex dubju li anke huma rawhom.Kif tista timmagina li kellhom jkunu l-isqfijiet li jghidu lil pulizija x' ghandhom jghamlu.Nistenna stqarrija mill kummissarju biex inserrah mohhi.

Mela fil-karnival ma tistax tilbes ta sajjied? L-Appostli mhux sajjieda kienu?

I guess for some "freedom" also means being allowed to disobey the law of Malta! A society is made of laws. One of these laws (which has been there for a very long time and not introduced just for the occasion) has been broken. This implies that the police have the duty to do all they can to bring these people to justice. Or are some people now arguing that we should be allowed to break the Maltese during carnival!? Also please note that this law is not there to protect church interest but the interest of those people who's sentiments could be offended by such actions, regardless of their faith!

Are we living in 2009 or 1009.... How can ever our country open its mind....there are many more important issues we should be arguing on..not on carnival..which its name already suggests what it is!!! In no time our so called professors will be discussing a code of ethics for carnival as well.... DO us a favour..shut up...grow up...open your minds...then can we call ourselves mature and can say we are an advanced country!!

Dr Dylans

This is an Opus Dei driven initiative no doubt.

However it is like throwing petrol on a raging fire. I hope the church leaders keep it up because their influence and diminishing support will burn out faster.

Will the police follow suit to charge youths getting drunk and disorderly, shouting obscenities and vulgarities and behaving outrageously - all in honour of the village's patron saint???? I find that kind of behaviour more insulting. When will the Church put its foot down to curtail that sort of behaviour. Carnival lasts a couple of days but the Maltese public has to endure the outrageous behaviour at village festas throughout the whole summer months - and this not to mention the rivalry that exists in certain towns and villages which have 2 patron saints. Where do the Church priorities lie? As for the police authorities, don't they have more pressing matters to take care of, instead of such frivolities?? There is a time and place for everything and although people should try to avoid insulting others, I find the behaviour at village festas to be more insulting than some outrageous costumes in Carnvial time.

an auto da fe will be held shortly in nadur square. details to follow.

LOL this is so funny.
Is Carnival over yet ?????????

This is utterly ridiculous.

First of all the church should NOT have a say in politics or law, because as far as i know, it is a matter of personal opinion to follow a religion.

Secondly, isnt the court busy enough with its 5 year backlog of cases? Does it really need to waste time on some people who wore a few costumes!

I think the church would be better off if they just let things be, and remove these silly old laws. They are losing a lot of credibility.

This is a democratic country. Religion is not democracy.

TO ALL THESE OPEN MINDED PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LACK OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DURING CARNIVAL. IS'NT IT ABOUT TIME THEY START COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE FUN OF OUR POLITICIANS INSTEAD OF OUR RELIGION

Do some of these writers know what they are talking about? Just take a look at the obscenities these 'revellers', so they call them, in It-Torca of 1 March 2009 and see for yourselves. But prepare your stomachs because these photos will upset you. And then have the chek to castigate further the Church of Christ. Your values and your morals are down at a great tangent.

First a play is banned by a group made up of a few individuals, now the police are cracking down on morality. What's next ban shorts on a beach?

Taliban ...

Whats happening huh ?????
Its ok for village feasts where people pray at statues , block the streets , annoy people with fire works , not to mention the amount of alcohol consumed and the swearing at each others band clubs and its not ok for someone dressing up as what the risen Jesus was on Carnival !
Come on! are we going back to the 16th century !!!!!

It is high time that someone in Malta takes the initiatve to set up a Civili Liberties Union. There are dark times ahead and, as always happens in such times, fundamentalism and extremism will come to the fore.

Our precious liberties will soon be in danger from those who are firmly convinced that they have been delegated by God to impose their antiquated ethos on everybody esle.

@ Mr Grech - the majority is the majority. And the minority has to follow suit. That is democracy for your sake. At least here in Malta we allow the minorities to do what they please, offend us catholics, organised gay prides, remove the cross from the classrooms, etc. etc., and they are allowed and are free to do so. That is the liberty we have in our country. It would be a dictatorship if ever the small obscene minority tries to take control of, or influence the majority of the people with their berserk ideas and ideals. That would be the end of the world. It would be dictatorship if I have to throw the cross away just to please some foreign idiots who are residing in Malta as we have done at MATER DEI, to be politically correct. Just take a look at arab countries and see what Saudi Arabia has said in this regard: other religions are only allowed to practice their religion in their own homes. But not in public. And they have built a Mosque in the heart of christianity in Malta. And we give them burial places in Malta. Shall I go on?

" ISSA VERU MORNA L-BAHAR, MAN "
The church telling the authorities what to do.
the birdlife telling the authorities what to do.
Are we in the 21century or the middle ages? In the time of the Inquesition.

Just why are the Police getting involved in this nonsense? Their time would be better spent chasing real criminals. If the Bishop's are so offended they could take out a civil action,though that would,in the long run, damage them more than they are damaging themselves already.

What we are doing here is akin to what fanatical Moslems have done in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

This is no dictatorship no one has the right to insult a person's belief. What have we come to, condoning this unruly behavior! This is not toloerence but trying to be funny and mocking our Lord, it reminds me of more than 2000yrs ago when our ancestors mocked Christ on the cross and He asked his Father for His forgivness as they did not know what they were doing. I admire the muslims at least they fight for their religion! WELL DONE TO THE AUTHORITIES!

Whilst I might not agree with having these people prosecuted (it might be counter-productive in making them false martyrs!), they have ridiculed the Lord Jesus Christ - just as the Roman soldiers and the Jews did when He was crucified.

Nevertheless, their sin will be freely forgiven if only they ask His forgiveness - because He suffered all the pain and ridicule so as to have everyone's sins forgiven.

May Jesus grant these people the grace to know Him better and to realise what He did for them on the cross... if and when they do, they will be saddened by the memory of their actions - ridiculing the one that suffered in their place. And yet, at the same time, they will be glad to know that this sin - and all others - have been freely forgiven by Him through his suffering on the cross.

Qeghdin sew!!!! kemm qisu l karnival tan nadur ha jitlef is sabih tieghu!

Our benchmark to whether we're living in a Communist state or not would be the court's decision!

Let's see if we're still living the Dark Ages!

Veru li ghandna gvern jibza minn kollox, mill-EU, mill-UNHCR, mill-NGOs, mill-Knisja. Jaqbillek tibza mill-poplu Malti ghax fl-ahhar jitlaghlu u mit-tkaxkira li se taqla fl-elezzjonijiet tal-MEPs

@ Lawrence Micallef:

"It's a free country, but nobody has the right to offend others".

What if I'm offended by religion? Would religion be made illegal? Or what if I'm offended by partisan politics? Would political party clubs be made illegal?

No one has the right not to be offended. If we had that right, the laws of Malta would fill an entire library.

There are limits and they have exceeded them, the Church and Police are right to take action if they behave as such in public places. If nothing, it will serve as a warning to others for future reference.................

I hope that this will reach the European Court...pls will some lawyer fight this ? What a farce of a country.......are we democratic...some of the laws re.Carnival are from when we were a colony ! An other thing .....it will not be happy in paradise if Jesus and his appostles do not have a sense of humour !
What a backward country we have.........Iran ? Affganistan ? libya ? or are we european ?

Is the present position of the law such that those who set out to make a mockery of the founder of the official religion of the Republic can only be charged with the same offence of impersonating a traffic warden?

@MGrech
While objecting to a "DICTATORSHIP" of the majority you are favouring a dictatorship of a minority that cannot have fun without insulting the majority.

@SVella
It is not the Church that needs protection. It is the minimum standard of decent civilized behaviour whereby a vulgar minority should not be allowed to provoke the majority of citizens and to mock the official religion of the Republic's Constitution under the pretext that anything goes during Carnival in Nadur.

@ S Vella

Let me quote it for you then:

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others".

I daresay that the intention of this law was never to target carnival revellers or fancy dress parties. It was intended to prevent people from pretending to be police / army / ecclesiastical staff in order to take on their authority. It is about real attempts at impersonating people in these professions, not satire or comedy. Besides, from what I remember of Nadur carnival from years ago, it's unlikely that the kind of costumes worn would have fooled anybody into thinking that's a real nun, or a real archbishop.

So... what's next? Arrest toddlers for wearing a soldier costume, or for dressing up as Nelson in full military regalia?

But the church seems to tolerate wearing costumes during Good Friday Processions with horses, gladiators, appostles, prophets,even belly dancers representing Salome, Cleopatra, and other characters who wait for this day to show off.

The show must go on, but as DICTATED, and it is just making a show with these youths who did what they diod certainly in the spirit of fun and not to be offensive.

I wonder will the police be taking to court all those dressed as Christ and other biblical figures during the Holy week. If it's illegal for carnival it should be illegal always. Will the bishops be issuing any complaints about these people who wait for the holy week to dress up. The Christ I believe in would have been laughing at the pranks these youths got to during carnival, and would not be enjoying what the bishops did.
I suggest that Maltese youths should start celebrating carnival in Malta, with your enthusiasm you can easily turn paceville or any other place into a better carnival venue than Nadur.

The powers of repression can stop us doing, watching, reading, wearing what we like. What they can never do is stop us THINKING !

I am speechless, well almost anyway. What irritates me most me of all is the fact that the police seem to be taking instructions from the clergy. They have probably managed to kill the spirit of Nadur carnival. Il-Knisja vera missha tisthi u missna nisthu ahna li nhalluha tiehu din l-arja. Tifel ta ghoxrin sena ha jispicca bil-kondotta mhassra ghax l-isqof hassu offiz - aremm hej. Ahjar ma nghid xejn.

Carnival; "In ancient Rome it was a heathen holiday named the Saturnalia, dedicated to Saturn god of grain, vegetation and wine. The general idea of the feast was to invert the usual 'order' of life. For two weeks all class boundaries were erased: the rich and poor had equal rights, children headed families, slaves could sit freely with their masters at table and demand from them a subordination, and - in order not to spoil the merriment - everybody hid their faces behind masks."

Carnival is older than the Church. Government is meant to represent the people. Church and government would do well not to forget their place in the order of things.

I am really amazed how the Archbishop took this so seriously, such an OPEN MINDED one!

this is audacious indeed.. no one is forced to attend to such activities..
come clergy am sure you have much more valuable issues to attend to .. personally i value christian morality and way of life as it gives a sense of stability and belonging - but come on we cannot impose and acuse others on thier behaviour ,especially on such occasions. am no big fan of Carnival . so i simply ignore it .
times have changed and the clergy have to update their approach. and this has nothing to do with twisting any teachings at all..how about initiating meditation on - you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free. (john 8:31,32)
we all have ot learn , no matter how high or authoritive our position is on this earth. let no one be fooled with this transit authority .

This is bordering on the ridiculous. Because the church authorities have spoken the police are doing it one better by taking persons to court on charges that without permission or against the prohibition of the respective authorities, worn any civil, naval, military or air force uniform, or any ecclesiastical habit or vestment."
Two wrongs don’t make a right. If the police were caught with their pants down then they could not remedy the situation by acting after the bishops cried foul. We are not living under a Taliban regime or are we……and by the way are ecclesiastical habits or vestments copyrighted. ….

Yeah, of course! Why not call in the Inquisition.

This and the news today the UN is considering a binding resolution to make defaming or blasheming a religions a crime makes me very sad. The noose is being tightened around the world against freedom.

We are seeing a regression into the Dark Ages and the resurgence of the rule of the priestly class, not that in Malta it ever really went away.

Shame on the Maltese authorities, who should henceforth remove the George Cross from our flag since what is happening in Malta is an insult all those who fought and died during the war to prevent precisely this - despotic totalitarianism.

@ Simon J Aquilina

Of course the bishops have a right to express their opinion. But that is where it stops. They have no right to impose their opinion.

Likewise it is our right to ignore their opinion, which is what more and more people are doing.

The church has nothing to benefit out of all this. On the other hand, as some people have suggested it risks to actually lose followers? So why did the bishops issue such statements? Because (at least for some of us) sometimes we must not do what is of benefit to us, but what is asked from us. The church reacted because the sentiments of its followers (also Maltese) where offended. Some of you speak as if this does not matter when in fact it is the pivot point of the whole story. What some of you call antiquity is in fact the religion of millions of people around the world. People who go to mass not because "brain-washed" but because they believe - is it fine to offend the believes of such people? Carnival is no excuse to offend!

Jekk poplu ma jafx jidhaq bieh innifsu illum jew ghada haddiehor jidhaq bieh. X'ahna njoranti jahasra

The Catholic Church is only doing what it has always done best - interfering and dictating - while sweeping its own filth under the carpet. I strongly suggest to our bishops to clean up their own house before attempting to take our country back to the Inquisition.

GF Cortini
"Why bother building a time machine when you can travel to Malta?"

Guess you prefer to live in a country like the UK where a 12 year old has a child? right?

@Others
The law is the law, made by people elected by the people and not the church. The church has nothing to gain in all this. For the church and the bishops it would have been better if the nadur carnival had been celebrated with respect to the believes of others in the first place. This did not happen, a law, known by most was broken! Now can please someone explain why in this particular case we should not take someone who broke the law to courts? Are you people implying that if it is to the benefit of the church then the law should not be abide to?

One step closer to Tehran! Why not publicly execute these perpetrators at the Ta' Qali national stadium in front of a blood thirsty audience while we're at it?? Dont the police have anything better to do like arrest drug dealers and sexual predators instead of wasting their time on carnival costumes. And shouldnt the courts be dealing with that backlog of cases that they have so that justice can be done with those that have been waiting months if not years? I think its time for Malta to grow up!

Jesus and his apostles wore a uniform or habit? That's news to me.

Haven't the authorities (be they church or state - it is starting to seem increasingly difficult to tell them apart) got ANYTHING better to do than chase people dressed as shepherds during carnival or people staging plays?

Why bother building a time machine when you can travel to Malta? Qedghin sew...

DEMOCRACY is the dictorship of the MAJORITY over the MINORITY= MALTA,. The state dictates, the church dictates and the minority are suppressed, NO they CAN NOT express themselves. What now? stone them ?. Ha! Ha! Ha! The church duty is to teach. The state has to set example, but PLEASE let us live our thoughts.

Another triumph for the church in attempting to silence and control people..well hey they've been doing it for centuries so why not today?
The world has lost all reason when we arrest someone for dressing up as a door.

Can the authorities perhaps focus on matters of greater importance that are being neglected in this country instead of flapping about a few carnival costumes and a play. Grow up bishop there are more important things you should be whining about.

Since when church figures need to be protected from carnival satire? I can understand the law on naval, military and police costumes since there is an authority involved that can be misrepresented and subsequently abused but the church......?

A famous quote in George Orwell's "Animal Farm" comes to mind here. I doubt I can quote it here since without some eople get offended.

This is the classic well known Maltese/Gozitan lack of humor. Carnival Addo

@Antoine Grima
You must know that there is no truth in your allegation that "the local church ...... will allow all the swearwords, obscenities, drunkenness, noise pollution ...."

@JoeCassar
Burning at the stake has been discontinued for centuries and it was carried out by the state not by the Inquisition. It is much more likely that the culprits, even if convicted, will be let off with a suspended sentence! But every little helps and perhaps they will learn that just being anti-Christian that does not entitle them to be above the law and to have their fun in a civilised manner.

Additionally, saying this is like the Inquisition or that Malta is a Church state is simple stupidity to say the least. If in Malta was anything like that then most of the people commenting here would not have a second chance to say their opinion twice. Here in Malta everyone has the right to speak their mind, so why can't our two Bishops also express their opinion?

No, Mr Cassar, it is not back to the future. It's a free country, but nobody has the right to offend others. Well done to the authorities.

Please note that this law has always been there and not introduced just for this occasion (as some over here would like us to believe). If the authorities did nothing then it would have meant that here in Malta we have laws that can be broken. If this particular law can be broken then why can't I break some other particular law which I do not like? The fact is that the authorities should not have waited for the two Bishops to complain before acting but should have acted on the spot - not because the Church (which represents the majority of the Maltese) was offended, but because the laws of Malta were broken!

Unbelievable ! Not only is Malta still living in the Middle Ages, but is it also fast becoming the laughing stock of its European neighbours. Arrested for wearing ecclesistical clothing during the carnival ?? What next ? Arresting people for upsetting the Catholic Church, by their refusal to attend Sunday mass ?
Honestly, this is a joke! Haven't the police got much more serious issues to deal with in Malta ? How about solving real crime, keeping Malta's streets safe from the ever growing violent crime happening daily ?
The church and its bishops in Malta are doing all they can to alienate as many people as possible, with their oppressive and dictatorial behaviour ! Patrick Attard was absolutely right by demanding excommunication from such a primitve club called the Catholic Church. I will be following his footsteps soon.
I am embarrased to say that I am Maltese, when I read such articles of the very backward attitude of the religious leaders of the country ! The best thing I ever did was leave Malta 27 years ago and such cases cofirm it was the best thing I ever did !

Malta = Mid-dawl ghad dlam !

What a disaster this country has become ! The police taking to court people who wear a carnival costume. !!!! Unbelievable..... First the dancers now the revellers !!!

HALLUNA please..

What a waste of time and taxpayers' money.

Do the bishops think that this anachronism will halt the decline of the local church? On the contrary, and just as well too.

Welcome to the maltese theocracy!!!

I can understand why someone should not wear a police uniform but getting dressed as a clergy man? illegal? come on!!

A big WELL DONE to the Police Force for taking action about

this controversy. Not least to the Bishops for bringing to the

attention of police. Let's not forget what happened to Salman

Rushdi about his criticism of Islam and what happened in

Amsterdam a few months ago about a cartoon on the same Islam.

Why not in Malta?

I agree with the Bishops for pointing out irregularities to the police. The police, on the other hand, had to be pushed to take some action! What disappoints me is the fact that the local church will be in full swing of festivities in every location and will allow all the swearwords, obscenities, drunkness, noise pollution without any respect to ill people. However the Bishops do nothing to stop the Festas! By the same reason that they "pushed" the authorities : "if you do nothing... you are an accomplice.." the same applies to you, dear Bishops!

Looks like the Inquisition is back in Malta. What will happen to these people? Will they be burnt at the stake?

Back to the future!

Looks like someone went to great lengths to dig up a long forgotten law and bring the perpetrators of such a horrific crime to justice. Archbishop and Bishop will certainly be pleased!

While at it, maybe we should also reintroduce other charming practices, such as torture and execution for heretics.

We are truly living in a Christian Democracy. A few months ago the Church said that in the face of secularism it should not be silenced, now it is the Church who is silencing other ... by getting them arrested. This is just downright insane.

I'm wondering whether the people dressed up in traditional Arab clothing, or those with SS uniforms will be sued too, they're disrespecting a culture and people's history too in my opinion. I hope the Arch bishop, being impartial and in favour of total justice, urges the authorities to sue all wrongdoers indiscriminately, and not only the people dressed "as the risen Christ".... heck he should report those dressed as Mohammed to the Mosque in Paola, so they're punished properly, according to Islam...

what about those dressed as butchers? Aren't they disrespecting a profession which is at heart to so many people who render the invaluable service of provision of fresh daily meat across the island?.

OR ... will we just take this episode with a pinch of salt, and realise that no serious harm was meant in the Nadur episode?. That's why it's called Carnival after all ... Come on! Has everyone in this country lost their sense of humour?!?!?.

Cheers,

Justin Spiteri

That's great, because the charges are a clear and dangerous waste of time.

These men dressed as none of the categories prohibited by law - and this law was made to prohibit impersonations of real figures, not caricatures of historical persons!

Now we just have to hope the Courts will be clever enough to state that the police force shouldn;t be intimidated by religious groups into such prosecutions.

seriously? Doesn't the court have other priorities like real crimes? Carnival is there to have fun! Whatever happened to freedom of expression?

I shall not comment on statal uniforms...but not wearing ecclesiastical habit...come on!

Aint that the purpose of carnival?

We are being hindered from the liberty of the individual on an extreme level no, and the blame is the church.

I've heard people talking about muslim women lacking individual freedom do to havin to wear a particular vest only...we are getting worse than dead. I was never at the Nadur Carnival but when I heard about this, I considered it as genuine fun.

Now seriously, don't you so-called authorities have ANYTHING better to do?